Category Archives: News

Two eminent PR professionals of Odisha conferred with India’s Regional PR Awards (IRPRA) 2025

Bhubaneswar, Jan 29: To honor and celebrate excellence in public relations, IRPRA a prominent name in the PR industry has announced its list of awardee agencies and professionals for 2025. Advento Communications has been honoured with the Best Regional PR Award, earning a place among the top 20 PR agencies. The India’s Regional PR Awards (IRPRA) 2025, a prestigious platform recognizing outstanding achievement in public relations across regional India, proudly announces its list of winners. The awards were revealed on  January 2026, with the virtual ceremony on 17 January 2026, spotlighting the finest talent and innovation in regional communications. The complete details of the award and the list of winners are available at the link https://share.google/ksCv6O7UXtw94lsey 

Two eminent PR professionals from Odisha named Bijayeeta Tripathy and Pabita Mishra conferred with prestigious IRPRA 2025 Awards 2026 under 40 under 40 Awards category. Bijayeeta Tripathy awarded with Best Creative Entertainment Campaign and Pabita Mishra with Leading PR Campaign for Startups. On this occasion, Bijayeeta Tripathy stated, “We are committed to delivering the best PR services in Odisha.” On the other hand, Pabita Mishra said, “We are encouraged by the trust our clients have placed in us, recognizing us as one of Bhubaneswar’s leading PR agencies.”

IRPRA celebrates exceptional contributions by PR professionals and agencies that have demonstrated creativity, strategic excellence, and impact in their campaigns across diverse categories — from crisis communication and digital media to startup communication and rural outreach. 

 “We are thrilled to honor the remarkable work that reshapes how regional narratives are crafted and communicated,” Spokesperson of IRPRA. “The winners represent the next generation of PR excellence — driving innovation and meaningful engagement in their communities.” 

The esteemed jury panel for IRPRA 2025 comprised renowned experts in communications, media, and corporate public relations, including Archana Muthappa, Kavita Lakhani, Jyotsna Dash Nanda, Tanmana Rath, Smita Srivastava, and others who brought deep industry insight to the judging process.

India’s Regional PR Awards (IRPRA) 2025, under the banner of #40under40, celebrated and honored PR professionals who have made remarkable contributions to the field of regional PR over the past few years. These individuals have demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication, shaping the landscape of PR in India. We proudly announce the winners in various categories.

Cathay Cargo returns to fly elite equine athletes to Hong Kong’s premier international showjumping event

Jan 29: Cathay Cargo has successfully transported approximately 60 elite showjumping horses from Europe to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, scheduled to take place at AsiaWorld-Expo from 30 January to 1 February 2026.

Building on the success of last year’s event, Cathay Cargo’s specialist teams executed a highly coordinated logistics operation to transport the equine athletes on a 12-hour journey from Liège, Belgium—a central European hub with a well-equipped cargo airport and stabling facilities—to Hong Kong International Airport. The horses travelled aboard a chartered Boeing 747 freighter, whose spacious main deck and temperature-controlled environment provide optimal conditions for safe and comfortable long-haul transport, ensuring the horses arrive calm, healthy, and competition-ready.

Commenting on the operation, Dominic Perret, Director Cargo, Cathay, said: “Transporting world-class equine athletes is both a privilege and a significant responsibility. We understand the pressures riders and owners face ahead of elite competition, which is why our focus is to eliminate travel as a source of stress. Our proven expertise in live animal logistics has driven year-on-year growth in this segment, and supporting an event of this calibre further reinforces our position as a trusted partner for high-stakes animal transport.”

Reimagining the live animal transport experience

As global demand for live animal cargo continues to grow, Cathay Cargo’s approach extends beyond transportation alone. Its Live Animal solution is anchored in three core principles:

• Creature comfort: IATA-compliant travel stalls ensure adequate space, ventilation, and safety.

• Charting the right path: Optimised routing minimises stops and transit time, reducing stress for the animals.

• Flying with trust: Industry-leading IATA CEIV Live Animals certification ensures the highest standards of animal welfare.

Each flight is supported by dedicated human expertise. The horses benefit from priority ground handling and slow-speed tarmac transfers. During the flight, CEIV-certified crew continuously monitor and adjust cargo-hold temperature and airflow, while professional grooms accompany the horses throughout the journey, providing hands-on care and constant supervision.

Jo Peck, Event Director at HPower International, said:

“For an international event of this scale, the stakes are exceptionally high. There is no room for uncertainty when transporting elite equine athletes. That’s why we are delighted to partner with Cathay Cargo for the second consecutive year. Their meticulous care, deep understanding of horses, and world-class cargo discipline provide invaluable assurance, allowing riders and organisers to focus entirely on delivering a successful event.”

Cathay Cargo is the first airline in Asia to achieve IATA’s CEIV Live Animals certification, reflecting its deep expertise in managing complex, high-value animal shipments across multiple species.

The successful delivery of these elite showjumping horses once again underscores Cathay Cargo’s leadership in live animal logistics and its continued partnership with one of Asia’s most anticipated international equestrian events.

CMD, IREDA Calls for Integrated Energy Transition at India Energy Week 2026

Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA), participated in a high-level roundtable on “Net Zero Emissions: Environmental, Economic and Social Implications – Role of Oil and Biofuels in the Transition” at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa.

Highlighting India’s rapid progress in clean energy, Shri Das noted that the parallel scaling of renewable energy and alternative low-carbon fuels is already delivering tangible outcomes. Initiatives such as ethanol blending are reducing import dependence, lowering emissions, and enhancing energy security, collectively steering the country towards a Viksit Bharat. He emphasised that this integrated approach is aligned with India’s development-first pathway to achieving Net Zero by 2070 and its commitment to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. With India’s per capita electricity consumption still less than one-third of the global average, he stressed the importance of a phased, realistic, and growth-oriented energy transition.

Shri Das further underscored that oil and gas will continue to play a critical transitional role across transport, petrochemicals, and industry, ensuring energy security and price stability. He added that biofuels offer a scalable decarbonisation pathway by leveraging existing infrastructure while simultaneously supporting rural livelihoods.

He also highlighted that India’s clean energy expansion represents one of the largest nation-building opportunities globally, generating significant demand for engineers, financiers, data specialists, and project managers. A just, affordable transition—supported by reskilling initiatives and strong domestic manufacturing—will be essential to maximise social and economic benefits.

Concluding his address, Shri Das stated,

“Oil, gas and biofuels are not obstacles but enablers of a systematic transition. IREDA remains committed to ensuring that India’s climate ambitions are supported by accessible and affordable green finance.”

In addition, the CMD, IREDA, contributed to the CEO Roundtable on “Global Green Hydrogen and its Derivatives Offtake,” where he emphasised that scalable financing mechanisms and coordinated policy support are critical to accelerating the development of India’s green hydrogen and green ammonia markets. He noted that speed and skill, backed by strong policy frameworks, can position India not only as a major manufacturing hub for green hydrogen but also as a significant global export hub.

Punjab & Sind Bank Celebrates 77th Republic Day with Pride, Honouring the Constitution and India’s Unity

New Delhi, Jan 29: Punjab & Sind Bank marked the 77th Republic Day of India with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour across its offices, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to the values and principles enshrined in the Constitution of India. The celebrations reflected the Bank’s deep respect for India’s democratic ethos and its enduring legacy of service to the nation.

At the Bank’s Corporate Office, the celebrations commenced with the unfurling of the National Flag by Shri Swarup Kumar Saha, Managing Director & CEO, in the presence of senior management, officers, staff members, and invited guests. The solemn flag-hoisting ceremony was followed by the singing of the National Anthem, instilling a strong sense of unity and national pride among all present.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Swarup Kumar Saha highlighted the significance of Republic Day and reiterated Punjab & Sind Bank’s unwavering commitment to nation-building, inclusive growth, customer-centric banking, and service excellence. He also commended the dedication and collective efforts of the Bank’s employees in strengthening its contribution to India’s economic development.

The celebrations were further enriched by a stirring military band performance, adding grandeur and patriotic spirit to the occasion. Reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, a plantation drive was also organised as part of the event.

A vibrant cultural programme followed, featuring performances by Bank employees and their children, celebrating India’s rich cultural diversity. Special group dance performances by Amrit Saini Academy emerged as a key highlight of the celebrations and were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by the Chief General Manager, who expressed heartfelt appreciation to all participants, performers, and organising teams for making the celebration memorable. The event concluded with a brunch, fostering camaraderie and togetherness among employees.

Punjab & Sind Bank continues to uphold the spirit of the Constitution and remains committed to serving the nation with integrity, dedication, and excellence—where service truly remains a way of life.

Swiggy Now Lets You Order Food, Dineout, and Shop on Instamart Directly Inside ChatGPT and Claude

Swiggy Ltd India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, today announced a major leap in conversational commerce with the launch of Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations across various business verticals. This rollout, covering Swiggy Food, Instamart, and Dineout, enables users to order groceries, place food orders, and make dining reservations directly through popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and others.

With this launch, Instamart becomes the first quick-commerce platform globally to adopt MCP, allowing users to browse and purchase from an assortment of over 40,000 SKUs using simple, natural language prompts.

The Shift to Agentic AI in Commerce

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source framework that connects AI systems and chatbots to live data, sources, and services, allowing them to interact securely with external applications. By exposing a secure set of tools via MCP servers, Swiggy allows AI agents to perform complex tasks that previously required navigating multiple app screens. Users can bypass traditional app interfaces and issue intent-based commands. For example, a user can simply type: “Order ingredients needed for Thai green curry.” or “Order a highly rated biryani I would love.”

The AI agent then handles the entire process: searching for products or restaurants, comparing options, building and updating the cart, applying the best offers or coupons, getting addresses, placing the order, and even tracking delivery. It can also retrieve available booking time slots for a specific restaurant and book a table by creating a cart, applying offers, and confirming the booking in a single prompt.

As users grow more AI-native, increasingly relying on conversational interfaces for planning and decision-making, Swiggy’s integration reflects this shift from static app navigation to dynamic, conversational commerce. This “agentic AI flow” significantly reduces friction by allowing the large language models to handle brand comparisons, quantity selection, and checkout details. The result is a simpler, faster, and more personalized shopping experience that lets users express their intent once and leave it on AI to handle the rest.

Madhusudhan Rao, Chief Technology Officer, Swiggy, said, “India’s convenience needs are deeply contextual, shaped by everyday moments, family routines, personal preferences, and time constraints. Swiggy has always focused on solving for convenience at scale, and conversational commerce takes that a step further by allowing users to simply express what they want, when they want it, whether it is to book a table at their favourite restaurant or order drinks and snacks for a match-viewing party. By bringing MCP to quick commerce, food delivery, and dining out, we’re removing friction from daily decisions and enabling a level of ease, personalisation, and joy that makes on-demand convenience feel effortless.”

Swiggy’s MCP launch builds the foundation for future AI-led experiences, where intelligent agents can act contextually across use cases like meal planning, health goals, dietary preferences, and occasion-based shopping, while remaining privacy-first and secure. In practice, this means users can ask an AI assistant to discover a recipe, identify the right ingredients for four people and add them to their Instamart cart before checking out, build and order a keto or vegan shopping list, compare brands and prices for everyday household staples, or search restaurants and menus, apply relevant offers and book a dine-in table, all through a single, conversational interaction.

How this works

Users can connect the service with AI assistants such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Cursor, or any agent of their choice in just a few simple steps:

1. Navigate to Settings → Connectors → Add Custom Connector/App
2. Enter a Name for your connector
3. Provide the URL for the service you want to integrate

Kaynes Semicon Secures Fiscal Support Agreement Under India Semiconductor Mission

Kaynes Semicon executes Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents Required to Receive Fiscal Support under India Semiconductor Mission Framework

Bangalore, Jan 28 :   Kaynes Semicon Private Limited (“Kaynes Semicon”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaynes Technology India Limited, today announced the execution of its Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents with the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Government of India, under the policy framework established to develop semiconductor manufacturing capability in the country.

The signing of the Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents Required marks an important procedural milestone in the implementation of eligible fiscal support as notified under the scheme guidelines, and is a reflection of the Government of India’s sustained commitment to the success of the India Semiconductor Mission. For Kaynes Semicon, this underscores our resolve to operate with the highest levels of governance, transparency and compliance as we scale our semiconductor initiatives. We are deeply committed to playing a leadership role — both in execution and in shaping India’s semiconductor manufacturing capability — in alignment with the country’s long-term strategic objectives.

Shri Amitesh Kumar Sinha, CEO, ISM, added:

“The execution of the Fiscal Support Agreement and other Transaction Documents mark an important milestone for the project and we look forward to continued progress in line with the Mission’s objectives.”

Commenting on the development, Mr. Raghu Panicker, CEO, Kaynes Semicon, said:

“Execution of all these documents along with Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents Required is an important step forward for Kaynes Semicon as we progress on our semiconductor manufacturing journey. We remain grateful to the Government of India, India Semiconductor Mission and Government of Gujarat for their continued support in this journey. We are committed to building a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem from India with a clear focus on operational excellence and robust compliance.”

Mr. Ramesh Kannan, Executive Vice Chairman, Kaynes Technology India Limited, added:

“Semiconductors are foundational to India’s digital and manufacturing ambitions, and this milestone reinforces our strategic commitment to play a meaningful role in this sector through Kaynes Semicon. We appreciate the structured governance framework established by the India Semiconductor Mission and remain focused on long-term value creation for all stakeholders.”

“Kaynes Semicon, an IESA member, has demonstrated how strong industry capability combined with decisive government action can accelerate India’s semiconductor journey. We commend ISM and MeitY for their timely approvals and structured execution framework, which are building confidence across the ecosystem, Commented Ashok Chandak, President IESA.

Zithara.AI Founders Chart Bold AI Roadmap for Budget 2026

Hyderabad, Jan 28: As India gears up for Union Budget 2026, Zithara.AI—a Hyderabad-based pioneer in AI-powered offline retail transformation—outlines key expectations to accelerate deep-tech adoption. Serving 500+ stores like jewellery chains and Bajaj Electronics, the company addresses challenges including data silos, skilling gaps, and infrastructure hurdles in India’s 12M+ offline retail ecosystem.

Varun Kashyap and Sridevi Reddy, Co-Founders, Zithara.AI, said:

To have the government be more all-in and to be more invested both in letter, money and spirit, for that matter, as far as the ecosystem is concerned. The Government set aside a budget of Rs. 10,300+  Crore to boost the India AI mission over 5 years might not be sufficient for scaling up the AI-powered ecosystem. We need to treat AI as a future technology and treat it like Infrastructure to ensure better accessibility to funding.

We would also like to highlight that if the government is more invested in the business, then the ecosystem will be primed to support the startups. If a startup gets the 1^st set of funding from the government and they need to scale up, going back to the government is not an option. The startup has to depend on VC’s. Therefore, we would like the Government to set up funds to facilitate the funding for scaling up, particularly for startups with a proven track record for performance.

AI startups, we can allocate only 10 to 15 percent budget allocated for AI R&D, which is not sufficient to scaleup. Moreover, currently, we use the GPUs that are not in India; we’re always living on borrowed technology and have to pay a substantial amount for the same. With the high velocity of AI startups in the country, we need to build that capability inside India – a budget allocation for the same will be a great trigger for future growth. If the government is backing an initiative, it is going to be the nation’s competitive advantage.

The Centre must fully commit to AI startups in Budget 2026 with enhanced funding and security measures to power India’s deep-tech ecosystem.

HIL Begins Toll Operations at Kaza Fee Plaza, Marks Largest Single Toll Mandate

Madhya Pradesh, India, Jan 28: Highway Infrastructure Limited (“HIL”), a leading integrated infrastructure development and management company with expertise in Toll Operations, EPC Infrastructure, and Real Estate, has commenced toll operations at Kaza Fee Plaza on the Chilakaluripet–Vijayawada section of NH-16 in Andhra Pradesh, effective 23 January 2026.

The project spans 82.5 km (from 355.0 Km to 437.5 Km) along NH‑16, a key north–south corridor connecting major economic hubs across southern and eastern India. Notably, Kaza Toll Plaza records the highest toll collection among public-funded plazas in South India (Source: IHMCL).

First-of-Its-Scale Toll Operations Contract

This marks HIL’s first toll operations contract of this scale, with a contract value of ₹328.77 crore, awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). It also represents the company’s largest single toll mandate to date, reflecting a significant expansion of its toll operations vertical. HIL will operate the plaza for a one-year period, translating this order win into immediate operational activity and revenue generation.

The project aligns with HIL’s asset-light toll operations model, enabling:

• Efficient scaling with limited capital commitment

• Strong operating cash-flow visibility

• Rapid conversion of order book into executed revenues

Strengthening Presence on a Strategic Corridor

NH‑16 is among India’s busiest highway corridors and a vital part of the national logistics and passenger transport network. HIL’s entry into this stretch:

• Expands its pan-India toll operations footprint

• Strengthens long-term engagement with NHAI

• Reinforces its credentials as a scalable partner for large national projects

Robust Order Book Growth

With the addition of Kaza Fee Plaza and other recent wins, HIL’s consolidated order book now stands at ₹1,209 crore, reflecting:

• EPC Order Book: Up 52% since March 2025, from ₹417 crore to ₹633 crore

• Tollways Collection Order Book: Up ~404% since March 2025, from ₹114 crore to ₹575 crore

This growth enhances medium-term revenue visibility and demonstrates HIL’s ability to scale efficiently across segments.

Outlook

HIL continues to strengthen its resilient and scalable infrastructure delivery platform, leveraging a growing order pipeline and balanced EPC and toll operations to capitalize on India’s ongoing highway development initiatives.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Arun Kumar Jain, Managing Director, Highway Infrastructure Limited said:

“The commencement of toll operations at Kaza Fee Plaza marks our first-ever contract of this scale and represents a significant milestone in HIL’s growth journey. This project underscores NHAI’s confidence in our operational capabilities and strengthens our presence on a strategically important national corridor in Andhra Pradesh. With a rapidly expanding order book and an asset-light execution model, we remain focused on disciplined operations, technology-driven efficiency, and sustainable long-term value creation for our investors.”

Feeding India Serves 23 Crore Meals in 2024–25, Expands Fight Against Hunger

Feeding India Releases 2024-25 Annual Report: Over 23 Crore Meals Served, Highlights Fight Against Hunger Beyond Classrooms

New Delhi, Jan 28: Feeding India, a not-for-profit, released its Annual Report for the fiscal year 2024-2025, highlighting its cumulative impact of serving over 23 crore meals to underprivileged communities across India in the last seven years. Operational in more than 150 cities, the organisation has solidified its role as a key player in the fight against child malnutrition, supporting over 140,000 children daily through its partner network.

The report, titled “A Year of Nourishing Dreams,” highlights a strategic expansion that ranges from eliminating classroom hunger to holistic early childhood development through the revitalisation of Anganwadis.

Key Operational Highlights

Daily Feeding Program: The organisation’s flagship program now supports 1,097 partner schools and 726 Anganwadi centres, reaching 275 formal schools, 720 informal learning centers, 58 schools for children with disabilities, and 32 orphan homes. By adapting menus to local tastes (such as serving Rajma Chawal in the North and Idli Sambhar in the South), Feeding India ensures meals are culturally accepted, wholesome, diverse and nutritious. Meals are delivered either through on-site cooking with dry rations or via centralised kitchens.

Anganwadi Transformation: Recognising that malnutrition often starts before school age, the organisation has intervened in 726 Anganwadi centres across key districts like Gurugram, Kushinagar, and Varanasi, impacting ~27,000 young children aged 0-6 years. This includes infrastructure upgrades of over 30 Anganwadis using “Building as Learning Aid” (BaLA) concepts (vibrant spaces, improved sanitation, and child-friendly environments) and providing nutrient-dense supplementary nutrition. In Varanasi, a pilot initiative currently provides full breakfast and lunch meals, marking a significant upgrade from supplementary snacks.

Disaster Response: In 2024-25, Feeding India deployed rapid emergency relief across multiple states, including distributing nearly 2,000 ration kits during the Assam floods and Kerala landslides, and serving over 190,000 hot meals following the Uttarakhand cloudburst. Relief efforts also extended to Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu following Cyclone Fengal.

Community Mobilisation & Transparency

The report underscores the power of community, notably through the Zomato Feeding India Concert featuring Dua Lipa, which united 28,000 attendees for the cause in 2024. Innovative initiatives like the Poshan Potli nutrition kits supported TB patients in Varanasi during treatment recovery.

The report further highlights the power of platform-driven impact: Zomato customers contributed nearly 80% of total funds (INR 74 crore), with Blinkit customers adding 15% (INR 14 crore). Institutional donors, employees, and website contributions combined account for ~5%. To bridge the gap between contribution and impact, the initiative focuses on “empowering dreams” through digital transparency. Donors can verify their impact directly on the Zomato or Blinkit apps by searching for ‘Feeding India’. This feature allows users to track the exact number of meals they have served and provides a window into partner schools, connecting donors personally to the mission.

Impact Stories

The report features success stories like that of the Malvi Educational and Charitable Trust in Gujarat, where students showed an average BMI improvement of 9.50% after the introduction of daily nutritious meals.

A Feeding India spokesperson said,

“Every meal represents hope, dignity, and opportunity for a child who might otherwise go hungry. As we scale our operations, we remain committed to not just feeding children, but nourishing their potential through holistic interventions in nutrition, infrastructure, and care.”

Cinema halls see ‘Sci-Fi Movie’ posters that are pure brand genius

Mumbai, January 27: What a unique way to position a brand and grab audience attention. SAEL, a vertically integrated and diversified renewable energy company, has creatively placed brand posters in various cinemas across major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and others.

The posters are visually compelling and so futuristic that moviegoers initially mistook them for an upcoming Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster. This smart storytelling showcases SAEL’s waste-to-energy and solar power verticals, turning casual theatre visits into intriguing introductions to clean energy innovation.

A campaign executed very subtly, yet impactful delivering a blockbuster narrative without saying a word.