Archives 2026

As India generates over nine million tonnes of plastic waste annually, industry leaders are calling on the Union Budget 2026 to play a decisive role in transforming plastic recycling into a commercially viable and operationally scalable sector.

Despite rising waste volumes, formal recycling continues to languish in single digits, held back by high taxation on plastic waste and recycling inputs, inconsistent enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), limited traceability, and inadequate access to modern recycling technologies. Industry stakeholders believe that targeted fiscal and regulatory interventions in the upcoming Budget could unlock significant scale in India.

“India’s formal recycling ecosystem remains constrained by a policy framework that has not kept pace with sustainability goals. High GST on plastic waste, scrap, recycling machinery, and inputs continues to make compliant recycling financially uncompetitive. The Union Budget must prioritise zero-rating GST on plastic waste, scrap, and recycling equipment, along with a meaningful reduction in GST on recycled plastic granules, to incentivise their use in long-life and durable products. Without correcting these cost distortions, the transition from virgin to recycled plastics will remain limited,” Mr. Sushil Kumar Aggarwal, Chairman and Whole-Time Director of AVRO India Limited; National President of The All-India Plastics Molded Furniture Manufacturers Association (AIPMFMA); Chairman, CII Western U.P Zone

Fiscal reform without regulatory certainty will not deliver scale. “EPR cannot work unless it is clear, stable, enforceable, and fully traceable, and the Budget must decisively strengthen EPR guidelines to ensure accountability across the value chain and give recyclers the confidence to commit long-term capital. Equally critical is the introduction of a dedicated technology upgradation fund and targeted subsidies for advanced recycling processes and automation, which will allow Indian recyclers to improve efficiency, meet global quality benchmarks, and make EPR compliance commercially viable at scale,” he added.

With the right policy push in the Union Budget, plastic waste can be transformed from an environmental liability into a value-generating resource, firmly embedded within India’s circular economy framework.

Noida, Jan 22: IMS Noida’s community radio Salaam Namaste has successfully completed 16 remarkable years of community broadcasting and social transformation. To mark this milestone, a programme focusing on women entrepreneurship and youth empowerment was organized at the institute campus. During the event, homepreneur units such as Nani’s Potli and Aventra, along with representatives from NGOs Sadarg and Mera Sahara, shared their inspiring success stories. Discussions were also held on the preservation and promotion of Indian art and culture.

In his message, IMS Noida President Mr. Rajeev Kumar Gupta stated that it is the result of sustained efforts that Salaam Namaste has so far received four National Awards from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, for thematic interventions, community engagement, and promotion of local art and culture. Since its inception, Salaam Namaste has continuously played an active role in empowering the local community. He added that the radio station will continue to be the voice of the community, promoting social change, empowerment, and positive thinking in the years to come.

Speaking on the occasion, IMS Noida Director General Professor (Dr.) Vikas Dhawan said that the institute is celebrating the 16th anniversary of its success today. He highlighted that Salaam Namaste, the first community radio of Noida and Ghaziabad, has been broadcasting programmes focused on social issues since 2009. Over the years, the station has been honored by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, for its programmes “Chak De Chhotu” (focused on underprivileged children) in 2016 and “Salaam Shakti” in 2019. Other award-winning and popular programmes of Salaam Namaste include Second Inning Ko Salaam, Med Didi, Salaam Sehat, Radio Tuition, Salaam School, Career Express, Nanhi Awaaz Badi Seekh, and Noida Ke Saarthi.

Station Head Ms. Varsha Chhabaria shared that Salaam Namaste Community Radio works extensively in key areas such as health, women empowerment, environmental conservation, Vocal for Local, and art and culture, with a strong focus on social welfare, education, and community empowerment. Popular programmes like “Sehat Sahi Laabh Kai” (health awareness), “Maati Ke Geet” (local folk music), and “Second Inning Ko Salaam” (focused on senior citizens’ welfare) have been highly appreciated by listeners.

She further informed that in 2025, Salaam Namaste Community Radio received its fourth National Award at WAVES 2025 held in Mumbai for the programme “Med Didi”. In addition, the station was also honored by the Bureau of Indian Standards on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day 2025 and World Standards Day for its significant contributions.

DSCI Inaugurates Operational Technology Cyber Security Lab in Collaboration with Rockwell Automation to Strengthen Cyber Security Resilience

New Delhi, Jan 22: Data Security Council of India (DSCI), in collaboration with Rockwell Automation, today inaugurated an Operational Technology (OT) Cyber Security Lab at the DSCI premises, Nasscom campus, Noida. The lab was formally inaugurated by Chief Guests Mr Sarit Maheshwari – CEO, NTPC Green Energy Limited and NTPC Renewable Energy Limited; Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor, Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Dr R Ranjana, Director, Future Technologies, DRDO in the presence of Mr Stephen Ford, Global CISO, Rockwell Automation; Mr Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director – India, Rockwell Automation; and Mr Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI.

The initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s cyber security posture for critical infrastructure, smart manufacturing, supply chain security and industrial environments amid the rapid digitalisation of operational systems.

The OT Cyber Security Lab has been established to address the cyber security risks arising from the increasing convergence of digital technologies and operational systems in industrial and infrastructure environments. The facility is intended to support focused research and experimentation on cyber security challenges specific to OT, with an emphasis on strengthening security practices in real-world industrial contexts.

Inaugurating the lab, Shri Sarit Maheshwari – CEO, NTPC Green Energy Limited and NTPC Renewable Energy Limited, said,

“As we are witnessing a digitally transformed ecosystem, isolated systems until now have converged to more connected systems and security must be incorporated right from the design stage. Am glad to see initiatives such as the OT Cyber Security Lab by DSCI and Rockwell Automation which will pave the way and open access to start-ups for strengthening the OT ecosystem.”

Envisioned as a national-level facility, the lab will enable industry and startups to test and validate cybersecurity solutions against real-world OT use cases in a controlled setting. It will also support training and capacity building by providing hands-on exposure to OT security tools, architectures, and scenarios for professionals working across critical sectors.

Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said:

“The augmentation of OT Cyber Security Lab reinforces our focus on securing operational technology environments that underpin critical infrastructure and smart manufacturing. The lab will facilitate startups to innovate, test, and validate cybersecurity solutions in real-world OT settings. By providing a controlled environment for experimentation and learning, the facility will help address complex security challenges and enhance national preparedness against cyber threats. I would like to thank Rockwell Automation for working with us and bringing their global expertise in industrial automation and security to support this initiative.”

“As India digitises critical operations, OT resilience becomes a strategic imperative. Securing OT demands visibility, discipline, and continuous validation, and above all, collective action. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and it requires the commitment of companies, industry bodies, and the wider ecosystem to build truly secure and resilient operational environments. Our collaboration with DSCI translates global OT security expertise into actionable, India-ready capabilities, helping organizations assess risk, validate controls, and build resilient operations at scale. This facility advances rigorous testing and training so organisations can better anticipate threats and reduce risk across industries,” said, Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India 

The lab will bring together industry and startups to enable collaboration on emerging cyber threats affecting OT systems and critical infrastructure. Through this multi-stakeholder engagement, the facility aims to support practical approaches to securing industrial environments and improving national preparedness against OT-focused cyber risks.

Developed in cooperation with Rockwell Automation, the OT Cyber Security Lab has been successfully commissioned and tested, combining DSCI’s ecosystem-building approach with global expertise to deliver this capability for India.

India’s residential real estate market entered a phase of measured normalisation in calendar year 2025, with housing demand moderating gradually while prices remained resilient, according to Real Insight – Residential CY 2025, the annual housing market report released by PropTiger.com.

Across the top eight cities, all-India residential sales declined 12% year-on-year to 3,86,365 units in 2025, compared to 4,36,992 units in 2024, marking the lowest annual sales volume since 2022.

In the fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4 2025), housing sales fell 10% year-on-year and 0.5% quarter-on-quarter to 95,049 units—the lowest quarterly sales recorded since Q2 2023. Quarterly sales during 2025 moderated steadily from 98,095 units in Q1 to 95,049 units in Q4, indicating a re-timing of demand rather than a structural contraction.

Commenting on the trend, Mr. Onkar Shetye, Executive Director, Aurum PropTech, said,

“2025 was not a year of demand destruction, but one of recalibration. Buyers remained active but more deliberate, while developers responded with disciplined supply management. This prevented inventory stress and helped prices remain resilient despite softer volumes.”

The slowdown was most pronounced during Q2 2025, which emerged as the weakest quarter for new supply due to seasonal factors and heightened buyer caution. However, deferred demand was steadily absorbed in the second half of the year, particularly across southern markets.

City-wise Performance Highlights

City-level divergence widened through the year. Hyderabad and Chennai emerged as consistent outperformers, registering sustained quarterly and annual growth. Mumbai and Bengaluru showed volatility during the year but closed 2025 on a firmer footing. Delhi NCR remained the only major market to record year-on-year sales declines across all four quarters, reflecting prolonged consolidation.

Supply Trends

Total new housing supply across the eight cities declined 6% year-on-year to 3,61,096 units in 2025, compared to 3,85,221 units in 2024 the lowest annual supply recorded since 2021.

In Q4 2025, however, new launches rose 4% year-on-year and 0.2% quarter-on-quarter to 92,007 units, signalling cautious supply reactivation by developers.

Despite moderated sales volumes, residential prices continued to firm up across key markets. Limited ready inventory, elevated construction costs, and calibrated supply additions enabled developers to maintain pricing discipline, with minimal reliance on aggressive discounting.

“The housing market is transitioning into a more mature, execution-led phase,” added Mr. Shetye. “Growth in 2026 is likely to be driven by affordability, infrastructure-led micro-markets, and city-specific fundamentals rather than broad-based acceleration.”

New Delhi, Jan 22: Consistent Infosystems, one of India’s fastest-growing brands in IT hardware, networking, surveillance, and consumer electronics, has announced the launch of its latest innovation – Consistent Surge Protectors. Designed to offer dependable power safety and everyday convenience, the new range ensures enhanced protection for modern electronic devices across homes and workplaces.

The newly launched Consistent Surge Protectors are available in multiple variants to suit diverse user requirements. The range includes 4-port and 5-port models, offered with 1.5-meter and 3-meter cable lengths, providing flexibility for different installation setups and power access needs.

Engineered with advanced surge protection technology, the surge protectors are designed to safeguard sensitive electronic devices from power fluctuations, voltage spikes, and electrical surges. Their strong and durable build quality makes them suitable for daily usage, ensuring long-term reliability and safety.

Ideal for homes, offices, workstations, and commercial environments, the multi-socket configuration allows users to connect multiple devices simultaneously, such as computers, routers, printers, televisions, and other essential electronics  all while maintaining optimal power stability.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Yogesh Aggarwal, CMD and Co-Founder, Consistent Infosystems, said,

“With the introduction of Consistent Surge Protectors, we aim to provide users with a reliable and efficient power safety solution that complements today’s growing dependence on electronic devices. This launch reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality, practical products that enhance everyday digital experiences.”

With this launch, Consistent Infosystems continues to strengthen its portfolio of power and connectivity solutions, offering products that combine safety, durability, and performance for modern technology-driven environments.

Bangalore, Jan 22: Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a global leader in real-time engagement and conversational AI, today announced a strategic partnership with Sentino to create a new AI Agent Platform for Physical AI—designed to help AI brands and device makers build long-term, emotionally engaging AI companions.

Built using Agora’s Conversational AI Engine, the platform combines real-time conversation with memory, emotion, and multimodal expression—moving AI beyond simple chat and toward daily companionship.

“The next frontier of AI isn’t just about intelligence; it’s about presence. By combining Sentino’s expertise in emotional depth with Agora’s real-time Conversational AI Engine, we are enabling developers to move beyond transactional interactions. We’re building the infrastructure for AI that doesn’t just answer questions, but connects with people in a meaningful, long-term way,” said Tony Wang, Agora’s Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer.

From Chatbots to Companions

Most AI agents are designed to respond. Few are designed to stay.

Agora and Sentino are addressing this gap by enabling AI agents to maintain presence, remember shared moments, and express emotion over time. The result is AI that users don’t just try once—but return to again and again.

A Simple, Scalable Ecosystem

• Agora provides the real-time AI infrastructure and overall platform design
• Sentino AI delivers agent personas and companion features on top of Agora’s conversational AI
• Customers can quickly launch AI-powered products without building core systems from scratch

This approach reduces complexity and speeds up time to market.

Four Core Features That Create Long-Term Engagement

1. Agent “OS” (Inner Thoughts): Always Present

AI agents automatically generate short, context-aware inner thoughts based on user interaction and idle time. These reflections give the agent a sense of ongoing presence—even when no conversation is happening.

Why it matters

• Agents feel alive, not silent
• Users form stronger emotional bonds and return more often

2. AI Diary: Remembering Shared Moments

AI Diary turns daily interactions into a short, persona-consistent diary entry—capturing meaningful events and emotions without any user effort.

Why it matters

• Builds a shared history between user and agent
• Encourages users to revisit past moments, increasing retention

3. Diary Illustration: Making Memories Visual

Each diary entry can include an automatically generated, crayon-style image that reflects the agent’s personality and the day’s story.

Why it matters

• Adds emotional depth without extra interaction
• Especially engaging for children, families, and lifestyle devices

4. Music Diary: Turning Memories into Sound

Music Diary transforms diary content into emotion-driven music that users can replay and revisit.

Why it matters

• Deepens emotional connection through sound
• Creates opportunities for premium content and subscriptions

Why Scenario-Based AI Works

Task-based AI solves problems. Scenario-based AI builds habits.

By focusing on daily experiences—memories, reflections, visuals, and music—the platform keeps AI agents emotionally relevant and continuously engaging.

Built for Real-World Use Cases

The platform supports a wide range of Physical AI applications, including:

• AI companions and lifestyle devices
• Education and language learning
• Fandom and brand avatars
• Meditation, reflection, and emotional guidance

Shared building blocks allow brands to expand their features quickly and easily.

Executive Perspective

“We are dedicated to building human-centric AI,” said Chris Chen, CEO of Sentino. “By transforming static characters into living assets, we are enabling IP holders to move beyond simple interactions and build sustainable, emotional economies with their fans.”

A Platform Designed to Grow Over Time

With ongoing updates and new companion scenarios, the Agora × Sentino platform is built to evolve—without disrupting existing products.

Shaping the Future of Physical AI

Together, Agora and Sentino are redefining Physical AI as AI that feels present, personal, and worth coming back to.

Kenvue today announced a dual brand strategy with ORSL™ and eRZL™, reinforcing its leadership in India’s hydration category. This move offers consumers scientifically backed solutions for both diarrheal and everyday hydration, addressing dehydration as an increasingly important public health concern.

Under its “Double Power for Complete Hydration” strategy, Kenvue will now provide two distinct, science-driven brands:

• ORSL™: The rebranded ORS portfolio, formulated according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, targets diarrheal dehydration. It is available in Ready-to-Drink and Powder formats.

• eRZL™: Previously part of the ORSL electrolyte drink portfolio, eRZL™ is now a standalone brand for everyday hydration and recovery, catering to tiredness, exhaustion, heat stress, and mild to moderate dehydration.

eRZL™ – New & Improved Composition
The new eRZL™ formula delivers faster hydration than water, with 1.4x more electrolytes and 8x less sugar than the previous version, combining Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Vitamin C, and real fruit juice for a tasty, guilt-free hydration experience. Designed for daily hydration, eRZL™ helps consumers replenish fluids, restore electrolytes, and recover from physical stress or fatigue.

Commenting on the dual brand strategy,

Manish Anandani, Managing Director – India, Kenvue, said:

“For years, we have led India’s hydration category by understanding consumer needs and leveraging science. With dehydration emerging as a key health concern, we are proud to introduce a two-brand strategy—ORSL™ for diarrheal hydration and eRZL™ for everyday hydration. These brands will strengthen awareness about proper hydration and complement broader public health efforts.”

Prashant Shinde, Business Unit Head – Self Care, Kenvue India, added:

“As health and wellness trends accelerate, consumers are seeking low-sugar, low-calorie, science-backed hydration options. The all-new eRZL™ with its improved composition offers a healthier solution to feel better faster when depleted or fatigued.”

Dr. Nikhil Bangale, Head of Medical & Safety Sciences, Kenvue India, highlighted:

While diarrheal dehydration is widely recognized, everyday dehydration often goes unnoticed, particularly under rising heat and physical stress. Rehydration today goes beyond water and home remedies, requiring scientifically formulated electrolyte solutions. Consumers should choose drinks based on optimal electrolyte concentration, key nutrients, and energy to ensure faster and effective hydration.”

With ORSL™ and eRZL™, Kenvue continues to innovate and expand its hydration portfolio, delivering scientifically validated solutions for consumers across India, whether addressing illness or supporting daily hydration needs.

Standard Chartered has announced the launch of the second phase of its “Now’s Your Time for Wealth” global wealth campaign, reinforcing its role as the strategic partner for global-minded investors who want insight and confidence across markets, cycles, and every decision that shapes their financial future. In India, the campaign is aimed at the growing wealth and affluent segment, including ‘Global Indians’.

This second phase of the campaign introduces a suite of CIO-powered intelligence through content formats designed to give investors direct access to the bank’s high-frequency market outlooks, expertise-backed sector calls, and timely cross-market guidance. This includes new editorial partnerships, digital content releases aligned to market movements, amplifying the CIO’s views to a wider affluent audience. At the heart of the campaign is a bold delivery of real-time, world-class investment insight, when it matters most.

The campaign calls out three key pillars Cross Border Wealth, Wealth Expertise, and Navigating Volatile Times, highlighting Standard Chartered’s strengths as a global wealth partner.

This 360° Integrated Marketing Campaign will run across various touchpoints: Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising, Linear TV and Connected TV, Digital Media (Google Search,  Programmatic buys and Social Media platforms), and Owned Media, targeting and engaging different investor audiences, in more personalised ways.

Haymans Fung, Global Head of Marketing for Wealth and Retail Banking at Standard Chartered, commented,

“Investors today are navigating a far more complex landscape, with geopolitical developments and market shifts influencing decisions across borders. With this next phase of our ‘Now’s Your Time for Wealth’ campaign, we aim to give clients clearer access to the insights and connections that matter most. By combining our international network with our 170 years of expertise, and timely perspectives from our Chief Investment Office, we are committed to supporting clients in making confident, well-informed decisions wherever they are in their wealth journey.”

 Aditya Mandloi, Managing Director, Head of Wealth and Retail Banking, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, said, 

“At Standard Chartered, we empower our affluent clients with deep market insights and expertise to invest confidently. Through Standard Chartered Group’s extensive international network and four wealth hubs, timely intelligence from our Chief Investment Office, and tailored investment opportunities, we help our clients take advantage of the right opportunities at the right time.”

The first rollout of the “Now’s Your Time for Wealth” campaign in January 2025 ran in a mix of out-of-home advertising across airports and in-city sites, print advertising, film and content partnerships with leading international, regional and local media across seven key markets – Singapore, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Korea, Taiwan, UAE and India.

New Delhi, Jan 22: India’s residential real estate market entered a new phase of maturity in 2025, transitioning from volume-led expansion to value-driven growth, according to the latest report by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and ANAROCK.

While housing sales across the top seven cities declined 14% year-on-year to 3.96 lakh units, the total transaction value rose 6%, crossing INR 6 lakh crore, indicating that premium and higher-ticket homes are increasingly driving the market.

This divergence between volume and value reflects a structural shift in Indian housing. After a muted price phase between 2015 and 2019, residential prices surged nearly 54% during 2019–24, supported by post-pandemic recovery, infrastructure spending, and consolidation among large developers. In 2025, price growth moderated to a healthier ~8%, pointing to a more sustainable, end-user-focused market.

Premium and Luxury Housing Leads Growth

“One of the most striking changes is in demand composition,” said Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Group. “Homes priced below INR 75 lakh, which accounted for nearly 60% of sales in 2021, now make up just ~32% of the market. In contrast, luxury and ultra-luxury housing has expanded rapidly, supported by rising incomes, lifestyle upgrades, and improving affordability.”

• Luxury homes priced above ₹4 crore now contribute 18–20% of total sales, compared to just 1–2% pre-pandemic.

• The ultra-luxury segment (INR 40 crore and above) recorded a 66% jump in sales in 2025, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) accounting for over 70% of transactions.

Structural Shifts in Residential Demand

• Tier-I cities continue to lead, while Tier-II cities gain traction.

• Larger, wellness-focused, amenity-rich homes are increasingly preferred.

• Demand for 3BHK and larger units has risen to 45–50%, up from 30% in 2018, with average unit sizes across major cities increasing by ~40% since 2021, led by the NCR region.

Supply Trends and Market Institutionalisation

• Listed and Grade-A developers now account for ~45% of residential supply, up from 28% five years ago, reflecting stronger balance sheets, execution capabilities, and growing buyer trust.

• The market continues to benefit from macro fundamentals, including robust private consumption (~60% of GDP), tripling of government capital expenditure since FY19, and a healthy banking system with net NPAs at multi-decade lows.

Outlook
India’s residential real estate is increasingly being recognized as a structural pillar of economic growth, capital formation, and urban transformation. Key tailwinds include:

• Lower interest rates

• Rising per capita incomes

• Infrastructure-led urbanisation

• Growth in Global Capability Centres (GCCs)

• Increased FDI inflows

• Under-penetration of housing finance (mortgage-to-GDP ratio at ~11%)

“Residential real estate in India is no longer just a cyclical investment play—it is now a strategic driver of economic development and urban transformation as the country moves toward a USD 7.3 trillion economy,” the report concluded.