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Nobel Prize Dialogue Bengaluru: The Future We Want

India, 10th october 2025:Nobel Prize laureates and leading thinkers will gather to explore how knowledge, creativity, and investment in young people can shape a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future—rooted in India’s rich intellectual tradition. Featuring Nobel Prize laureates David MacMillan (chemistry, 2021) and James Robinson (economic sciences, 2024), alongside renowned experts Tolullah Oni, Gagandeep Kang, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Kush Parmar. The event will spotlight transformative talks on the origins of prosperity, the future of urban ecosystems, cutting-edge scientific discoveries, and innovations in global health, culminating in insightful panel discussions on megatrends shaping the next decade. The program will be enriched by captivating cultural performances by Dr. L. Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurthy.

3 November 2025 | 10:30 AM–1:00 PM
JN Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

Forum South BLR Fest 2025 Unveils World’s Largest 40ft Gramophone

Bengaluru, October 10th, 2025: The city’s most anticipated festive celebration, Forum South BLR Fest, returns for its 3rd edition with the exciting theme “Back to the Future.” The highlight of this year’s celebration is the unveiling of the world’s largest 40ft walk-through gramophone.

From its towering horn to intricate design motifs, the installation reimagines the gramophone as an immersive retro-futuristic wonderland—where nostalgia blends seamlessly with imagination.

Built over 15 days by a team of 20 skilled artisans, the installation required 3,500 man-hours of craftsmanship and attention to detail. The gramophone celebrates the cultural revolutions of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, evoking memories of mixtapes, family gatherings, and timeless conversations that music inspired across generations.

“Forum South Bengaluru has always been at the forefront of curating immersive experiences. With the world’s largest 40 ft gramophone, we are celebrating both the nostalgia of the past and the imagination of the future, making this year’s fest truly unforgettable.” Muhammad Ali, CEO, Forum Malls, Prestige Group.

Featured Experiences & Events:

Immersive Gramophone Journey: Step inside the 40 ft structure and relive an era of nostalgia, a bridge between the past and the present generation.

Interactive Retro-Futuristic Décor: Neon lights, UFO-inspired elements, and larger-than-life installations spark wonder and imagination.

• Usha Uthup Live Concert (October 19, 2025): Experience the legendary singer live in concert, bringing timeless music to the fest. BookMyShow
• Festive Shopping & Brand Experiences: Explore curated shopping and brand showcases while soaking in the festive ambiance.

Forum South BLR Fest 2025 promises a one-of-a-kind celebration, blending nostalgia with innovation. With its mix of music, art, shopping, and live performances, the fest builds on its legacy of creativity— from last year’s Navrathan installation to this year’s record-breaking gramophone.

Ticketing & Event Details:

• Date: 8th October 2025 onwards
• Address: Forum South Bengaluru, Kanakapura Road, Banashankari, JP Nagar
• Price: Tickets to witness the decor of the immersive Gramophone experience start at ₹199/-

Cosmo First Secures ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certification

New Delhi, 10 October 2025: Cosmo First Limited, a leading manufacturer in specialty films for packaging, labelling, lamination, synthetic paper, masterbatches and industrial applications, has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification. This certification demonstrates Cosmo First strong commitment towards information security, effective risk management, and ongoing improvement in line with global standards across its corporate office and manufacturing plants in India. 

The scope of certification covers the manufacturing of PP/PET/PET-G films, rigid packaging, speciality chemicals, window films, and paint protection films. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 provides a structured framework for identifying potential threats, implementing safeguards, and continuously enhancing information security. The standard emphasises proactive risk management and the use of threat intelligence, ensuring that organisations remain resilient against evolving risks and can manage them effectively.

Mr Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO of Cosmo First, highlighted the importance of information security in the digital era: “In today’s digital landscape, information security is paramount to our business operations and customer trust. This certification reinforces our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security and future-ready enterprise, committed to protecting our IPs and providing security and trust to our customers. It also gives us the confidence to seek new markets as we continue to expand our global footprint as well.”

Earlier this year, Cosmo Specialty Chemicals, the 100% subsidiary of Cosmo First and Cosmo Sunshield, a business of Cosmo First involved in Window Films also achieved the ISO 9001:2015 certification for their Quality Management Systems. This recognised the company’s commitment to maintaining high-quality standards in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of Adhesives, Coatings, Masterbatch, Window Film products at its MIDC Area facility in Waluj, Aurangabad.

These certifications and recognitions demonstrate Cosmo First’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding sensitive information assets and upholding quality operational and management practices across its diversified business operations.  The company continues to set new benchmarks in the industry through its pursuit of excellence.

SUD Life launches SUD Life NIFTY Alpha 50 Index Fund

India,10th October 2025: SUD Life Insurance has announced the launch of the SUD Life NIFTY Alpha 50 Index Fund, a new fund offering that tracks the NIFTY Alpha 50 Index, a smart beta benchmark designed to identify India’s most consistent outperforming stocks. The New Fund Offer (NFO) is open from October 6 to October 24, 2025.

The index comprises the top 50 stocks from India’s largest and most liquid companies, selected based on their alpha, which measures each stock’s ability to outperform the broader market after adjusting for risk. Each stock’s weight in the index is determined by its alpha score, creating a performance-oriented portfolio rooted in quantitative analysis.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Prashant Sharma, Chief Investment Officer at SUD Life, said – “This fund is about giving investors access to a more thoughtful way of investing in equities. Instead of simply tracking market size, it focuses on the performance of the companies that have shown an ability to deliver better returns over time. The idea is simple, to stay systematic, to stay invested, and to let data drive decisions. With the added benefit of 0% GST on ULIP charges, policyholders can now enjoy both efficiency and potential upside” 

The index is rebalanced quarterly, ensuring agility in response to evolving market dynamics. The fund targets consistent Alpha with a sector agnostic approach helping balance risk and capture opportunities across the economic spectrum.

With its mid-cap bias and focus on high-alpha constituents, the fund is suited for policyholders seeking to participate in India’s growth story through a smarter, data-led approach to equity investing.

The fund will be available with SUD Life’s unit-linked insurance products like SUD Life Wealth Builder Plan, SUD Life e-Wealth Royale, and SUD Life Star TULIP Plan.

Additionally, with the recent GST exemption on ULIP charges (0% GST), policyholders can now get greater cost efficiency and improved net returns along with a life insurance cover, making this an opportune time to grow wealth through market-linked life insurance solutions.

This launch reflects SUD Life’s continued focus on offering policyholders smarter, research-backed ways to grow their wealth while staying protected through life cover with market-linked life insurance plans.

Rajeev Juneja Appointed President of PHDCCI; Anil Gupta, Sanjay Singhania Join Leadership Team

New Delhi, October 10, 2025: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) announced the appointment of its new leadership team. Shri Rajeev Juneja has assumed charge as the President of PHDCCI, succeeding Shri Hemant Jain, who now serves as the Immediate Former President. Shri Anil Gupta has taken over as the Senior Vice President, while Sanjay Singhania has been appointed as the Vice President of the Chamber.

Shri Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI, and Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Mankind Pharma Ltd., brings to the position his extensive experience in steering one of India’s leading pharmaceutical enterprises. Sharing his vision for the Chamber, he said, “It is a privilege to lead PHDCCI at this important juncture. My focus will be on building stronger industry linkages, promoting innovation, and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 through collaborative growth and self-reliance.”

Shri Anil Gupta, Senior Vice President, PHDCCI, and Chairman & Managing Director, KEI Industries Ltd., added,  “I am delighted to be part of this leadership team and look forward to working closely with Shri Juneja and our members to drive impactful initiatives for industry and society.”

Shri Sanjay Singhania, Vice President, PHDCCI, and Managing Director & CEO, Epack Prefab Technologies Limited congratulated Mr. Rajeev Juneja for taking over as the President. He said that he has been the biggest beneficiary of being the member of this esteemed Chamber. The journey of our organisation is testimony of trust, transparency and tolerance, and we assure for taking the baton PHDCCI to newer heights with the same zeal, said Mr. Singhania.

Reflecting on his tenure, Shri Hemant Jain, Immediate Former President and Managing Director of KLJ Group of Companies, said, “Serving as President of PHDCCI has been a deeply fulfilling experience and I am confident that the Chamber will continue to expand its impact under the new leadership.”

Welcoming the new team, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, stated, “We are privileged to have such accomplished leaders at the helm. Their combined vision, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence will help PHDCCI further strengthen its role as a catalyst for national growth and global competitiveness.”

Survey Finds Rising Student Mental Distress in Karnataka & Telangana Schools

India, October 10, 2025 –  GM5 Australia based psychological wellness platform, that has been collaborating on projects in India for the past three years, has released a report highlighting a growing mental health crisis among school students in Karnataka and Telangana through its technology-enabled screening platform.

The GM5 School Survey covered 11 schools in total, engaging 2,464 students across Telangana and 2,536 students across Karnataka to assess the state of psychological well-being among adolescents. The report highlights an alarming surge in psychological distress among government and private school students aged 10-18, results mirror international data contributing to a silent epidemic that is largely overlooked. 

Brendan Fahey, Founder and Chairman, GM5 said, “So far, approximately 5000+ individual students across India have already sought guidance and emotional counselling through the GM5 B2B platform. Our aim through the GM5 survey is to bring visibility to these silent struggles, the insight from this study reaffirms our belief that proactive, data-driven approaches are vital to nurturing emotionally resilient students and communities.”

Alarming Insights from Karnataka and Telangana Schools

According to the GM5 survey in Karnataka and Telangana, nearly 24% of school students aged 10–18 show signs of psychological distress, with 6–10% falling in the high or critical range that requires immediate support. The report is based on responses from over 5,000 students across government and independent schools in the two states. More than 60% reported sleep difficulties, such as trouble falling asleep or waking not well rested, while over 70% faced challenges with focus and concentration in class. Around 40% of students expressed concerns about disappointing important people in their lives like parents and teachers and less than 75% of students feel isolated and disconnected from support networks, placing them at high risk of long-term emotional and academic challenges. The most dominant and recurring stressors were the crippling fear of letting parents down, coupled with the widespread inability to sleep or concentrate. 

“These results highlight that students are open to seeking help however introverted students or those concerned about stigma feel more comfortable turning to digital platforms and mental health applications for guidance and support. There is a need for a structured cohort-based psycho-education programs in schools, as well as technology-driven mental health solutions. With confidential screening, schools can identify issues early and provide the support students need.” said Dr. Lisa Fahey OAM, Founder & CEO, GM5. 

The survey findings point to the importance of regular well-being checks in schools, underscoring the critical value of early screening, better collaboration between students, teachers, and parents, and targeted support for common challenges like sleep, focus, and stress management among youth.