Archives July 2025

Pattom/ Thiruvananthapuram/July 12, 2025: Union Minister Suresh Gopi said that the ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ cleanliness campaign project, which urges the people of the country to maintain personal and environmental cleanliness, is a model for the whole world. He was inaugurating the awareness seminar organized by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Pattom St. Mary’s HSS as part of the ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ campaign organized nationwide by the Central Government. While cleaning the surroundings, we not only protect nature but also prepare an environment where fellow creatures can thrive. Every individual must engage in cleanliness activities. ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ is a project launched to instill a sense of cleanliness among the citizens of the country. Suresh Gopi said that BPCL has taken up the program as an example for everyone. Then, the Union Minister administered the Swachhta Pledge to the children and planted a sapling in the school.

Swachhta Pakhwada is a two-week-long cleanliness campaign launched by the Central Government to promote waste disposal and cleanliness in the country. As part of the campaign, cleanliness programs and awareness will be conducted across the country. The function was presided over by BPCL HR Chief General Manager George Thomas. The function was attended by School Principal Fr. Nelson P, Vice Principal Reji Lucas, BPCL Administration General Manager Johnson K, LPG Section Kerala Head Tharyan Peter.

Shashi Panja, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Enterprises Headlines SRMB Presents Times Network Growth Summit West Bengal

Kolkata, July 12, 2025: Times Network, India’s premium broadcast network, hosted SRBM Presents Growth Summit West Bengal bringing together influential leaders across government, business, and academia to explore Bengal’s transformation as a resilient, future-ready growth engine for India. The summit featured engaging sessions that covered key pillars of Bengal’s growth journey—ranging from future-ready education, AI and robotics, and MSME empowerment to industrial transformation, skilling, and sustainable infrastructure.

Eminent industry stalwarts including Prof. Ved Prakash, Former Chairman, University Grants Commission; Ashish Beriwala, Director of SRMB Srijan; Prof. Biswajoy Chatterjee, Vice Chancellor, UEM Jaipur; Vinod Gupta, Managing Director, Dollar Industries amongst others offered actionable insights on bridging academia and industry, building intelligent ecosystems, driving inclusive entrepreneurship, and strengthening Bengal’s role as a national economic catalyst.

Dr. Shashi Panja, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Commerce & Enterprises, and Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal said, “West Bengal has emerged as one of the fastest-growing states in India, attracting over ₹1.33 lakh crore in private investments, creating 1.8 lakh jobs. The iron and steel sector leads with ₹45,240 crore investment and 62,500 jobs, followed by oil, gas, and energy at ₹27,159 crore and 16,000 jobs, and logistics at ₹19,000 crore with 25,000 jobs. With 800 private industrial units, the top 10 investors alone have contributed ₹44,000 crore and 32,500 jobs.”

She further added, “The state houses India’s largest leather complex, hosiery park, foundry park, and railway manufacturing units. It is also the cement hub of India with all nine major companies investing. Bengal Silicon Valley, spread over 200 acres, has attracted 11 data centers and leading IT firms like TCS, Wipro, Infosys, and Cognizant. The 2023 Industrial Corridor Policy spans six strategic corridors backed by a ₹3,485 crore ADB loan, while the Logistics Policy (₹2,072 crore) enhances trade efficiency. The Tea Tourism Policy has led to 32 proposals across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri. The Sand Mining Policy has earned ₹500 crore already, with ₹2,280 crore projected over five years. The shift to freehold land for industries and 21 proposals approved marks a major land reform. With 90 lakh MSMEs, Bengal leads with 36.4% female-headed establishments and 12.73% female workforce participation. MSME credit stands at ₹8.6 lakh crore, supported by 30X cluster growth and 35 GI-tagged Bengal products, signaling inclusive and sustainable industrial growth.”

The Summit, co-powered by Dollar Industries, University of Engineering & Management (UEM), and Sister Nivedita University, with OmDayal Group of Institutions and Julien Day School as Associate Partners ended with cross-sectoral insights, and a shared commitment to Bengal’s rise as a center for growth, innovation, and opportunity.

Bharti AXA Life Insurance launches ‘Guaranteed Bachat Plan’ – a simple, powerful solution for Bharat

Mumbai, July 12th, 2025 – Bharti AXA Life Insurance, one of India’s leading private life insurers, today announced the launch of its new flagship offering, the Bharti AXA Life Guaranteed Bachat Plan. The plan is specially designed for middle-income Indians who are looking for a simple yet dependable solution to build savings while protecting their families.

The Bharti AXA Life Guaranteed Bachat Plan is built on a strong promise – “Protection bhi, Bachat bhi.” It gives customers life cover up to 30 times their annual premium (and up to 50 times with riders), along with guaranteed returns. This makes it an ideal plan for young professionals, business owners, salaried individuals, and families across Bharat who are looking for disciplined, worry-free financial planning.

Key Highlights of the Bharti AXA Life Guaranteed Bachat Plan:

· High Protection: Life insurance coverage of up to 30 times your annual premium from day one (can go up to 50x with rider options).

· Guaranteed Returns: Customers receive assured benefits, helping them save confidently for future goals.

· Flexible Payout Options: Choose to receive your benefits as a lump sum or regular income based on your needs.

· Optional Riders: Enhance your protection with multiple rider combinations like accidental death, critical illness, hospi-cash, and waiver of premium.

· Tax Benefits: As per prevailing tax laws under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Prerak Parmar, Chief Growth Officer at Bharti AXA Life Insurance, said, “At Bharti AXA Life, we believe that insurance should be simple, reliable, and made for the everyday Indian. The Bharti AXA Life Guaranteed Bachat Plan is created for people who want protection and savings, both, without any surprises. With guaranteed returns, flexible benefits, and the security of life cover, this plan empowers every Indian to protect their dreams and plan their future with confidence.”

The Bharti AXA Life Guaranteed Bachat Plan (UIN: 130N144V01) is a non-linked, non-participating individual savings life insurance plan, created to give customers full control of their savings. Customers can customize their policy term, premium payment term, benefit payout option, and rider coverage to match their needs.

This plan is a major step forward in Bharti AXA Life’s mission of serving the larger India – with products that are simple to understand, easy to buy, and designed for real financial needs.

New Delhi, July 12, 2025 – – GlobalLogic Inc., a Hitachi Group Company and a leader in digital engineering, today highlighted a threefold increase in full-scale production rollouts coupled with production pilots across key vertical segments with its VelocityAI suite of AI-powered SDLC offerings. GlobalLogic forecasts a 5x year-over-year increase in VelocityAI SDLC impact, with first-quarter results already exceeding expectations.  VelocityAI SDLC provides unparalleled flexibility, security, and impactful results across the software development lifecycle with a comprehensive, end-to-end approach to guide enterprises along a delivery continuum, from human-led to increasingly AI-native software (product) development, deployment, testing, and support.

GlobalLogic recognizes that successful, enterprise-grade GenAI adoption at scale is highly contextual, influenced by industry drivers, IP sensitivity, mission-criticality, and budget. Since the launch of VelocityAI in March, GlobalLogic’s trained engineers have delivered demonstrable value to dozens of clients across each of our verticals and geographies.  GlobalLogic is seeing rapidly growing adoption and implementation, including in sectors like Technology, Communications, Healthcare, Media and Entertainment, Finance, Consumer, Industrial, and more.

Across our client base, we’ve observed impressive results among midmarket and large enterprises, including:

• GlobalLogic created value across SDLC (development to support) for an education software solution provider by automating 70% of test cases with 70% coverage. Additionally, the Globallogic team leveraged Copilot to accelerate development efforts.
• GlobalLogic partnered with a leading telecommunications provider to deliver an unparalleled customer experience by developing a robust machine-learning framework that proactively flags anomalies in the billing cycle, reducing customer care calls by 30%, and call duration by 20%.
• GlobalLogic optimized the software development lifecycle for a global smart/green building solutions provider by leveraging several of our GenAI-enabled tools to automate code generation, unit test case creation, and code optimization.  This resulted in a 15% increase in productivity, significantly reduced development time, and ensured seamless and consistent code coverage quality above 80%.

“The future of software development lies in intelligently integrating enterprise-grade GenAI tools across the entire lifecycle, but there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution,” said Raj Sethi, Senior Vice President of Technology, SDLC, GlobalLogic. “Through our VelocityAI offering, we’re seeing enterprises make the right choices for their unique needs, whether they’re looking for GenAI-enabled enhancements or a fully GenAI-native approach. Our complete, flexible, and secure framework consistently accelerates time-to-market, enhances quality, and helps our clients keep pace with and adapt to an ever-changing technological landscape.”

Enhanced Pricing Flexibility: A Continuum of Value

GlobalLogic’s real-world insights have continually shaped a flexible and dynamic pricing continuum, one that aligns with our clients’ varied business objectives, budgets, and engagement models. This approach provides transparency, control over investment, and optimized value at scale.

Clients can tailor pricing by project or combine models to suit evolving needs. Options span:

• Resource and Usage Based Models: Including time and material, token consumption, and Bot-as-a-Service structures where pricing reflects actual effort or usage metrics such as story points delivered or test cases executed.
• Scope Driven Models: Fixed-fee engagements for well-defined scopes, output-based pricing tied to specific deliverables, and hybrid approaches aligned to SDLC stages or project milestones.
• Value Linked Models: Outcome-based contracts tied to service-level achievements, value-based models with shared business gains, and performance incentives linked to measurable productivity improvements such as velocity or throughput.

GlobalLogic Welcomes Ethan Matyas to Drive Client Business Profile Transformation

AI enables, if not prompts, the adoption of new or hybrid commercial models that focus on value delivery and the acceleration made possible by AI. To help our clients realize and navigate the power of intelligent transformation, GlobalLogic is pleased to announce the joining of Ethan Matyas, a senior executive with over 30 years of engineering and services experience. Ethan will work with a global cross-functional team to help our clients evolve their business models based on their unique operational, infrastructural, and security policy environments, thereby driving additional value, consistency, and quality.

Key Differentiators of GlobalLogic VelocityAI:

• Modern Product Practices Approach: Our foundational consulting approach guides clients in identifying unique needs and optimal integration points for strategic, valuable GenAI adoption at scale.
• Flexible: Offers tailored options, powered by VelocityAI SDLC, supporting a spectrum of GenAI integration up to 80%, leveraging GlobalLogic-built accelerators or third-party tools.
• End-to-End: Applied across the entire digital engineering lifecycle, from ideation to deployment, ensuring seamless AI integration at every stage.
• IP Secure: Prioritizes safeguarding intellectual property and incorporates compliance with industry standards.
• Trained workforce: GlobalLogic launched a global GenAI rollout across the entire 30,000+ engineering team with broad adoption through both extensive training and client activities, using GlobalLogic-created accelerators, third-party tools, and Agentic AI.

GlobalLogic has supported enterprises in GenAI adoption since 2021, building on over a decade of experience with traditional AI. This deep expertise ensures we deliver to clients at any stage of their AI journey, securing tangible business outcomes efficiently.

New Delhi, 12 July 2025: Unlike cosmetic trends that come and go, the modern conscious consumer is turning to lasting beauty in a world where time is precious and first impressions are more important than ever. Semi-permanent cosmetics are quickly becoming a necessity rather than a specialty product. Redefining beauty routines with long-lasting precision at the forefront of this revolution is RiStudio, an expert-led destination that blends science, artistry and safety to create ever-lasting everyday beauty.

Located in the heart of Delhi, RiStudio stands out as one of the few beauty destinations in India offering a global-standard service. Each service customised to individual skin tone and face structure, RiStudio has been successful in offering natural looking enhancements be it fuller brows, lifted lashes, or softly tinted lips that subtly elevate one’s features while maintaining their individuality. With an unwavering commitment to quality and hygiene, the studio exclusively uses PhiBrows pigments, globally regarded as the cleanest and most stable in the market. These treatments reshape the facial canvas by correcting asymmetry, adding definition and enhancing overall harmony, making it a beauty investment that lasts from the gym to the boardroom and the red carpet to everyday life.

“Effortless beauty isn’t about changing how you look, it’s about enhancing what’s already yours,” says Ridhi Khanna, Founder of RiStudio and India’s premier permanent makeup artist, known for her transformative artistry and pioneering role in the PMU industry. She became the first Indian to earn the prestigious PhiBrows Master title, gaining global recognition for her work. Always on the pulse of global trends and technology, Ridhi was honoured as a jury member at the 2024 PMU Congress in Chennai cementing her position as a respected authority in both national and international beauty circles. Notably, she is the only Indian professional certified in the advanced BB Stroke technique.

With services ranging from INR 1,500 to 70,000+, RiStudio strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and exclusivity, opening the door to world-class beauty for a discerning yet diverse clientele. This includes both men and women who seek a lifestyle of both luxury and efficacy in beauty, hygiene and self care. Trusted by celebrities and professionals alike, RiStudio also serves as a PhiAcademy-certified training center, shaping the future of PMU artistry in India.

Founder Ridhi Khanna shares: “RiStudio has always been about enhancing what’s already beautiful. It was built around a simple idea, that beauty should make your life easier, not more complicated. For me, semi-permanent makeup is about giving women their time back,  it’s about combining precision with intention, so every woman leaves feeling confident, but still completely herself. At RiStudio, we take the best of international techniques and adapt them thoughtfully  keeping in mind Indian skin, features and what actually works in real life. It’s all about making world-class beauty feel personal and accessible.”

Kolkata, 12^th July, 2025: The National Homeo Laboratory (NHL), a name known for its quality and trust in the realm of homeopathy, today, celebrated its Diamond Jubilee with a grand celebration. The landmark occasion marked 75 years of unwavering commitment to homeopathy and healing sciences and was graced by Dr Ruma Bhattacharjee, Chief Consultant, Dr Parimal Banerjee Medical Research Centre, Dr Kamal Malik, Renowned Homeopath & Mental Health Specialist, Dr Simarjeet Singh Gill, Former CEO, CMRI Hospital, Dr Ramjee Singh, Former Chairman, Central Council of Research in Homoeopath and Mr Biswajit Sinha Roy, Director, National Homoeo Laboratory.

To script the historic legacy of the organisation, a coffee table book chronicling the illustrious history of the National Homeo Laboratory was launched, capturing the spirit, milestones and impact of the organization over the past 75 years.

“To serve homoeopathy for the next 75 years, we are actively planning a new, completely modernized factory designed to meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This is not just an upgrade; it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the future of homoeopathy, ensuring we continue to provide the highest quality medicines with even greater efficiency and reach. In the coming months we also will be launching a range of new breakthrough homoeopathy medicines” said Mr Biswajit Sinha Roy, Director, National Homeo Laboratory.

The celebration was a reflection on NHL’s incredible voyage and reminisces of the past. Moreover, it was a promise towards a flourishing future with hopes for an even more glorious Centennial Jubilee.

New Delhi, July 12, 2025: The second edition of the India Health Exhibition 2025, organised by Informa Markets in India, was inaugurated today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, highlighting the rising demand and immense potential in this sector. The three-day event, which concludes on 13th July 2025, returns with renewed vigour and an expanded focus to drive collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing across India’s healthcare and MedTech sectors. It offers a vibrant setting for business, innovation, and industry change. In keeping with the times, India’s health-tech sector is set for significant expansion, with hiring projected to rise by 15–20% in 2025–26, reflecting the increasing demand for innovative healthcare solutions and the integration of technology in medical services.

The inaugural ceremony witnessed the presence of dignitaries such as Dr. Jitendra Sharma, MD, Founder CEO, AMTZ; Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers India; Mr. Rajiv Nath, Managing Director, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Device Ltd & Forum Coordinator, AIMED; Ms. Veena Kohli, CEO, Vanguard Diagnostics (P) Limited, Immediate Past President – ADMI; Mr. Himanshu Baid, Managing Director, Poly Medicure, and Vice President, NATHEALTH; Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets India; Mr. Gop Menon, CFO, Informa Markets IMEA; and Mr. Rahul Deshpande, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets India.

Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said, “Healthcare will always remain a national priority—and India is witnessing a decisive shift in this space. With a thriving population, a proactive government, and growing emphasis on self-care, the sector is moving toward a projected $638 billion valuation by 2030. Our medical tourism market too is set to reach $16.21 billion.

The India Health Exhibition, built on the strong legacy of WHX Dubai, brings together policy, innovation, and enterprise—with India at the centre. This year, our dual-track conferences, including the Global MedTech Connect, aim to spark deeper engagement and forward-looking discussions. And with the launch of the India HealthNext Awards, we are reinforcing our long-term commitment to recognising excellence across the healthcare value chain.”

Dr. Jitendra Sharma, MD, Founder and CEO of AMTZ, announced the launch of the world’s first dedicated Medical Technology University at the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) in Visakhapatnam. This pioneering institution will offer advanced degrees such as M.Tech, MBA, and Ph.D. in medical technology, aiming to transform the industry’s skill-building ecosystem. Supported by prominent industry leaders, including Mr. Rajiv Nath, Managing Director, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Device Ltd & Forum Coordinator AIMED (Association of Medical Device Industry), Mr. Suresh Vazirani, Founder Chairman, Erba Transasia, and Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Director General, AHPI (Association of Healthcare Providers India) the university will serve as a global centre for innovation, research, and high-quality manufacturing expertise. By fostering strong collaboration between industry, academia, and regulators, this initiative is set to strengthen India’s self-reliance, boost exports, and establish the country as a leading destination for advanced medical device manufacturing.

The 2025 edition of the show brings together over 300 leading brands representing the full spectrum of healthcare, including medical equipment and devices, diagnostics, orthopaedics, IT systems, infrastructure, and wellness solutions. This edition is expected to exceed the participation of more than 8,000 professionals including biomedical engineers, radiologists, pathologists, hospital procurement heads, clinicians, R&D professionals, and medical technology regulators. With 95% domestic and 5% international representation, India Health 2025 also saw participation from countries such as Italy, UAE, and Ethiopia. With a strong focus on the Startup India mission, this year featured a dedicated Startup and Medical Laboratory Pavilion along with a B2B Matchmaking App designed to streamline buyer-seller engagement.

The opening day of India Health 2025 featured two robust and parallel knowledge forums: Global MedTech Connect (July 11 & 12) and the healthcare knowledge conference – Healthcare 360° (July 11, 12 & 13).

Under the theme “Transforming MedTech: Pioneering Innovation and Global Compliance,” Global MedTech Connect brought together industry experts to explore themes such as regulatory reform, quality compliance, artificial intelligence in MedTech, cybersecurity, and sustainability. The sessions also included discussions on navigating geopolitical storms, the role of QMS for MedTech organizations in India: ISO 13485 and Indian MDR alignment, the role of BIS in the MedTech quality ecosystem, cultivating a culture of excellence in medical device manufacturing, sourcing quality raw materials for manufacturers, streamlining labelling compliance in India: a unified approach, strengthening India’s medical device regulatory system through IMDRF membership, and medical device cybersecurity: a checklist or a culture?

Simultaneously, the healthcare knowledge conference under the Healthcare 360° theme—integrating technology, tradition, and transformation—delivered keynote panels and presentations that focused on public health integration, local manufacturing, diagnostics, and hospital innovation. Topics included government initiatives such as pushing digital diagnostics, bridging government & diagnostics, running paperless hospitals using smart technology for better care, driving procurement access and transparency through GeM, making India an export capital of medical devices, and where human touch meets high tech.

The speaker lineup featured thought leaders from leading companies such as Fortis, Transasia Bio-Medicals, BPL Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd, GE Healthcare, Medicover Hospitals, Danaher Corporation, Apex Hospitals, BIORx Venture Advisors, MTaI, and Sarvodaya Hospitals.

A special white paper was also launched today by Praxis Global Alliance in collaboration with Informa Markets in India, providing insights into the increasing popularity of single speciality hospitals as a model to solve inherent challenges in the sector.

The India Health Exhibition 2025 is supported by industry bodies such as AIMED, ADMI, AHPI, EPCMD, and MTAI, ensuring it remains aligned with both sectoral priorities and the country’s broader goals under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital Health Mission’ agendas.

Indore / New Delhi, July 12, 2025: In a proud moment for Indian enterprise, Zed Black, the incense brand endorsed by cricket legend MS Dhoni, has been spotlighted as a case study at Harvard Business School. Its parent company, Mysore Deep Perfumery House (MDPH), has been recognized for transforming a traditional, family-run incense business into a ₹1,000 crore fragrance giant. With its roots in a modest garage in Indore, MDPH’s journey of purpose-led growth, innovation, and global expansion is now set to inspire classrooms and entrepreneurs across the world.

Founded in a garage in Indore in the early 1990s by Shri Prakash Agarwal, MDPH has grown into one of the world’s top incense exporters. Operating across 9.4 lakh sq. ft. of manufacturing space, it produces 3.5 crore incense sticks and sells around 15 lakh packs of Zed Black Incense Sticks daily and employs over 4,000 people—80% of whom are women. With exports to over 45 countries, MDPH’s flagship brands include Zed Black Agarbatti, Manthan Dhoop, Orva (lifestyle & aromatherapy), and Samarpan (prayer essentials).

India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of agarbatti, where fragrance is central to religious rituals and wellness routines. In this evolving market, Zed Black has played a key role in redefining tradition through innovation—whether by introducing charcoal-free bamboo-less agarbattis, premium dhoop sticks, or launching luxury perfumery through its D2C platform Orva.

At the heart of MDPH’s success is a unique blend of values, strategy, and celebrity-driven branding. The brand’s longstanding association with legendary Cricketer & Captain Cool MS Dhoni, now in its eighth year, brings unmatched credibility and trust. Meanwhile, Hrithik Roshan as the face of Manthan Dhoop has helped organize and elevate the unstructured dhoop segment for a younger, aspirational audience.

“This Harvard case is more than a milestone—it’s a celebration of Indian entrepreneurship rooted in values and powered by vision. Our journey from incense sticks to essential oils, from bamboo-less innovation to luxury perfumery, reflects a mindset shift: we are not just a product brand—we’re a ritual partner. With a presence in over 45 countries and a diverse fragrance portfolio tailored to global sensibilities, we’re proud to take India’s aromatic legacy to international shelves. From the Middle East to Latin America, Zed Black is helping the world discover the emotion behind every Indian scent”, shared Ankit Agrawal, Director, MDPH & Zed Black

The recognition on the Harvard platform is believed to be one of the first from both Indore and the Indian agarbatti sector, with the case already included in the curriculum at institutions like the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York. As global business schools seek real-world examples of family-led, values-driven growth, MDPH’s story is garnering wider academic attention.

“What’s kept us going for over three decades isn’t just the business of incense—it’s the intention behind every stick we roll. The intention to build with integrity, to stay consistent even when it was hard, and to always lead with honesty, empathy, and discipline. From a garage in Indore to households across the globe and over 3,000 women empowered along the way, this journey proves that when Indian values meet global ambition, the outcome is not just success, it’s significance. Our digital backbone ensures we remain agile as we expand across geographies and product categories. As we aim for ₹1,000 crore turnover by FY27, our focus is on building a future-ready, tech-driven FMCG powerhouse”, shared Anshul Agrawal, Director – Operations & HR, MDPH

While MDPH remains rooted in prayer traditions, its future-focused approach has included automation, packaging innovations (like resealable zipper packs), and category expansion into wellness and lifestyle products. While India remains the world’s largest incense consumer, MDPH has gone beyond traditional formats, tapping into modern wellness rituals with offerings like essential oils, reed diffusers, and Eau de Parfum. With their premium D2C offerings under Orva, including La Riva Eau de Parfum, the brand has entered the lifestyle and personal fragrance category that sees fragrance as both spiritual and personal.

“The MDPH case is a powerful example of how a traditional, family-run business in India can evolve strategically while staying grounded in its core values. It presents rich opportunities for students to analyze market structures, identify competitive moats, and evaluate growth choices. More importantly, it highlights the often-overlooked intersection of family dynamics and business decision-making”, shared Prof. Tulsi Jayakumar, Executive Director, Centre for Family Business & Entrepreneurship, SPJIMR.

From local homes to global classrooms, MDPH’s recognition at Harvard is a powerful reminder that when tradition meets innovation, and purpose drives performance, the result is not just scale—its significance.

Mumbai, July 12, 2025: In a bid to engage local communities across Indian villages, small towns and metro cities, children from SOS Children’s Villages India, who are part of Bal Panchayats, perform street plays or nukkad nataks aimed to raise awareness about the vital role that their parents and communities play in the holistic development of children. These performances are a part of SOS India’s Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) and focus on community outreach and child development.

Since the 1990s, children under FSP have been performing short skits on social issues in the communities they reside in. Beginning from 2010, these have become an integral part of FSP. These street plays become an informal and effective medium to raise awareness about informed parenting, active community involvement and the key role this plays in directly impacting a child’s cognitive, emotional and social growth. The plays inspire the adults to create and advocate a more supportive and nurturing environment for children, and leads to the development of well-rounded, resilient, and responsible future citizens. This closely aligns with SOS Children’s Villages India’s core mission of ensuring every child grows in a loving, caring, and safe environment.

Sumanta Kar, CEO, SOS Children’s Villages India said, “We believe that when children are empowered to express themselves, they become catalysts for change. For over a decade, our Family Strengthening Programme has supported Bal Panchayats in creatively using street theatre to voice the challenges they and their communities face be it child rights, education, climate change or protection in their local contexts. These street plays are more than performances; they are platforms for participation, where children between 10 to 17 years take the lead from scripting and rehearsals to staging. Children speak for children, and this peer-to-peer approach has been designed for their holistic development.”

The nukkad natak is conducted in all locations across the country where SOS Children’s Villages India has their FSP set up. The plays are typically organised quarterly or bi-quarterly in each of these locations and range from 15 to 30 minutes each. About 10-20 children organise and participate in each natak, including overseeing acting, emcee-ing, and supporting logistics.

The theme of the plays mostly circles around eight key themes – child rights and protection, education for all, health and hygiene, child marriage prevention, child labour prevention, gender equality, climate change, and substance abuse or domestic violence. The FSP team works with the Bal Panchayat to create an orientation on the themes identified by the children, followed by script development and talent identification, role distribution, rehearsals, a mock performance, and finally the children’s performance in the community. Community mobilisers and group leaders inform local communities through announcements and visits to gather audiences, with 100–150 people typically attending each play. This has led to several contextual issues gaining traction and action by the local ward and panchayat’s representatives such as building roads, cleaning of waterlogged drains, etc.

“Each play is a moment of transformation, not only for the performers but for the community. We’ve witnessed significant community engagement across all our programme locations, reaching hundreds with every performance. The children’s voices carry messages of resilience, equity and dignity. This initiative is directly aligned with our purpose: ensuring that every child grows with the bonds and support they need to become their strongest selves. Our vision is to build communities where children feel heard, valued, and empowered and these plays are living proof that when given the opportunity, children can spark dialogue and foster social change at the grassroots level,” added the CEO.

The plays serve a dual purpose as they build the skills, confidence, and growth of children associated with SOS India’s while simultaneously educating and sensitising the community, advancing SOS India’s mission of holistic child development and societal change. The performances by the children have encouraged school enrolments and motivated communities to support Bal Panchayat groups, effectively turning awareness into action, thus indicating that these performances have tangible community engagement, raising awareness and discussion on child rights, education, and gender issues.

India, July 12, 2025: QWR (Question What’s Real), India’s leading deep-tech XR hardware startup, today announced the launch of Humbl-  India’s first AI-powered glasses. This new interface is purpose-built for thinkers, doers and creators, offering Qualcomm AR1 processor, POV capture, reminders, navigation or meeting summaries. Backed by over a decade of expertise in head-mounted computing, QWR positions Humbl not as a newcomer’s gamble but as a bold leap forward in India’s consumer hardware and headworn technology landscape.

​​By pairing AI with vision and voice, the glasses are built to serve as an always-present assistant who is always aware of the surroundings and is seamlessly integrating the user’s daily flow. It offers intelligent responses in multiple Indian languages and dialects, a much-needed feature in democratizing wearable tech for a linguistically diverse population. Designed without a screen, Humbl is activated by a simple voice command—“Hey Humbl”—to capture POV content, summarise conversations, receive navigation prompts, listen to music or real-time translations, and set hands-free reminders. With a sole focus on utility, discretion, and contextual awareness.

“We are proud to launch India’s first AI smart glasses. The name Humbl reflects QWR’s core philosophy, our deep belief that technology, like a true guide, is built to empower, not overpower.” said Suraj Aiar, Founder & CEO of QWR. 

“What excites us most is the potential for Indian developers to shape what comes next. With built-in AI, contextual awareness and a voice-first interface, it opens up space for entirely new kinds of applications. From productivity to accessibility, we’re eager to see how this technology is extended, adapted, and reimagined by the developer community.” He added further.

Shipments of Humbl are scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2025, with the official launch to be announced later this month. In the coming months, QWR’s broader consumer roadmap includes AI audio glasses and future HUD-enabled wearables. With a vision to enter schemes like PLI, QWR is also expanding its advanced manufacturing infrastructure to meet export demand and drive India’s emergence as a serious force in global hardware innovation.

Globally, the smart eyewear market is projected to reach 30 million units by 2030. In India, the smart eyewear segment touched USD 87.9 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at over 30% annually through 2033. While global brands like Meta Rayban with Essilor Luxottica, Google with Gentle Monster entering the global market, there’s a significant market to capture through contextual localization &  focus on developer and early adopter communities before expanding to broader consumer segments.