Archives December 2025

Wonderland is redefining the landscape of public and recreational spaces through the innovative use of Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP), a durable, sustainable, and highly versatile material. increasingly chosen over traditional wood and metal, FRP structures are becoming a preferred solution for parks, resorts, schools, and residential complexes. The material’s long lifespan, weather resistance, and low maintenance make it ideal for modern infrastructure needs. Its smooth, child-friendly surfaces enhance safety, while its recyclable composition supports eco-conscious development and aligns with India’s Smart City and sustainability goals.

Beyond strength and sustainability, FRP stands out for its unmatched creative freedom. Designers can mold FRP into virtually any form, allowing imagination to take physical shape. From thematic playgrounds and educational installations to iconic replicas of the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, or Howrah Bridge, FRP enables artistic concepts that were once difficult or expensive to construct. Starting from a mold and crafted with precision, each structure blends functionality with visual storytelling, turning public spaces into immersive, engaging environments that spark curiosity and interaction.

With a mission to highlight Bengal’s craftsmanship globally, Wonderland combines artistic skill, technological innovation, and sustainable design. Their FRP installations not only beautify public spaces but also drive tourism, enhance community engagement, and demonstrate how creative infrastructure can redefine a city’s identity, proving that thoughtful design can transform everyday spaces into impactful cultural landmarks.

India, Dec 05th: Artificial Intelligence is now at the heart of India’s digital transformation—driving safety, accessibility and everyday empowerment. Reflecting this shift, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2025, in collaboration with IIT Delhi, brought together thousands of students from across the country to design real-world AI solutions under the theme “AI for a Safer, Smarter and Inclusive Bharat.”

Here are the key highlights from this year’s theme, “AI for Safer, Smarter and Inclusive Bharat.”

1. A Theme Focused on Social Impact

The AI theme encouraged students to design technology that enhances safety in public spaces, improves accessibility for the visually impaired, and supports real-time emergency response.

2. The Innovators & Their Breakthroughs

• Teams like Chakravyuh, Error 404, Passionate Problem Solver, Percevia, and Sicario brought forward solutions ranging from AI-enabled surveillance networks and women’s safety apps to smart energy meters and wearable navigation devices for the visually impaired.

   Chakravyuh (Uttar Pradesh): Drone-enabled AI monitoring system to send alerts on infiltration activities on borders

• Error 404 (Uttar Pradesh): AI-powered safety app for women with real-time fall detection & ER
• Passionate Problem Solver (Delhi): Decentralized smart energy meter system with AI-based encryption and predictive alerts
• Sicario (Delhi): AI glasses providing real-time face recognition & offline navigation support for blind

  3. Theme Winner: Percevia

The top team under this theme—Percevia, led by Bengaluru student Tushar Shaw—created AI-powered glasses that provide object detection and location-based guidance, enabling safer and more independent mobility for visually impaired users.

4. National Winners Beyond AI

Other SFT 2025 national winners included:

*   NextPlay.AI – AI sports coaching platform
*   Paraspeak – Deep-learning speech-clarification device
  *   Prithvi Rakshak – Gamified sustainability app

5. The Support That Makes It Possible

Winners received up to ₹1 crore incubation support at IIT Delhi, with additional awards for top teams, including ₹1 lakh grants, Goodwill Awards, Young Innovator Awards, and Galaxy Z Flip smartphones.

6. A Platform Creating Future Changemakers

Participants gained access to FITT Labs, mentors from academia and industry, and design-thinking training focused on empathy-driven, responsible AI. With 2.9 million young innovators engaged across 68 countries since 2010, SFT continues to shape the next generation of problem solvers in India.

By:- Mr. Sadaf Sayeed, CEO, Muthoot Microfin, the RBI Monetary Policy Meeting 

“The 25 bps policy rate cut is a prudent and positive step by the RBI. The additional liquidity infusion of ₹1 trillion through OMOs is equally significant, providing a strong growth-oriented push. This combination will enhance credit flow to the last mile, easing EMIs for customers and improving access to credit as liquidity transmission strengthens from banks to MFIs”

Bilaspur, Dec 5: DAV Bilaspur marked a significant step toward innovation-driven education with the inauguration of the MSMS (My School My Startup) Future-Ready Education Bus on 1st December 2025. The initiative, sponsored by SECL and powered by Codevidhya, was unveiled in the presence of an esteemed panel of dignitaries: Chief Guest Shri Biranchi Das, Director (Personnel), SECL, Guest of Honour Shri Shyamlal Rao, GM (Welfare), SECL, Shri Vivek Singh, Personnel Manager, SECL, and Shri K. Parthipan, Principal, DAV Bilaspur.

The MSMS Education Bus, conceptualised as a handy mobile learning van, is designed to provide students with transformative, skill-based digital education, aligning directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat powered by technology, innovation, and youth empowerment. PM Modi has repeatedly emphasised the importance of equipping the next generation with future-ready skills such as digital literacy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The MSMS initiative brings this vision to life by enabling students to learn, explore, and build their ideas within a modern, mobile innovation environment.

Supported by SECL’s educational CSR initiatives, the project aims to strengthen the region’s academic ecosystem by making modern learning more inclusive and accessible. With Codevidhya as the knowledge and technology partner, the MSMS model integrates coding, computational thinking, AI readiness, and innovation-based education into everyday learning.

The inauguration at DAV Bilaspur signifies a step forward in integrating mobile innovation labs within schools, ensuring that students receive exposure to emerging technologies at an early age. This move supports the goals of the NEP 2020 by encouraging experiential and hands-on learning.

In line with PM Modi’s vision of Digital India, Skill India, and Viksit Bharat@2047, this mobile education bus stands as a transformative step toward nurturing a generation that is technologically empowered, future-ready, and globally competitive. 

Following the launch, students toured the MSMS Bus and participated in interactive demonstrations, experiencing firsthand the tools and modules included in the van. The initiative has been well-received by the school community for making advanced learning accessible while inspiring students to explore technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

This launch stands as a strong reflection of collaborative efforts toward building a progressive education ecosystem aligned with India’s growth vision.

BBH India Managing Director Himanshu Saxena takes on expanded mandate as President North & East for Saatchi & Saatchi India and Propagate India

Mumbai, Dec 05: To further strengthen leadership in the North & East India markets, deliver deeper value to clients and bolster the presence of the creative agencies in the region, BBH India’s Managing Director, Himanshu Saxena, has taken on the additional mandate of President – North & East for Saatchi & Saatchi India and Propagate. In this expanded role, he will be based in the Gurugram office while continuing to lead BBH India nationally. Himanshu will continue to report to Paritosh Srivastava, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi India, BBH India and Propagate.

Creating a powerful nucleus across functions, Himanshu will now anchor the North and East leadership and will be supported by Hindol Purkayastha, EVP – North & East India, Nisheeth Srivastava, Senior Executive Creative Director, and Ankit Sharma, EVP – Planning, across Saatchi & Saatchi India, BBH India and Propagate.

This unified leadership team will help the agencies deliver seamless, integrated solutions to clients and further strengthen Publicis Groupe’s Power of One proposition in the region. The move also ensures that brands benefit from deeper, more connected thinking across creative, digital and media.

Himanshu brings over three decades of experience across the communication spectrum, including advertising, marketing & sales, brand management, digital and social, PR, design and market research. Since joining Publicis Groupe India in 2022 as Managing Director of BBH India, Himanshu has built a strong reputation for delivering impactful, award-winning work that drives substantial business results.

Paritosh Srivastava, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi India, BBH India and Propagate, said,

“Given the significance and size of the North and East markets, and the strong client relationships that Publicis Groupe India has fostered here, we’re committed to doubling down on the region. We already have a solid presence and valuable partnerships, and this leadership nucleus will help us further harness the power of the Groupe’s capabilities and become a dominant creative force in the region. With this leadership bench, we’re bringing together the scale, depth and quality needed to unlock the next wave of growth. We’re confident that this unified structure will deliver greater value and more integrated impact for brands navigating today’s rapidly evolving landscape.”

Himanshu Saxena, Managing Director at BBH India and President North & East for Saatchi & Saatchi India and Propagate, added,

“With our combined creative and digital strengths, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver connected, end-to-end solutions that drive real business impact for our clients. I look forward to working alongside Paritosh and the teams to strengthen our regional capabilities, drive integrated growth, and deliver powerful solutions that help our clients win.”

A New Generation of Buyers Is Redefining Lighting in 2025

Jaipur, Dec 5: The decorative lighting market in 2025 reflects a fundamental shift in how people perceive their homes. Lighting is no longer seen as a mere utility but as a sophisticated design tool – one that sets the emotional tone of a space before furniture, colour palettes, or textures enter the picture. Today’s consumers are design-aware, digitally exposed, and deeply invested in how their environments shape their everyday experiences. As a result, the year’s bestsellers reveal a buyer who values craftsmanship, ambience, sustainability, and narrative-driven design.

The 10 Trends Dominating Decorative Lighting This Year

• Lighting Becomes the Mood Architect – Homeowners and designers are treating lighting as the emotional heartbeat of a room – using it to define spatial identity and daily rhythm.
• Sculptural Chandeliers Take Centre Stage – Classic chandeliers have evolved into contemporary sculptures. Pieces like the Allure Golden Orb Crystal Chandelier exemplify this new language of modern opulence.
• Minimalism Warms Up – Rather than stark silhouettes, 2025’s minimalism leans toward soft, refined pendants with warm LED tones, embracing calmness without losing style.
• Layered Lighting Becomes a Daily Ritual – Homes increasingly rely on layered compositions—pendants for structure, sconces for softness, and table lamps for intimacy – creating depth throughout the day.
• Smart Scaling for Compact Homes – Small spaces demand thoughtful lighting. Slim, vertical pendants such as the Enora LED Pendant are rising as elegant solutions for urban living.
• Wellness-Led Illumination – Warm ambient lighting has become part of self-care. Buyers are drawn to pieces that evoke calm and enhance nighttime routines.
• Table Lamps Return as Design Statements – The rediscovery of the table lamp marks one of the year’s strongest trends. Sculptural designs like the Aria Bedside Table Lamp transform side tables into focal points.
• A Push Toward Sustainable Light Sources – Integrated LEDs, reduced energy consumption, and long-life fixtures are now expected – not aspirational – as sustainability becomes a silent design priority.
• Textures That Tell Stories Frosted glass, ribbed finishes, crystal orbs, matte metals, and smoky hues bring tactility and visual softness into contemporary Indian homes.
• Lighting That Moves With the Home – Versatility is paramount. Designers and homeowners favour fixtures that adapt across spaces – dining rooms, lounges, bedrooms, or studio corners – mirroring changing lifestyles.

Why These Bestsellers Matter

What defines the bestseller list of 2025 isn’t scale or grandeur – it’s intentionality. People want lighting that transforms a room without overwhelming it, that feels current yet timeless, and that elevates their daily rituals. The most popular designs this year prove that good lighting is emotional architecture. It shapes how we gather, rest, think, and feel inside our homes.

Lumeil’s founder, Naman Jain, captures this shift with clarity and restraint – echoing the mindset of India’s evolving design consumer. “A home today isn’t defined by walls; it’s defined by atmosphere. Lighting has become the quiet storyteller in that atmosphere.” He adds,
“When we curate fixtures, the intention is simple—to help people create spaces they emotionally connect with. A light should hold a room together without ever needing to announce itself.”

“The MPC has in a platter given what the market expected. A Rate cut alongside long dated Swaps and OMOs, not only keeps the liquidity promise intact, but also will keep the Currency in relative balance. The market appears to have reacted positively on all counts.”

“The RBI’s decision to trim the repo rate by 25 basis points while maintaining a neutral stance signals a calibrated shift towards supporting growth, without sending an overly aggressive easing signal to the markets. RBI’s communication is straight forward that the apex will do whatever it takes to support growth given the deflationary trend in the price gauge.”

“By combining a modest rate cut with a neutral stance, the MPC has tried to balance softening inflation with still-resilient growth.  This in my view is necessitated by the weakening Rupee and narrowing interest rate spread between India and the US markets.”

“The RBI MPC‘s 25 bps repo rate reduction, paired with a neutral stance, reflects a data-dependent approach that prioritises supporting growth against the backdrop of easing inflationary pressures.  However, the rate-setting panel has retained its flexibility for future policy decisions based on incoming data.”

Kunal Shah, Co-founder, SURE (India’s First Liability Management Platform)

“As expected, RBI MPC has delivered a dovish cut in interest rates, acknowledging that the inflation trend is much lower, if we take out the impact of gold prices, realised inflation this year is only 1.5-2.0%. Leaving the rooms for one more cut in future if growth slows down.

The cut is timely and will bring relief for homebuyers, lowering EMIs and reducing total interest outflow. For a home loan of ₹50 lakhs, borrowers could now save around *₹1.80 lakh over the 20y tenure, further improving affordability and boosting housing demand.

For banks, the rate cut may compress lending margins in the short term, but it is also expected to stimulate higher credit demand, particularly in home loans, supporting overall portfolio growth. With rates continuing to soften, 2026 is shaping up to be more favourable for both borrowers and lenders.”

Reeza Sebastian Karimpanal, Chief Revenue Officer – Residential, Embassy Developments Ltd.

“With inflation softening and the central bank reaffirming confidence in India’s economic trajectory, the current rate cut brings much-needed clarity and support to the broader real estate ecosystem.

For developers, improved financing conditions and stronger liquidity sentiment are encouraging. This stability is likely to accelerate project momentum and strengthen demand across key markets. While the luxury segment continues to remain resilient with strong end-user demand, a more accommodative policy backdrop helps unlock broader market participation and long-term planning for the industry. We are also seeing sustained interest from a new generation of homebuyers who are prioritising quality living, integrated amenities, and long-term value creation. Although mid-income and first-time buyers may benefit more directly from lower EMIs, the overall confidence boost supports sentiment across segments, including premium and luxury.”

Amit Prakash, Co-founder & CEO, Urban Money

“The 25-basis point reduction in the repo rate comes at a timely moment, strengthening monetary support as domestic fundamentals remain constructive. With growth projections revised upward by global agencies and inflation well-anchored, the move adds incremental support to overall financial conditions. Tax reforms continue to bolster demand, complementing the policy easing. The cut also builds on earlier reductions this year, reinforcing transmission as lending rates trend lower. Financial conditions are expected to improve further as banks align their lending rates with the policy adjustment.”

Ashish Goyal, Co-Founder and Whole Time Director, Fibe ( a series e funded digital lending platform)

“The 25 bps rate cut announced today, taking the total reduction to 125 bps in 2025, signals a strong shift toward supporting growth while keeping inflation in check. The cumulative easing brings down borrowing costs meaningfully, strengthens household purchasing power and gives customers more confidence to plan long-term. Lower rates also create a clear push for higher consumption as everyday credit becomes more accessible, and the cost of major purchases becomes easier to manage.”

Meanwhile, the liquidity actions through large government bond purchases and the three-year dollar rupee swap focus on strengthening the financial system itself. Injecting more than ₹1 lakh crore into the economy ensures lenders have the flexibility to extend credit smoothly and prevents any strain on financial conditions. Better liquidity also improves policy transmission, supports small enterprises and stabilises financial markets. Combined with the RBI’s renewed push on customer service and grievance resolution, these steps create a more resilient and customer-centric financial environment that supports broad-based economic momentum.”

By:-  Mr. Abhinav Jain, Whole-Time Director of Jinkushal Industries Limited

“The RBI’s latest policy signals a decisive shift toward supporting growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability. For a net forex-earning business like JKIPL, a stronger export environment, lower real interest rates and a more competitive rupee together create a significant tailwind. Every dollar of revenue now translates into higher rupee realizations. For instance, a standard USD 100,000 export invoice yielded about ₹83 lakh in December 2024; at current levels it realizes nearly ₹90 lakh, a gain of roughly ₹7 lakh per invoice. This directly strengthens our margins and enables greater reinvestment in technology, refurbishment quality and expanding our global reach.

Our cost base in India spanning refurbishment, logistics, compliance and central functions is largely rupee-denominated, while a substantial share of our revenues is in dollars. In this environment, disciplined risk management and selective hedging help us turn currency volatility into an advantage rather than a risk. We intend to use this window to deepen relationships with existing buyers, enter new geographies and continue operating with a conservative balance sheet.”

By – Shishir Baijal – International Partner, Chairman & Managing Director, India Knight Frank on RBI MPC.

“We welcome the RBI’s positive move to cut rates by 25 bps, as it signals growing confidence that inflation will remain low on a durable basis. The decision also reflects a greater willingness to support growth more assertively. The reduction in borrowing costs should offer timely relief to the real estate sector, where lower home loan rates can help sustain momentum in end-user demand and improve developers’ cost structures. We hope this will be instrumental in boosting affordable and mid-income housing sales, which have been witnessing a sequential decline over the past few quarters.”