3, Sep 2026
WhatsApp Brings Everyday Bill Payments Under One Roof in India
New Delhi, Sep 3: WhatsApp has expanded its digital payment services in India with a new Bill Payments feature that allows users to manage and pay household and utility bills directly through the messaging platform.
The new service is powered by the Bharat Connect network and provides access to 22,722 billers across 30 categories. Users can pay a range of regular expenses, including electricity, water, gas, FASTag, insurance premiums, credit card bills and loan repayments.
The feature is designed to make routine payments simpler by reducing the need to move between different apps. Users can select a bill category, choose their service provider, enter the required account details and complete the payment through the available options.
WhatsApp is also offering tools to help users manage recurring payments. They can keep multiple accounts under the same biller, view previous transactions and access frequently used billers more easily.
The Bill Payments service is being rolled out gradually across India and will become available to Android and iOS users over the coming weeks.
The launch strengthens WhatsApp’s growing role in India’s digital payments ecosystem, following the introduction of services such as UPI payments and mobile recharges. The move also reflects the broader shift towards bringing everyday financial services into platforms that consumers already use regularly.
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- By Neel Achary
3, Sep 2026
Nepal Flood Disaster Deepens as Death Toll Crosses 1,200
Kathmandu, Sep 3: Nepal is continuing to grapple with the aftermath of devastating flash floods, with the death toll rising to 1,243 as rescue teams battle heavy rain, mud and debris to locate people still missing.
Rescue operations remain focused on areas along the Bhotekoshi River, where authorities fear some people could be trapped inside tunnels and underground power facilities. Difficult weather and debris have made access to several locations challenging.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged the international community to take a closer look at the possible role of climate change in the disaster. He said the issue needs greater global attention as Nepal works to recover from the widespread destruction.
The tragedy has left families facing uncertainty, with some holding symbolic funeral ceremonies for relatives who remain missing.
India has stepped up its relief assistance to Nepal, sending more than five tonnes of essential medicines along with an 11-member specialised rescue team. The team has also brought more than six tonnes of rescue equipment to assist local authorities in ongoing search and relief operations.
Authorities and rescue workers are continuing their efforts to reach isolated communities, search for missing people and provide essential assistance to those affected by the floods.
The disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to extreme weather events and the need for stronger preparedness and rapid emergency response systems.
3, Sep 2026
ITP Media Group secures major acquisition of APAC’s Heart Media Group sparking international expansion across Asia
The landmark deal in the 40-year history of the Middle East-headquartered business establishes one of the world’s leading independently-owned media groups – with the company eyeing further international growth.
DUBAI, UAE, SINGAPORE and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia , Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ITP Media Group, one of the largest media companies in the Middle East, today announced the acquisition of Singapore-headquartered Heart Media Group, a leading luxury and lifestyle media house. The combined business will now operate in markets home to more than 2 billion people, connecting brands with affluent consumers across the GCC, India and Asia-Pacific.
Adding Heart Media’s operations, ITP Media expands to three new international markets: Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Heart Media brands and teams will operate under the ITP Media name, with integration phased to protect editorial identity, client relationships and trust of audiences. It builds on ITP Media’s existing operations in India, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA and Qatar.
South East Asia represents one of the fastest-growing markets for the media and entertainment industry, expanding at 6% per year with some markets up to 8.4% (PwC Global E&M Outlook). ITP Media’s investment aligns with growing demand amongst wealthy audiences in these regions, increasingly looking for media and luxury brands that serve their interests. Hong Kong has overtaken Switzerland as the top hub for cross-border wealth (BCG Global Wealth Report), while there are more than 4,000 single-family offices across Hong Kong and Singapore, quadrupling over the past five years. Malaysia is anticipated to see a 20% climb in ultra-high-net-worth individuals over the next five years (Knight Frank).
Heart Media’s publications – including ELLE, Esquire, Grazia, LUXUO, Men’s Folio, NOBLE, WOW (World of Watches) and Yacht Style – cater to these affluent audiences, providing ITP Media with access to new customers.
The group has earmarked investment to support the acquisition, including bolstering existing teams, supporting local economies and creating job opportunities across editorial, digital, design and live events.
These teams will roll-out cross-border digital media, events, gaming tournaments, brand activations and live sporting experiences. Through the group, luxury brands will access a streamlined cross-border platform, enabling advertising and sponsorship opportunities that connect with high-net-worth audiences across multiple markets.
ITP Media Group CEO, Ali Akawi, said: “At its core, ITP Media Group has always been about creating powerful content that connects people. As we look forward, our roadmap is focused on massive global scale. We are committed to a multi-year strategy of expansion and targeted acquisitions to build a media ecosystem capable of reaching billions worldwide. The acquisition of Heart Media Group strengthens our foundation as we scale our platforms, embrace new media technologies and bring world-class storytelling to a truly global audience.”
Olivier Burlot has propelled Heart Media Group through annual growth across Asia and will now join the ITP Media Group board. As part of a phased equity transition, he will continue to provide strategic licensing direction of owned and operated products.
Heart Media Group CEO, Olivier Burlot, added: “When we built Heart Media, the ambition was always to give Asia’s luxury and lifestyle audiences media truly worthy of them. Joining ITP is the natural next chapter – it takes everything we have created and gives it scale, investment and a bridge into one of the world’s fastest-growing luxury markets. I am proud of what our teams across Asia have built and genuinely excited by what they can now do with ITP’s reach behind them.”
Wilson Lim will continue as Managing Director of ITP Media (Singapore) & ITP Media (Malaysia) with support from current operational, sales and editorial teams, overseeing executive and management duties across the Singapore and Malaysia offices.
ITP’s latest acquisition follows the announcement of a 10-year agreement with Time Out to operate Time Out Hong Kong and Time Out Singapore.
Since 1987, ITP Media has grown from a single B2B brand with five staff, to a multinational business with offices across Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America, serving monthly audiences of over 200 million people. With this acquisition, ITP Media now has physical presence in 10 countries with a portfolio of 90 brands.
Media contact:
Jonathan Ivan-Duke
duke+mir
jon@dukemir.com
+971582857333
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3, Sep 2026
AssetPlus Launches Portfolio Management Services to Help MFD Partners Grow and Retain High-Net-Worth Clients
AssetPlus is the first platform in India to give MFD partners daily portfolio updates for their PMS clients.
CHENNAI, India, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AssetPlus, a fully digital wealth management platform designed for India’s Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs), has launched Portfolio Management Services (PMS). Backed by dedicated support at every step, certified partner MFDs can now onboard, track, manage and report on PMS for eligible high-net-worth clients from within AssetPlus. Distribution requires the NISM Series-XXI-A certification mandated by SEBI, for which AssetPlus Academy provides end-to-end training and support.
Assets in the HNI-facing PMS segment, excluding EPFO and provident fund money, have crossed ₹10 lakh crore, according to SEBI data, up from about ₹5 lakh crore in FY21. The client base has grown alongside it, to roughly 2.2 lakh, per SEBI and APMI data. SEBI has also simplified PMS distribution, introducing formal registration for distributors through the APRN framework. As MFDs’ own clients cross this threshold, partners have typically had to track the relationship on a second, disconnected system. AssetPlus believes serving this segment well means giving partners a way to manage that relationship themselves, not hand it off.
“Some of our partners have worked with the same client since AssetPlus’s earliest years, when their first investment was a modest SIP,” said Vishranth Suresh, Co-founder and CEO, AssetPlus. “A decade on, that client’s wealth has grown many times over, and with PMS, so has their partner’s ability to serve them. That’s the kind of platform we want AssetPlus to be: one that partners build their entire practice on, not just where they start.”
PMS gives a client an individually managed portfolio, built around their own goals and risk profile, unlike the pooled structure of a mutual fund. It is run by a SEBI-registered Portfolio Manager, and investments sit directly in the client’s own demat account.
AssetPlus partners get:
- End-to-end NISM Series-XXI-A certification training and support through AssetPlus Academy, so partners can get PMS-ready
- One dashboard and app for partners and clients, from onboarding to reporting
- Daily portfolio updates, holdings, performance and valuation in one view, a first for PMS distribution platforms in India
As mandated by SEBI, the minimum investment is ₹50 lakh, and the offering is governed by the SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, 2020. Disclosure documents and regulatory information are provided by the respective Portfolio Managers.
“Every Portfolio Manager reports holdings and valuations in a different format; most systems reconcile that periodically,” said Awanish Raj, Co-founder and CTO, AssetPlus. “We built AssetPlus PMS to reconcile it daily instead, so partners and clients see an updated portfolio every day, not once a month. That makes us the first PMS distribution platform in India to do it, and it’s the piece we spent the most engineering time getting right.”
AssetPlus works with over 22,000 MFD partners across India, who together manage more than ₹9,000 crore in assets under management, run a monthly SIP book exceeding ₹150 crore, and serve ~2 lakh investing customers. Since its founding in 2016, the platform has expanded from mutual fund distribution into insurance, NPS, LAMF, CFDs and SIFs, with PMS as its newest addition.
PMS, backed by AssetPlus Academy’s certification support, is AssetPlus’s latest step in helping partners serve clients at every stage of their wealth management journey.
About AssetPlus
Founded in 2016, AssetPlus is a fully digitally-assisted wealth management platform built for India’s Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs). The platform gives partners seamless client onboarding, access to a wide range of financial products, and tools to manage clients efficiently. AssetPlus works with over 22,000 MFD partners across India, who together manage more than ₹9,000 crore in assets under management, run a monthly SIP book exceeding ₹150 crore, and serve ~2 lakh investing customers.
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3, Sep 2026
Rising Ganga Water Triggers Alert in Varanasi, PM Modi Reviews Relief Efforts
Varanasi, Sep 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the worsening flood situation in Varanasi and asked the local administration to ensure that relief and rescue efforts reach affected people quickly as the Ganga continues to rise.
PM Modi spoke with Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari and District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar to understand the situation on the ground and take an update on the steps being taken by the administration.
Officials briefed the Prime Minister on the areas affected by rising water levels, ongoing rescue operations and arrangements being made for people who may need to move to safer locations. He stressed the need for prompt action and directed officials to ensure that residents face minimum inconvenience during the situation.
The Prime Minister also reviewed arrangements at relief camps and asked the administration to ensure that people staying there receive essential facilities without delay. Officials have also been instructed to remain prepared to arrange additional food, medicines and other relief material if required.
The administration has been asked to keep a close watch on the river and respond immediately to any further rise in the water level. The emphasis is on ensuring public safety while maintaining uninterrupted relief operations.
The Ganga crossed its warning level in Varanasi on Wednesday. According to the Central Water Commission, the river was flowing at 70.29 metres, above the warning mark of 70.26 metres.
The increase in water levels has raised concerns in low-lying parts of the city and areas close to the ghats. The danger level for the Ganga at Varanasi is 71.26 metres, while the highest flood level is recorded at 73.90 metres.
As a precaution, the district administration has temporarily stopped boat operations on the Ganga. Residents, devotees and visitors have also been advised to stay away from the ghats and avoid areas where strong currents or rising water could create a safety risk.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the river closely and assess the situation across vulnerable areas. Relief teams and local officials remain on alert so that assistance can be provided quickly if conditions deteriorate.
The administration’s immediate priority is to protect residents, maintain essential services and ensure that people affected by the rising water receive timely support.
3, Sep 2026
Huawei Unveils Next-Gen Flagship Products at “Chase the Wild” Global Innovative Product Launch Event in Munich
MUNICH, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Huawei kicked off its “Chase the Wild” global innovative product launch event on September 2 at SHOWPALAST Munich, Germany. Huawei unveiled a sweeping portfolio of new flagship devices across four key categories: smart wearables, tablets, smartphones, and audio. The event underscored Huawei’s commitment to seamlessly integrating intelligent technology into everyday life, empowering users to pursue their passions with freedom and vitality.
Wild is chill vitality—to gallop freely, to venture boldly. Wild is tech for all—an invisible power beside you. Wild is the spark of passion, joy, and untamed self-expression. The company emphasized that its latest products are designed to become natural extensions of the users’ lives, whether they are exploring the outdoors, documenting their adventures, or unlocking new creative potential.
Taking center stage, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 7 Series redefines the sports smartwatch category with comprehensive upgrades across design, outdoor sports capabilities, health management, and battery life. The Series features the new EasyCross strap. The GT 7 model is available in 46 mm and 41 mm editions with eight color options, while the GT 7 Pro offers three colorways and incorporates a nano-tech ceramic bezel and titanium alloy middle frame for enhanced durability. For sports enthusiasts, the GT 7 Series introduces industry-first wrist-based turn detection and G-Force detection, alongside new indoor snow sports mode and outdoor ski mapping covering more than 3,000 resorts worldwide. Cycling features now include route planning for climbing, slope alerts, and sharp-turn warnings. On the health front, the upgraded Health Insights offers new features like Physical Readiness scoring and smart health analysis, delivering clearer, more actionable wellness recommendations.
After a one-year hiatus, the all-round smart flagship HUAWEI WATCH 6 Series makes its European comeback. Highlighting high-intelligence design, advanced workout modes, and AI-driven workout analysis, the watch supports independent calling, navigation, and payment functions. Enhanced Health Glance[i], Health Insights[ii], and Healthy Living features[iii] make proactive health management more intuitive than ever.
Huawei also officially launched the HUAWEI WATCH D3, a next-generation blood pressure monitor that has secured European CE-MDR medical certification. The device now supports pre- and post-exercise blood pressure measurement, along with smart blood pressure measurement reminders, delivering more comprehensive wrist-based blood pressure management. This marks a significant step forward for Huawei in the field of digital health management.
For productivity and creativity, Huawei introduced the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12-inch, a flagship tablet measuring just 4.7 mm thin and weighing 454 grams. It features a 12-inch flexible OLED PaperMatte Display, paired with AI speech-to-text conversion, AI handwriting enhancement, and stylus air gestures, enabling users to create effortlessly anytime, anywhere. In terms of audio devices, Huawei launched the HUAWEI FreeBuds Neo Series, engineered for the modern lifestyle, with a fresh design and immersive sound. In smartphones, the HUAWEI nova 16s series made its debut, delivering a refreshed experience highlighted by exceptional portrait photography capabilities.
To close the event, Huawei announced the global opening of its “GoPaint” Worldwide Creating Activity 2026, which this year adds a new “Easy Creation” category to encourage broader participation in artistic expression. Huawei reaffirmed its ongoing mission to serve global consumers with cutting-edge innovation, exploring how technology can become an ever-present companion in the pursuit of passion and discovery.
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[i] The feature is not intended for medical use. Results are for reference only, and should not be used as a basis for medical diagnosis, or treatment. |
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[ii] The feature is not intended for medical use. Results are for reference only, and should not be used as a basis for medical diagnosis, or treatment. |
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3, Sep 2026
Wispr Flow’s Latest Brand Film By Only Much Louder Celebrates The Things We Say Better Out Loud
India, Sep 03: There is a version of each of us that is more honest, more spontaneous, and less edited, and it often shows up when we speak.
Wispr Flow, the AI voice-to-text platform, launched its first-ever brand film in India, conceptualised and produced by Move Over, Only Much Louder’s cultural-first creative agency, titled ‘Bologe Toh Tum Dikhoge’, the film explores a simple, yet powerful idea; somewhere between thought and text, people often edit themselves down. But when they speak, they reveal more of who they are.
Showcasing slice-of-life narratives, the film captures the many ways people communicate today – across distance, within families, in moments of affection, humour, pride, and vulnerability. From long-distance friendships and newlywed exchanges to a father expressing emotion while watching his son play cricket, each story reveals a shared truth: when people speak instead of type, they often say more of what they truly mean.
For Move Over, the challenge was never simply to communicate what the technology does, but to uncover why it matters. By grounding the narrative in familiar, emotionally resonant moments, the film moves beyond product storytelling to explore a broader truth about communication today: that our most authentic selves often emerge in conversation.
At the heart of the film lies a tension that feels increasingly universal. People draft, delete, and rethink what they want to say while typing. In doing so, spontaneity, emotion, and intent can get lost. The film uses this insight to demonstrate how voice-led communication can preserve the warmth, immediacy and nuance of human expression.
Wispr Flow’s AI voice-to-text technology is designed to make digital communication more natural and intuitive. Supporting over 100 languages and equipped with contextual understanding that goes beyond literal transcription, the platform enables interactions that feel closer to the way people actually think and speak.
Nimisha Mehta, India Lead at Wispr Flow, said,
“India has always been a culture of speaking things out – we meet in person, we call, we send voice notes, and a keyboard has always felt like it lets through less of us than we‘d like to say. Typing makes us edit ourselves down; speaking lets us be more of who we are. That tension sits at the heart of this campaign, and it’s a big reason Wispr Flow exists in India – to bring the human connection back into the digital world the internet has opened up for us. What made this work was Move Over. Balancing real product understanding with the human and cultural nuance of how India communicates is genuinely hard to do for a tech-first product, and they struck that balance beautifully.”
Talking about the collaboration, Tusharr Kumar, Only Much Louder, CEO, said,
“The most meaningful shifts in technology are often the ones that bring us closer to how people naturally live, feel, and communicate. With this film, we wanted to tell a story that felt culturally familiar and emotionally truthful – one that reflects how much of ourselves gets edited in typed communication and how voice can bring back some of that immediacy, warmth, and honesty.”
The collaboration reflects Move Over’s broader philosophy of storytelling: finding the human truth within cultural and technological change. As a cultural translator for Wispr Flow, Move Over took a global technology product and grounded it in an emotional insight that feels deeply familiar in India- that sometimes, the things we mean most are the things we say best out loud.
3, Sep 2026
NMIMS SoBA Celebrates Academic Achievements at 2026 Degree Ceremony
Mumbai, Sep 3: The School of Branding & Advertising (SoBA), SVKM’s NMIMS (Deemed-to-be University) celebrated the graduating BBA (Branding & Advertising) cohort at its Degree Distribution Ceremony 2026, bringing together students, faculty, parents and industry leaders to mark an important milestone in the students’ journey from the classroom to the professional world.
The ceremony was graced by Shashi Sinha, veteran advertising and media leader and former Chairman & CEO of IPG Mediabrands, who brings nearly four decades of experience in shaping India’s advertising and media ecosystem. A recipient of the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2023, Sinha has held key leadership positions across the industry and continues to engage with the evolving marketing landscape.
Speaking about the growing influence of AI and technology in advertising, Sinha highlighted the need to balance technological capabilities with human emotion, referring to the idea of “Heart and Science.” He encouraged the students to stay connected to life and culture, noting that advertising ultimately draws from the world around us. He also emphasised collaboration, pointing out that bringing together different people, experiences and perspectives can lead to stronger ideas and solutions.
The ceremony witnessed the presentation of degrees and scrolls to the graduating students, with Dr. Kiran Desai, Director, NMIMS School of Branding & Advertising, in attendance. The Dean’s List, SoBA Excellence Awards and Faculty Awards were also presented, recognising students and faculty members for their academic and overall excellence.
Dr. Kiran Desai, Director, NMIMS School of Branding & Advertising, said, “Our learning design aims to inspire all young dreamers who want to follow their dreams. We go beyond traditional knowledge delivery by integrating practical and experiential learning into every course. This approach cultivates the development of strategically sound, innovative and relevant media elements that are instrumental in crafting successful brand campaigns.”
The ceremony also featured the unveiling of “The Decision Point – Marketing Dilemmas for the Boardroom and the Classroom”, a book that explores contemporary marketing challenges and decision-making. Shashi Sinha unveiled the book alongside its editors, Dr. Kiran Desai, Director, NMIMS School of Branding & Advertising, and Dr. Rishika Bhojwani, Assistant Professor, NMIMS SoBA.
The event reflected SoBA’s commitment to bridging academic learning with industry perspectives, providing students with the knowledge, skills and exposure to navigate the evolving landscape of advertising, branding and communications.
3, Sep 2026
Kunal Rawal launches his first-ever Music Video Campaign
Mumbai, Sep 3: Music has never been background noise in the world of Kunal Rawal. For years, it has been part of the way the designer builds a collection, sets a mood and ultimately presents menswear. From earlier tracks including Ishq Mitha that have become synonymous to sangeet and baraat celebrations to original compositions created for the runway, sound has developed alongside the couture as a recognisable part of the world of KR.
Now, that relationship gets its biggest stage yet.
Fresh off the heels of the brand’s showcase at FDCI India Couture Week 2026, Kunal Rawal presents Rawalgarh di Jugni, his first–ever original music video campaign with T-Series. It is a fun and immersive take on the aesthetic world of Rawalgarh: a land of couture, culture, celebration, menswear and a whole lot of music. Created in close collaboration with Akshay & IP, the project takes the brand’s sonic identity beyond the show soundtrack and into a world of its own. At its centre is Jugni: literally, “the light”: a spirit of energy that brings life to the make-believe fort. Jugni is both metaphor and protagonist, representing the individuality that has always remained one of the brand’s strongest codes.
The sound is unmistakably KR: Punjabi folk with a rock-and-roll streak. Guitar riffs cut through dhol beats; heritage verses sit against contemporary production. The result is neither a traditional folk track nor a conventional fashion soundtrack, but something that occupies the space between the two: Indian at its core, contemporary in its treatment and built with the same contrasts that have long informed Rawal’s clothes.
“Music and film have always been a huge part of what inspires me, and that naturally finds its way into the couture we create. Making our first–ever music video feels incredibly exciting, but also like a very natural next step. Rawalgarh gave us the opportunity to bring all those influences together and create something that represents what has shaped me creatively over the years, and what continues to inspire me today.” — Kunal Rawal
That world finds its visual setting at Alila Fort Bishangarh, where Rawalgarh di Jugni was filmed. Set against the fort’s raw stone geometry and golden light, the film plays with the same tensions found throughout Rawal’s work: structure against fluidity, heritage against modernity, permanence against change. Rather than using the location as a decorative backdrop, its architecture becomes part of the frame, interacting with the clothes and the movement around them.
In Rawalgarh, the crow signals the arrival of something exciting. A messenger of what lies ahead, it leads the viewer into the film and towards the world waiting to be discovered.
And then there are the clothes.
First presented at India Couture Week 2026 in July, Rawalgarh is one of the brand’s most expansive expressions of menswear to date, bringing together over 150 looks across Couture Casual, Indian Black Tie and the Ceremonial Modern Groom. Military structure meets sportswear ease; evolved Indian handcraft meets engineered construction; traditional techniques are worked through new textures, silhouettes and colour.
The music video gives those clothes a different life. Away from the runway, they move through the landscape they were imagined for, allowing sound, architecture and couture to operate as parts of the same idea.
3, Sep 2026
Healthcare’s Next Competitive Advantage: Leaders Who Know How to Harness AI
Sep 03: Healthcare has always evolved with scientific breakthroughs. However, its biggest transformation is being driven by something different; not a new treatment or medical device, but intelligence embedded into every layer of the healthcare ecosystem.
From AI-assisted diagnostics and virtual care to predictive hospital operations and personalised patient engagement, healthcare organisations are reimagining how care is delivered. Yet as technology advances at unprecedented speed, one question is becoming increasingly urgent: Who is prepared to lead this transformation?
The challenge is no longer about adopting AI. It is about integrating it responsibly into business strategy, clinical workflows, operations, finance, and patient experience. As healthcare becomes more connected and data-driven, leadership itself is being redefined.
The pace of change is already evident.
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85% of healthcare leaders are already exploring or have adopted Generative AI capabilities.Source: McKinsey
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64% of healthcare organisations implementing Generative AI report they have already achieved or expect to achieve a positive return on investment.Source: McKinsey (2025)
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India’s healthcare industry is projected to reach US$37 billion by 2030, fuelled by rising digital adoption, expanding healthcare infrastructure, and continued investment in health technology.Source: BCG
These figures point to more than growing technology adoption, they signal a redefinition of healthcare leadership itself.
Traditionally, healthcare managers built their careers around clinical expertise, operational excellence, or hospital administration. Those capabilities remain essential, but they are no longer sufficient. Today’s leaders are increasingly expected to evaluate AI investments, lead digital transformation initiatives, optimise healthcare delivery through data, navigate evolving regulations, manage multidisciplinary teams, and make strategic decisions that balance patient outcomes with organisational performance.
In many healthcare organisations, digital transformation has moved beyond being an IT initiative. It is now a boardroom priority with direct implications for quality of care, operational resilience, financial sustainability, and long-term competitiveness. As a result, management education is also evolving to prepare leaders for this broader mandate.
Recognising this shift, IIM Lucknow has introduced the Executive Programme in Healthcare Management in the AI and Digital Era, an 11-month programme designed to help healthcare professionals strengthen their capabilities across healthcare strategy, operations, finance, leadership, and digital transformation.
Rather than treating AI as a standalone subject, the programme integrates emerging technologies with core healthcare management disciplines, reflecting the way transformation is unfolding across hospitals, healthcare providers, and health-tech organisations today.
The programme explores key areas including:
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Healthcare economics, governance, and policy
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Strategic leadership and organisational transformation
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Financial management and capital allocation in healthcare
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Operational excellence, Lean, Six Sigma, and healthcare supply chains
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Digital health, healthcare analytics, and decision intelligence
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Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation
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Patient-centric innovation, design thinking, and digital marketing
Participants also benefit from an applied learning experience featuring:
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100% live online lectures delivered by IIM Lucknow faculty
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A faculty-guided capstone project focused on real-world healthcare challenges
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The Campus Chapter—a three-day immersion at the IIM Lucknow campus
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Peer learning opportunities through live interactions with healthcare professionals
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Hands-on exposure to industry-relevant AI and digital tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Canva
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IIM Lucknow Executive Education Alumni Status upon successful completion
Importantly, the curriculum reflects a reality many healthcare organisations are already experiencing: successful digital transformation is not simply about implementing new technologies. It requires leaders who can connect AI with strategy, operations, finance, governance, and patient outcomes while leading organisational change with confidence.
Looking Beyond Technology
As healthcare continues to evolve, the conversation is gradually shifting away from whether AI will transform the sector. That question has largely been answered. The more important question is whether healthcare organisations have enough leaders capable of translating technological possibilities into measurable organisational impact.
The future of healthcare will be shaped not simply by better algorithms or smarter systems, but by leaders who can combine strategic thinking, management expertise, and digital fluency to build more efficient, resilient, and patient-centric healthcare organisations. IIM Lucknow’s Executive Programme in Healthcare Management in the AI and Digital Era reflects this changing leadership mandate, equipping professionals with the interdisciplinary capabilities needed to navigate one of the most significant transformations the healthcare industry has witnessed. For healthcare leaders looking to stay ahead of this shift, investing in future-ready management capabilities today could become one of the most important decisions they make for tomorrow.
