Neha Joshi and Aayudh Bhanushali Take on a Sweet Challenge

What happens when irresistible sweets meet unshakable willpower? A delightful story unfolds! Neha Joshi, known for her role as Krishna Devi Vajpayee in &TV’s Atal, recently found herself caught in a laddoo-eating challenge during a visit to Gwalior. Famous for her commitment to fitness and portion control, Neha surprised everyone by indulging in more than seven laddoos in one sitting. The occasion? Celebrating the first anniversary of Atal with her co-star, Aayudh Bhanushali, who plays the role of young Atal on the show. Their visit to Gwalior turned into a memorable adventure, especially when they explored the birthplace of the late Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The two couldn’t resist stopping by Bahadura Sweets, a shop known for its legendary laddoos, which were also a favourite of Vajpayee Ji. It wasn’t long before Neha and Aayudh turned their sweet indulgence into a friendly competition.

 So, who came out on top as the laddoo champion? Neha Joshi, aka Krishna Devi Vajpayee, says “My recent trip to Gwalior, the hometown of our Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, was an experience I’ll cherish forever. The city’s vibrant energy, rich heritage, and the warmth of its people made me feel so welcomed. This visit was even more special as we celebrated the first anniversary of our show Atal. And what better way to mark the occasion than with the sweetest treat Gwalior has to offer, the famous Bahadura Sweets and their iconic laddoos were the highlight. The irresistible aroma drew me in, and I couldn’t help but indulge, savoring every bite of their melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Of course, I had to take some home to share with my family. The real fun, however, was the laddoo challenge with Aayudh. It was a playful and friendly battle of sweet tooths, and let’s just say we both emerged victorious, proving our love for these delectable treats! Gwalior has given me unforgettable memories, filled with sweetness and joy. I can’t wait to return and relive the magic of this beautiful city!”

 Aayudh Bhanushali, aka young Atal, adds, “My trip to Gwalior was filled with excitement, history, and, of course, amazing food! The city has a unique charm that makes you feel instantly at home, and exploring its lively streets was a true pleasure. A major highlight of my visit was the legendary Bahadura Sweets. Their laddoos are a must-try, and now I understand why—they’re absolutely delicious! I couldn’t stop at just one (or two) and enjoyed every bite of their sweet, rich flavor. Sharing this foodie adventure with Aai (Neha Joshi) made it even more fun as we explored Gwalior’s incredible street food together. From crispy kachoris to spicy chaats, the local flavors were a real treat. This trip allowed me to fully immerse myself in the warmth and culture of Gwalior, and it’s an experience I’ll treasure for a long time.”

Reflecting on 2024-25: A Year-Ender Quote to Inspire the Future

 Mr. Chakravarthi C., Managing Director at Quantum Energy

“As we close out a transformative year, Quantum Energy is proud to have risen from 57th to being among the top 10 EV two-wheeler brands in India, driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainable mobility. Our product lineup, including the popular Plasma, Milan, and Bziness models, has resonated with over 10,000 consumers across 11 states and 2 union territories. Looking ahead, the upcoming greenfield facility in Maheshwaram will enable us to meet the growing demand by expanding our production capacity to 250,000 vehicles annually, while continuing to enhance our offerings for both consumers and fleet operators. The partnerships we’ve forged, such as with LoanTap and ECOFY, further solidify our vision of making electric mobility accessible and affordable to all.”

Mr. Srinath Setty, CEO, Hosachiguru

Hosachiguru stands apart from typical real estate ventures by fostering a community focused on long-term investment and sustainability through managed farmlands. Over the past decade, we have earned the trust of our customers, managing over 1,500 acres with a growing base of more than 1,500 Co-Farmers. This journey has been enriched by partnerships with organizations like Hasiru Dala, promoting responsible waste management, and Akshayakalpa, whose practices align with our ethos of prioritizing soil health and chemical-free farming.

Our Co-Farmers actively embrace the “farm-to-table” concept, cultivating their own food and creating serene farmhouses where they spend quality time amidst nature. The rising awareness about food security and the health risks of chemically grown produce has further fueled the demand for managed farmlands. At Hosachiguru, we champion sustainability by using organic formulations made on-site and steering clear of synthetic chemicals. This trend is expected to grow in 2025 as urbanites increasingly seek a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

To combat challenges posed by unpredictable climate conditions, we employ regenerative practices such as mulching and swales to conserve water, prevent soil erosion, and ensure resilience. Our efforts have yielded remarkable results, including over a 100% increase in soil organic carbon content and the harvesting of 111 crore liters of water in 2024.

As we step into 2025, we are excited to launch two major projects. Hosachiguru Mammara Farm, located in Ramanagara, features a lush mango orchard with trees aged 25–30 years. Hosachiguru Unnati, our first farm-themed residential project, combines sustainable living with modern comforts.

Our vision remains steadfast—to inspire people to integrate farming and greening into their lives, ensuring not only a secure future but also a positive impact on the planet.

Ms. Tanya Singhal, Industry Expert in Renewable Energy and Founder of Mynzo Carbon and Solar Arise

This year marked a significant political shift with Narendra Modi’s re-election in India and Donald Trump’s return to the USA. As the world edges closer to the critical 1.5-degree Celsius temperature threshold, renewable energy (now cheaper than conventional power) has emerged as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, with India leading the charge. In October 2024, India surpassed 200 GW in total renewable energy capacity, including over 90 GW in solar power, with an additional 60 GW already auctioned. The declining cost of energy storage has facilitated multiple auctions for 24/7 green power as sub-grid power costs, effectively addressing previous concerns about solar and wind intermittency. However, with disappointing outcomes at COP29 on global climate finance allocation to the Global South, India must innovate and tackle the climate crisis ourselves. We must invest in research and, build these technologies in-house & enhance capacity additions to challenge existing coal plants to ensure the target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 is fulfilled.

Mr. Tarun Sawhney, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, TEIL

“The Indian sugar industry delivered a steady performance during sugar season (SS) 2023-24, with a gross production of 34.06 million tonnes. Uttar Pradesh, a key contributor, recorded a production of 11 million tonnes, reaffirming its position as a leader in the sector. The season also saw approximately 2.1 million tonnes of sugar diverted towards ethanol production, demonstrating the industry’s commitment towards sustainability. These achievements provided a stable foundation for addressing domestic demand and advancing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

As we look ahead, the outlook for SS 2024-25 reflects cautious optimism. As per recent industry estimates, it is projected that gross sugar production should be around 33.3 million tonnes before ethanol diversion, with approximately 4.0 million tonnes expected to be diverted towards ethanol production. With an opening stock of 8.48 million tonnes and a projected closing stock of 8.78 million tonnes, the industry is well-equipped to meet the estimated domestic consumption of 29.0 million tonnes while supporting the EBP Programme.

Uttar Pradesh continues to stand out as one of the leaders in the sugar industry, with stable production levels projected at 11.01 million tonnes for SS 2024-25, almost equal to the previous season. The state’s consistent performance underscores its critical role as a cornerstone of India’s sugar sector. Its leadership in productivity, innovation, and ethanol integration highlights the potential for sustainable growth and resilience.

However, the industry continues to grapple with the stagnant Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹31 per kg, unchanged since 2019, even as input costs rise, including a ₹340 per quintal Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for SS 2024-25. To ensure industry stability, support for farmers, and a consistent sugar supply for consumers, an increase in MSP to at least ₹39.14 per kg is crucial. Additionally, revisiting the prices of ethanol feedstocks, such as sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses, is essential for the continued success of the ethanol program.”

Mr. Devesh Tyagi, CEO, NIXI

“2024 has been a pivotal year in India’s digital journey towards a Viksit Bharat 2047, marked by significant technological advancements. By providing robust and secure internet infrastructure, NIXI has facilitated the growth of a thriving digital ecosystem. This year, we’ve witnessed a surge in digital adoption across sectors, driven by advancements in areas such as the 5G rollout, AI/ML initiatives, digital public infrastructure expansion, driving economic growth and improving livelihoods.

 NIXI remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive digital future where technology empowers everyone. Looking ahead, we envision collaborating with stakeholders across sectors to leverage technology and empower individuals and businesses, striving towards a truly digital India.”

Mr. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global (India) Ltd

“As we approach the upcoming budget, the real estate sector is optimistic about reforms that can act as growth catalysts and enhance operational efficiency. Revising the current tax exemption limit on housing loans to ₹5 lakhs, in line with rising property prices and construction costs, could provide significant relief to homebuyers. This step would directly support millions of aspiring homeowners and boost demand across the sector.

Equally transformative would be granting industry status to real estate, a move capable of invigorating over 200 allied sectors. Such recognition would foster job creation, enable skill development, and amplify economic activity, further solidifying the sector’s position as a cornerstone of India’s economy.

The real estate industry is poised to play a defining role in India’s journey toward ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’ Strategic reforms, such as adjustments to GST input tax credit regulations, could reduce developers’ tax burdens, potentially stabilizing property prices and making housing more accessible. Additionally, introducing a ₹5 lakh subsidy for housing loans up to ₹1 crore would offer crucial financial support to urban and semi-urban homebuyers.

Broadening the definition of affordable housing to include properties priced up to ₹1 crore would align with evolving market dynamics and strengthen the government’s vision of ‘housing-for-all.’ These reforms, if implemented, could unlock tremendous potential, propelling the sector toward sustainable growth while contributing significantly to the nation’s development goals.”

Mr. Harshvardhan Tibrewala, MD, Vida Realty

The real estate market, by all counts, flourished this year. There existed a total of 1.5 million residential units and nearly 200 million square feet of developed commercial space. Corresponding with the growth in this, an enhanced emphasis on environmental sensitivity exists as close to nearly 30 percent of new projects receive some kind of green building certification. In addition, the penetration of smart home technology has surged rapidly with 40% of the newly finished units offering packages that will boost convenience and energy efficiency.

Mumbai is experiencing targeted growth in the regions of Chembur, Byculla, and Jogeshwari. These places are witnessing large-scale infrastructural upgrades and redevelopment. Chembur is being developed as a destination for both residential and commercial spaces. It is well connected to the business districts and the Eastern Freeway. Byculla, with its glorious heritage, is turning out to be a premium hotspot for residential spaces, based on luxury redevelopment projects. Due to the Metro and the Western Express Highway, Jogeshwari is coming up as an efficient residential hub.

Emerging markets are an expansion that has led through the activity of real estate in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, with the highest growth being up to 25%. The industry, on its part, is in for change, as green building projects will constitute 50% of new developments by 2025.

Smart and sustainable cities form the future of the real estate business and integrate technology innovation with environmental responsibility.

Shobhit Singh, Managing Director & CEO, Stone Sapphire India Pvt Ltd

 “At Stone Sapphire India Pvt Ltd, 2025 is set to be a transformative year as we pursue ambitious goals across our key divisions, driven by sustainability, innovation, and growth.

With Skoodle, we aim to achieve a 50% growth in the stationery segment, expanding our SKU range from 800 to 1,500 and increasing our retail footprint from 27,000 to 50,000 touchpoints. Our eco-friendly, wood-free pencils will enter global markets, starting with the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and CIS countries, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.

In our Toys Division, we plan to double production capacity with two new assembly lines, expand our SKU range from 1,000 to 2,000, and grow our retail presence from 3,500 to 7,500 stores. By scaling up the Toy Lab with more interns and developing at least 20 new toy concepts, we will continue driving the Make in India initiative while exploring opportunities for global outreach.

For Peggy Oliver, our Homeware Division, we are launching the innovative SEKA range and opening flagship retail stores in Jalandhar, Vadodara, Delhi, and Mumbai. These stores will feature newly designed porcelain, glassware, cutlery, and cookware, blending style with functionality to redefine home living.

In Braven Sports, we are launching the Grassroot Talent Development Programme to nurture young athletes aged 4 to 10 and expanding our sports academies, including basketball academies at district sports centers. With a new tennis ball manufacturing plant in Vadodara and adaptable sports equipment, we aim to enhance India’s sports culture while evaluating opportunities for international collaborations.

Together, these initiatives reflect our vision to drive innovation, sustainability, and growth, shaping a brighter future across education, play, home living, and sports.”

Subbu Venkatachalam, Head of Marketing, Carborundum Universal Limited

 As India relentlessly pursues the INR 3 trillion annual defence production target and exports of INR 50,000 crore1, the private sector has a pivotal role in realising this ambition. The Defence Minister recently expressed his expectation of at least 50% contribution towards defence production to attain Atmanirbharat. Over the last decade, domestic manufacturers have ramped up, in parallel, steadily expanding their share of contribution to production volumes. This is aptly demonstrated by the fact that the private sector contributed its highest share last fiscal, of 22%, since 2016-17.

With Aero India scheduled to take place in the early part of next year, we can expect to see some groundbreaking innovations from startups and established players in the sector. Materials science innovations will play a decisive role in reducing import dependence for critical materials in 2025 and beyond. This requires targeted backward integration of premium, globally benchmarked materials which are cost-competitive. Concurrently, it enables domestic manufacturers to widen their export portfolio.

Leading players in the field will have to truly step up by collaborating closely with government agencies to understand the Armed Forces’ modernisation roadmap and apply their expertise to lend a boost to indigenously-developed prototypes. This could be through breakthroughs in materials use, or signing Transfer of Technology agreements with government research organisations such as DRDO to bring in emerging technologies into the manufacturing gamut. It will also help strengthen the domestic supply chain for indigenous, fully backward integrated, defence-critical materials such as ceramics for body and vehicle armour. These will be required in significant quantities for which the private sector will need to ramp up capacity to meet demand.

Open innovation and active research will also play a considerable role in defence innovation in the next five years. Collaborative partnerships with research institutions, hackathons, and associations with startups will help fast-track new product development and accelerate development lifecycles. Sustainable, climate-friendly tech for defence, such as Passive Cooling Materials, will gain more ground and traction. Lastly, the progressive focus on indigenisation will pave the way for significant capacity addition aligned with India’s strategic priorities. This will not only help ably protect our soldiers at the frontlines but substantially bolster our defence capabilities.

Romell Group celebrates the legacy of visionaries Dhirubhai Ambani and Ratan Tata with a heartfelt tribute

Mumbai, January 1, 2025 – The Romell Group commemorated the birth anniversaries of two of India’s most visionary leaders, the late Mr. Dhirajlal Hirachand “Dhirubhai” Ambani and the late Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, with a special event held at R-Tech Park, Goregaon (E), Mumbai. The evening honored their enduring legacies while spreading festive cheer among children from the Angel Xpress Foundation.

The event featured a captivating live speed painting performance by the gifted artist, Mr. Mayuresh Pawar. His tribute to Mr. Ambani and Mr. Tata was live-streamed for the children, offering an engaging and inspiring experience.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Domnic Romell, Director of Romell Group, said:

 “This event is our humble effort to honor the immense contributions of two extraordinary visionaries, Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani and Mr. Ratan Tata, who have shaped India’s industrial landscape and inspired generations. We are equally delighted to celebrate the joy of the festive season with the children of Angel Xpress Foundation, reflecting our commitment to building a brighter future for the next generation.”

Adding to the festivities, the children participated in exciting activities like games, pebble painting, and temporary tattoo art, with each child receiving a drawing book to nurture their creativity.

Representatives from Tata Capital, Tata Steel, Tata AIG, and Reliance shared heartfelt video messages, celebrating the philanthropic legacies of Mr. Ambani and Mr. Tata. These messages were featured during the event and shared across social media, broadening the impact of their inspiring stories.

For the past 6-7 years, the Romell Group has supported the Angel Xpress Foundation by providing free space at R-Tech Park for educational classes benefiting 40-50 children. This year’s celebration highlighted the Group’s continued commitment to fostering creativity and education.

Data Dynamics Innovates Data Sovereignty with AI-Powered Software

December 31, 2024: As the world navigates unprecedented data growth and complexity, organizations are under immense pressure to secure their digital ecosystems while staying compliant with evolving global regulations. With over 80% of enterprise data now unstructured and regulatory frameworks like GDPR and DPDP imposing stricter guidelines, ensuring effective data management —especially for AI-driven LLMs— has become a non-negotiable necessity.

Data Dynamics is at the forefront of this transformation with Zubin, an AI-powered unstructured data management software that empowers businesses to reimagine Data Security Posture Management, Privacy Compliance, Governance, Data Residency & Sovereignty, Infrastructure Optimization, and Data Lifecycle Management. What makes Zubin unique? It’s 100% self-service. With an industry-first ‘Data Democracy by Design’ approach, Zubin empowers data and application owners to seamlessly manage their data through an intuitive, self-service, low-code, unified interface. Senior management and IT can centralize governance while providing everyone—from the C-suite to data stewards—the visibility and control to discover, define, act on, transform, and audit data with just a click.

What to Expect in 2025
The future of data governance lies in the seamless integration of advanced technologies and privacy-first strategies. By 2025, organizations can expect:

● Dynamic Compliance Frameworks: Real-time compliance monitoring powered by AI will redefine how organizations meet regulatory requirements.
● Decentralized Data Ownership: Self-service data management will enable teams to take direct control of their data while maintaining centralized oversight.
● AI-Driven Security: Predictive analytics and automated risk mitigation will strengthen data protection efforts across industries.
● A Trust-Centric Economy: Companies prioritizing data transparency and sovereignty will differentiate themselves as leaders in a privacy-conscious marketplace.

What’s in store for 2025 with Zubin?

In 2025, Zubin is set to redefine enterprise data management by integrating cutting-edge Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and Data Sovereignty Management (DSM) capabilities, addressing the critical challenges of the AI-driven, regulatory-heavy landscape. The upcoming releases will offer advanced data governance, privacy-centric compliance, and proactive risk mitigation powered by generative AI. Zubin will introduce data minimization and risk profiling frameworks, enabling organizations to comply with evolving privacy mandates like GDPR and CPRA, while its sensitivity analysis tools will ensure granular compliance across global regulatory landscapes. The software’s expanded integration capabilities will support diverse data environments and pipelines, delivering unprecedented scalability and flexibility. Enhanced metadata analytics with risk profiling, classification, and contextual tagging tools, paired with intuitive self-service features, will empower data owners with data observability, actionability, and autonomy while maintaining centralized oversight. Businesses will gain insights into cost, risk, and carbon footprint profiling through statistical sampling, aligning data strategies with ESG and sustainability goals. Zubin’s seamless compatibility with cloud-native marketplaces and API-driven architecture will enable enterprises to optimize multi-cloud deployments, ensuring faster time-to-value, operational efficiency, and streamlined workflows.