15, Jan 2026
EkoStay Launches ‘Ekostay Stories’, a Podcast That Opens the Doors to the Real World of Villa Hospitality
Mumbai, Jan 15: EkoStay, one of India’s fastest-growing professionally managed vacation rental brands, has announced the launch of Ekostay Stories, a new in-house podcast series that pulls back the curtain on the villa and homestay industry. Designed as both an industry conversation and a storytelling platform, the podcast captures the unfiltered realities, untold stories, and behind-the-scenes moments that shape the vacation rental ecosystem.
Moving beyond curated travel imagery and surface-level reviews, Ekostay Stories spotlights what truly goes on behind a stay—from guest behaviour and homeowner dynamics to operational challenges, humour, conflict, and unexpected moments. The podcast brings together voices from across the ecosystem, including co-founders, guests, homeowners, vendors, and internal teams, offering a rare, multi-perspective view of the business of hospitality.
At a time when hospitality content is dominated by influencer narratives and star ratings, Ekostay Stories delivers a refreshingly honest format. Industry insights indicate a growing appetite for long-form, narrative-driven content that explains how brands operate behind the scenes rather than simply showcasing outcomes. Ekostay Stories taps into this shift by blending real-life drama, humour, and learning into engaging, story-led conversations.
Explaining the thinking behind the initiative, Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, EkoStay, said the podcast was born out of a clear communication gap in the homestay industry.
“Guests already speak online about their experiences, often when something goes wrong. What rarely gets discussed is everything that happens behind the scenes—the coordination, the people management, the homeowner conversations, and the pressure points. Ekostay Stories is our way of opening that door and showing how the industry truly operates,” he said.
He added that building and managing vacation homes involves layers of complexity that are often invisible on social media—from property onboarding and guest readiness to balancing expectations across homeowners, teams, competitors, and local authorities.
“It’s not always simple or polished. There’s a lot that goes on backstage, and we felt it was time to talk about it honestly—from a founder’s, management’s, and industry’s perspective,” Arora noted.
Internally described as “not just a podcast, but a full tea party,” Ekostay Stories embraces candid conversations, villa secrets, guest confessions, and real moments that range from humorous to hard-hitting. Early episode titles such as “Gayi Bhais Pool Mai” and “Signed & Shattered” reflect the show’s unfiltered, experience-led tone.
The podcast is designed for a wide audience—hospitality and travel industry professionals, property owners, aspiring hosts, entrepreneurs, and travellers curious about how villa brands actually function. It also serves as a transparent window for hospitality professionals, offering insight into the realities of working in a fast-growing, people-driven industry.
Ekostay Stories will release one episode every week, covering themes such as homeowner relationships, guest management, operational challenges, competition, workforce dynamics, regulatory navigation, and evolving traveller behaviour. Future episodes will also explore longer stays, remote work-driven travel trends, and the growing role of technology and AI in educating hosts and enhancing transparency in alternative accommodations.
As India’s vacation rental sector matures, Ekostay Stories reflects the industry’s shift toward authenticity, openness, and deeper engagement. By turning real experiences into shared conversations, the podcast aims to carve out a distinctive space in India’s travel and startup content ecosystem—one that informs, entertains, and sparks honest dialogue around modern hospitality.
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- By Neel Achary
15, Jan 2026
Systematix Initiates Coverage on Enviro Infra Engineers with ‘BUY’ Rating, Sees 83% Upside Potential
New Delhi, Jan 15: Systematix Institutional Equities has released a research report on India’s Water Supply & Management sector, initiating coverage on Enviro Infra Engineers Limited (EIEL) with a ‘BUY’ rating and a target price of Rs 346, implying an upside potential of 83% from the current market price of approximately Rs 189.
According to the report, Enviro Infra Engineers is well-positioned as a leading EPC player in India’s water and wastewater treatment space, supported by strong execution capabilities across both municipal and industrial projects.
Systematix highlighted Enviro’s robust financial performance over the last five years, with revenue and EBITDA CAGR of 71% and 107%, respectively. Looking ahead, the company’s management has guided for 35–40% revenue CAGR over the next 3–4 years, backed by a healthy order book of Rs 18.8 billion, equivalent to approximately 1.8x FY25 revenue.
The report further notes that Enviro Infra Engineers has a strong bidding pipeline of around Rs 80 billion, with a historical success rate of nearly 40%, providing strong multi-year revenue visibility.
On profitability, Systematix expects EBITDA margins to remain healthy at 22–24% over the coming years, driven by operating leverage and a favourable project mix.
Overall, the research forecasts revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 32%, 30% and 32%, respectively, over FY25–FY28E, reinforcing Enviro Infra Engineers’ strong growth outlook within India’s expanding water infrastructure landscape.
15, Jan 2026
Sampark Foundation Invests INR 25 Crore to Expand Smart Schools and AI-Led Governance
Bengaluru, Jan 15: Sampark Foundation has unveiled a significant expansion of its efforts to transform learning and improve educational outcomes in government schools across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh, through an investment of ₹25 crore. The announcement comes as the Foundation completes 20 years of driving innovation and impact in public education.
As part of this expansion, the Foundation will support the creation of 20,000 additional smart schools across the eight states, aligned with the National Education Policy’s vision of digitally empowered classrooms. Under this initiative, Sampark TV will be installed free of cost in government schools where smart televisions or smart boards already exist or are planned, alongside structured teacher training to enable effective classroom integration.
A parallel focus of this expansion is the deployment of an AI-based, real-time classroom monitoring and governance platform, planned to be rolled out across 80,000 government schools. The platform will enable district, block, and school-level education officials to track teaching data, monitor classroom engagement, and predict learning outcomes, strengthening evidence-based decision-making and accountability within the public education system. This first-of-its-kind platform will be implemented at no cost across all covered schools.
Letters of intent have been formally shared with all eight state governments, marking the next phase of collaboration to scale technology-enabled, student-centric learning across public education systems. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Vineet Nayar, Founder and Chairman, Sampark Foundation, said,
“Twenty years ago, Sampark Foundation began with a simple idea: every child deserves a learning experience that excites the mind and sparks curiosity, regardless of geography or circumstance. As we renew our efforts to deepen partnerships with state governments, we aim to create classrooms where curiosity thrives and learning outcomes improve meaningfully and sustainably.”
Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao, President, Sampark Foundation and former Special Secretary, NITI Aayog, added,
“The future of public education lies in the intelligent use of data, technology, and governance. The AI-based monitoring platform will enable education leaders at every level to respond faster, plan better, and ensure accountability where it matters most – in the classroom. This initiative represents a significant step towards institutionalising data-driven decision-making in government school systems.”
In addition, the Foundation will host large state-level AI Education Conclaves in March 2026 across each of the eight states, focused on the theme “AI Revolution in Education,” bringing together policymakers, practitioners, and global experts to advance dialogue on the future of technology-enabled learning.
Committed to strengthening education delivery across India and fostering a love of learning in every child, Sampark Foundation works closely with state governments to ensure inclusive access to quality education. Through its flagship Sampark Smart Shala programme, the Foundation has reached over 1.8 crore children across more than 1.4 lakh government schools, trained over 8.5 lakh teachers, and established 40,000 smart classrooms that enhance teaching and learning experiences nationwide. Over the past two decades, what began as a vision has evolved into one of the world’s largest education movements, documented as a Harvard Case Study and recognised globally among leading large-scale education innovations.
15, Jan 2026
Hafele India Marks Year Two of L.I.F.E Initiative, Strengthens Commitment to Women in the Furniture & Design Ecosystem
New Delhi, Jan 15: Hafele India has stepped into the second year of its pioneering initiative, L.I.F.E – Ladies in Furniture Ecosystem, taking its efforts a step further to empower and elevate women professionals across India’s furniture, design, and manufacturing landscape.
A first-of-its-kind industry platform, L.I.F.E was launched to build a strong, supportive community for women in a traditionally male-dominated sector. In its second year, the initiative continues to expand its vision by facilitating deeper learning, stronger networks, and meaningful collaboration opportunities for women entrepreneurs, designers, architects, and manufacturers.
To celebrate this milestone, L.I.F.E hosted an in-person gathering recently at Bravura Design Solutions, a multidisciplinary design studio in Noida. The event brought together women leaders and professionals from across the design and furniture ecosystem for a day of meaningful discussions, sector-focused conversations, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Highlights included sessions on India’s government roadmap for interior MSMEs and emerging trends shaping modular furniture, led by Ms. Mercy Epao, IAS, Joint Secretary, SME, Government of India, and Ridhi Kale, Senior Associate Editor, India Today HOME. The meet underscored the importance of a strong, collaborative platform where women can exchange ideas, gain insights, and collectively shape the future of the industry.
Speaking about the initiative, Padma Gupta, Director – HR, Customer Experience & Strategy, Hafele South Asia, said:
“L.I.F.E represents Hafele’s belief that real progress comes from diversity and equal opportunity. Women across the furniture and design ecosystem have immense talent and potential. With this initiative, we are creating a space that not only recognises their contributions but actively supports their growth and leadership. L.I.F.E is a meaningful step toward building a more innovative, balanced, and future-forward industry.”
As the Chairperson of L.I.F.E, Amita Trehan, Bravura Design Solutions, added:
“Women in this industry are creators, problem-solvers, and changemakers. Yet many navigate their journeys in silos. L.I.F.E brings them together as a strong community – one that celebrates their skill, nurtures ambition, and provides the support needed to progress with confidence. This initiative marks an important movement toward inclusion, collaboration, and shared growth.”
Moving into its second year, L.I.F.E is set to scale its impact through more on-ground interactions, expert-led learning formats, and a growing nationwide network. With Häfele’s continued support, the initiative aims to reshape the professional landscape for women and build a more equitable future for the Indian furniture and design ecosystem
15, Jan 2026
Amara Raja appoints Shilpa Kabra Maheshwari as Group CHRO
Hyderabad, Jan 15 : The $2 Bn Amara Raja Group today announced the appointment of Dr. Shilpa Kabra Maheshwari as its Group CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer). Shilpa takes over the reins from Jaikrishna B who is superannuating after over two decades of leading the HR function at the group. In her new role, Shilpa will spearhead the Group HR function, driving strategic people initiatives and strengthening the organization’s values-driven culture.
With close to 30 years of experience in HR leadership, Shilpa has worked across Manufacturing, Automotive, Energy, Technology, Hospitality, Financial Services, and Shared Services; she moves to Amara Raja from Siemens Limited, where she served as EVP and Country Head (People & Organisation) and Diversity Officer.
Commenting on the appointment, Vikramadithya Gourineni, Executive Director, said,
“We are recognised globally for our employee centricity and strong focus on culture – Shilpa’s experience in steering HR strategies for large global organizations will be instrumental in shaping our future as we look at new businesses and geographies.”
Sharing her excitement, Shilpa Kabra Maheshwari, Group CHRO said,
“I am thrilled to join Amara Raja Group. The organization’s commitment to innovation and its strong people-centric values resonate deeply with me. I look forward to partnering with the people and the leadership team to build agile, future-ready HR practices that empower our people and accelerate the Group’s transformative journey.”
Shilpa is an Economics (Hons) graduate with a MBA and holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Development. She is an author, certified coach and trainer.
15, Jan 2026
Automobile Industry Performance Reports for December 2025 and FY2025 Released
New Delhi, Jan 15 : The comprehensive automobile industry performance reports covering December 2025 and cumulative periods of FY2025 have been released, offering detailed insights into sales trends across Passenger Vehicles (PV), Commercial Vehicles (CV), Two Wheelers (2W), and Three Wheelers (3W) segments.
The December 2025 Segment-wise Report presents an in-depth analysis of monthly performance for Passenger Vehicles, Two Wheelers, and Three Wheelers, highlighting market movement, segment trends, and volume performance during the month.
The Q3 (October–December 2025) Summary Report provides cumulative data for Passenger Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Two Wheelers, and Three Wheelers, capturing the overall industry momentum during the third quarter of the financial year.
Additionally, the January–December 2025 Summary Report offers a consolidated view of calendar-year performance across all major vehicle categories, enabling year-on-year and trend-based analysis.
The Report-I: April–December 2025 Summary Report outlines cumulative sales performance for the nine-month period, covering Passenger Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Two Wheelers, and Three Wheelers, and serves as a key indicator of industry growth during FY2025.
Further granularity is provided through Report-II, Report-III, and Report-IV, which present Category-wise, Segment-wise, and Sub-segment-wise company performance for December 2025 and April–December 2025 across Passenger Vehicles, Two Wheelers, and Three Wheelers, offering detailed manufacturer-level insights.
For the Commercial Vehicle segment, dedicated reports include Report-II-CVs (Category & Company-wise) and Report-III-CVs (Segment & Company-wise) for April–December 2025, delivering focused analysis of the CV market.
Together, these reports provide a robust, data-driven overview of the Indian automobile industry’s performance, supporting informed decision-making for OEMs, suppliers, policymakers, analysts, and industry stakeholders.
15, Jan 2026
South Indian Bank Sweeps IBA Banking Awards 2024-25
- Best AI-ML Adoption
- Best Tech Bank
- Best Digital Sales
15, Jan 2026
ace turtle Expands Retail Footprint in Gujarat with Two New Lee® and Wrangler® Stores in Anand
“Anand represents the new growth story of Indian retail aspirational, brand-aware and ready for global fashion. The opening of Lee® and Wrangler® stores here reflects our commitment to making iconic international brands more accessible across India. Gujarat has consistently shown strong consumer demand and we see significant long-term potential in markets like Anand.”
15, Jan 2026
Mahindra Launches 12th Edition of Saarthi Abhiyaan to Support Truck Drivers’ Daughters
After disbursing 11,000+ scholarships to truck drivers’ daughters, Mahindra announces the 12th edition of ‘Saarthi Abhiyaan’ Program
Bengaluru, Jan 15: Mahindra’s Truck and Bus business, as a part of its much celebrated and renowned CSR Program, Mahindra Saarthi Abhiyan, has announced the onset of its 12th edition, with plans to awards another 1000 scholarships of Rs. 10,000/- each to truck drivers’ daughters who have passed Std X exam and are pursuing further studies.
This program is aimed at saluting and honouring the exceptional spirit of the truck drivers in ensuring their daughters get an equal opportunity to rise in their lives and educating them beyond X Std. Mahindra is one of the first commercial vehicle manufacturers to pioneer this initiative and felicitate truck driver daughters who meet the eligibility criteria. This program was initiated in 2014. The selection of the eligible truck driver daughters will be done through a reach out program at 75+ transport hubs pan India with well-defined, transparent, and independent process. Until now, 11,029 young girls have already benefited from scholarships.
Mr. Vinod Sahay – President Trucks, Buses & Construction Equipment, Member of Group Executive Board, said,
“Through Mahindra Saarthi Abhiyaan, we are not just providing scholarships but opening doors to a brighter future for girls and instilling hope in young hearts. By investing in their future, we are cultivating a generation of empowered women who will contribute significantly to our communities and the economy at large.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Venkat Srinivas, Business Head Trucks, Buses & Construction Equipment, Mahindra Group, said,
“Our sustained commitment through the Mahindra Saarthi Abhiyaan not only uplifts the daughters of truck drivers, but also fosters a culture of new opportunities and motivation. Through this initiative, we wish to remain steadfast in our commitment to investing in their futures, and developing a stronger, more equitable society where every girl can aspire to fulfil her potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.”
The company will felicitate each girl selected for this scholarship with a direct bank transfer of INR 10,000 and a certificate in recognition of this achievement. The felicitation of 1000 daughters will be hosted between February to March 2026, at select locations by Mahindra Truck and Bus leadership.
15, Jan 2026
ASUSTOR Appoints Supertron Electronics as National Distributor for India
New Delhi, Jan 15: ASUSTOR Inc., a global leader in Network Attached Storage (NAS) and data management solutions, today announced the appointment of Supertron Electronics Pvt. Ltd. (SEPL VAD) as its National Distributor for the Indian market. This strategic partnership marks a significant step in ASUSTOR’s continued commitment to India’s rapidly expanding data, cloud, and enterprise IT ecosystem.
Through this partnership, ASUSTOR aims to strengthen its presence across India by leveraging Supertron’s extensive nationwide reach, deep channel ecosystem, and proven expertise as a leading Value-Added Distributor (VAD).
“We are truly excited to partner with Supertron Electronics” said Ripunjoy Gogoi, Director – Sales, South Asia, ASUSTOR Inc. “Supertron’s strong market credibility, pan-India distribution network, and dedicated sales, technical, and operational teams make them an ideal partner for ASUSTOR. This collaboration will enable us to accelerate growth, enhance customer engagement, and deliver our high-performance NAS solutions more effectively across enterprise, SMB, and professional segments in India.”
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Debraj Dam, Chief of Supertron VAD, said:
“We are excited about the alliance between Supertron and ASUSTOR. It is a strategic move to address the rapidly evolving data storage and enterprise IT ecosystem in India. This partnership aligns ASUSTOR’s innovation in NAS technology with the strong footprint of Supertron’s volume and value distribution networks. Together, we will deliver greater value to our customers through improved product availability, expert technical support, and a unified approach to secure, high-performance data management.”
This partnership will enable ASUSTOR to deliver improved product availability and accelerated go-to-market execution. We can unlock greater value for enterprise, SMB, and professional customers with stronger pre- and post-sales technical support, enhanced channel engagement, and enablement.
With this collaboration, ASUSTOR reinforces its position as a leading provider in NAS technology, while Supertron strengthens its storage and data management portfolio creating a powerful synergy to address India’s growing demand for secure, scalable, and high-performance data solutions.
