Archives February 2026

Bengaluru, Feb 26: Swiggy today announced that it has further expanded its partnership with IRCTC. Swiggy has doubled down on its ‘Food on Train’ service, marking a 117% growth in network expansion in just twelve months. From 70 stations in February 2025, the footprint has surged to 152 stations as of February 2026. This rapid scale-up meets a burgeoning national demand for diverse culinary options, powered by a robust supply chain that now spans from Guwahati in the East to Rajkot in the West, and Pathankot in the North to Tirunelveli in the South. Swiggy also announced the launch of Holi special food for travellers from February 28, 2026, and March 08, 2026. Travellers can order Gujiya, Pua, Puran Poli delivered fresh at train seats and also get Flat ₹125 off .

In addition to this, Swiggy also has an expanded ‘Train Friendly Dishes’ menu, a segment engineered for high-speed convenience. By leveraging a data-led approach, Swiggy merges individual passenger history with deep insights into the 40 most-loved cuisines on the rail network. This ensures that the most relevant dishes are always front-and-center. As a result, this collection has been a primary growth drive, already accounting for 22% of total train orders. On the occasion of Holi, Swiggy’s “holi specials” will feature on this widget with collections of gujiya, sweets and chaats.

Speaking of the milestone, Mr. Deepak Maloo, Vice President- Food Strategy, Customer Experience & New Initiatives, Swiggy, said,

“We understand that food is an intrinsic part of train journeys and we stay committed to deliver good food and make journeys more memorable for lakhs of travellers every day. This nationwide expansion is perfectly timed for the Holi travel rush. We will be focusing on diversity by doubling down on transit hubs across India—from major junctions to regional stops like Itarsi, Tirunelveli, and Kharagpur —Swiggy is capturing the heart of the Indian train traveller. As millions board trains to return to their roots for the Festival of Colors, the ‘home-delivered’ experience on train will surely add more flavour to the festivities.”

Swiggy continues to elevate the traveler experience by expanding its ‘City Best’ selection curated list of award-winning restaurants across all 152 stations. By connecting passengers with the most celebrated local kitchens, this feature eliminates the guesswork of ordering in an unfamiliar city. This collection has been a huge hit providing a never-seen-before trust factor as evident in the data: 1 in 4 users engage with the widget immediately upon opening the app.

India’s food mobility landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift. According to Swiggy’s surveys, the ‘convenience economy’ has moved beyond the doorstep. Today’s traveler prioritizes hygiene and reliability above all else, even while on the move. As per Swiggy data, while metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and others account for 15% of the network, the true engine of this scale up lies in India’s interiors. Tier-1 hubs now make up 30% of the footprint, while a significant 55% is concentrated in Tier-2 and beyond cities and towns. From industrial hubs like Dhanbad, Bina and Bhilai to cultural centers like Agra, Gaya, and Madurai, Swiggy ensures that high-quality meals are just a few taps away, whether a passenger is at bustling junctions like Lucknow and Bhopal or small towns like Tadepalligudem and Deoghar. Nagpur, Kanpur, Surat, and Vijayawada continue to be the stars of the network. As Swiggy’s busiest hubs, they consistently see the highest number of train orders. Swiggy has maintained a remarkably high delivery success rate across stations and, who now feel confident ordering fresh food delivered directly to their train seats at all times.

Swiggy’s data also shows that travelers’ preferred time for ordering via Food on Train varies across locations. Itarsi and Ratlam have emerged as stations with the highest breakfast orders, while Kanpur, Bhopal, and Salem lead the charts for lunch orders. By dinner time, Nagpur and Vijayawada see the most orders, proving that Swiggy is successfully synchronized with the traveler’s clock, serving the right food at the right time throughout the entire journey.

Consumers can simply search “Train” on Swiggy to kickstart the journey of relishing the best of culinary delights across the country, right at their train seats.

India, Feb 26 : Securonix, Inc., a six-time Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant for SIEM, today announced the promotion of Ajay Biyani to Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan In this expanded role, Ajay will lead regional strategy, go-to-market execution, partner ecosystem development, and customer success initiatives across the region.

Since joining Securonix, Ajay has played a key role in scaling the company’s footprint across APJ through disciplined expansion, partner enablement, and strong customer engagement. He built and led cross-functional teams across sales, channels, and customer success, supporting more than 100 professionals across the region. Under his leadership, Securonix delivered sustained year-over-year revenue growth while expanding adoption of its Unified Defense SIEM platform across financial services, telecommunications, government, and other regulated industries.

Ajay also strengthened the regional MSSP and channel ecosystem, with strategic partnerships contributing significantly to pipeline growth and accelerating SaaS adoption across enterprise accounts.

With more than two decades of leadership experience spanning engineering, enterprise sales, and regional management, Ajay has held senior positions at ForgeRock, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, and Wipro Technologies. He has served as Vice President, APJ at Securonix since October 2022.

Across APJ, organizations are balancing rapid digital expansion with intensifying regulatory oversight and rising cyber risk. Enterprises in the region are under pressure to modernize security operations while demonstrating measurable resilience to regulators and boards. In his new role, Ajay will focus on helping organizations adopt governed, AI-powered security operations that deliver operational clarity, predictable economics, and executive-level accountability.

Ajay’s promotion reflects Securonix’s long-term investment in APJ as a strategic growth region and its broader commitment to scaling Unified Defense SIEM and agentic AI capabilities globally.

“APJ represents one of the most dynamic cybersecurity markets globally,” 

said Scott Sampson, Chief Revenue Officer, Securonix. 

“Ajay has demonstrated consistent leadership, built strong regional partnerships, and driven measurable growth. As we continue to scale our Unified Defense SIEM platform powered by agentic AI, his leadership will be instrumental in deepening customer trust and accelerating expansion across the region”.

Ajay Biyani said,

“Security leaders across APJ are under increasing pressure to deliver measurable resilience while navigating regulatory complexity and rapid digital growth. My focus will be on strengthening our partner ecosystem, supporting our customers’ transformation to AI-driven security operations, and ensuring organizations across the region become breach ready and board ready.” 

All 558 townhouse plots snapped up in six months, underscoring strong demand for luxury residential land in Dubai

Dubai, UAE, Feb 26: The first phase of Keturah Ardh, Dubai’s first heritage-wellness integrated luxury community, has sold out, with all 558 luxury townhouse plots acquired in just six months for AED1 billion. 

fäm Properties, the exclusive master agency for master developer MAG Group, today confirmed the milestone, which reflects solid demand for premium residential land in Dubai, particularly freehold townhouse plots, one of the most limited and sought-after asset classes in the city’s luxury market. 

“The sellout speaks for itself,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties. “Residential plots with approvals for luxury townhouses are among the scarcest product types in Dubai, and buyers and investors responded accordingly.” 

“True heritage-wellness communities are rare, and over the past four years, this segment has consistently led the market in both performance and investor interest.” 

Located in the Al Rowaiyah First District, Keturah Ardh brings together traditional Arabic architectural principles with a fully integrated modern wellness approach. The 558 luxury townhouse plots are spread across 93 meticulously planned clusters, and phase one was brought to market with attractive payment plans. 

The broader master plan blends Arabic heritage with advanced wellness concepts to create a self-contained lifestyle community. The name ‘Ardh,’ meaning ‘earth’ or ‘land’ in Arabic, reflects its ties to culture and nature. 

The project reflects MAG Group’s 45-year dedication to quality and innovation, with amenities including spa and sauna facilities, yoga and pilates areas, running and cycling tracks, and extensive green spaces. Mature landscaping includes trees sourced from Italy, Spain, Thailand, and Africa. 

Infrastructure is being delivered in Q1 2026, with construction starting in Q4 2026, and full completion expected by 2030. 

Keturah Ardh is the fourth major project in the Keturah luxury portfolio, following Keturah Reserve, Keturah Resort: The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Al Jaddaf, and Keturah Bahar.

Mumbai India Feb 26: Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world’s leading diver training organisation, has announced that the globally recognised PADI Open Water Diver course eLearning is now available in Hindi. With this initiative, PADI aims to ensure that language is no longer a barrier for Indians who wish to explore the underwater world. 

India, with its vast coastline and growing interest in adventure tourism, is rapidly emerging as one of Asia’s most promising scuba diving markets. Popular diving destinations such as Andaman Islands, Lakshadweep, Goa, and Puducherry are witnessing a steady rise in domestic travellers seeking immersive ocean experiences. However, for many aspiring divers, understanding technical concepts and safety procedures in English used to be a challenge.

With the PADI Open Water course material now available in Hindi, learners can study key diving principles—including safety procedures, equipment usage, dive planning, underwater communication, and skill techniques—in a language they are most comfortable with. Students can complete their theory through eLearning at their convenience before undertaking confined water and open water training sessions with certified PADI Instructors at authorised dive centres across the country. 

“Scuba diving is for everyone, and language should never limit someone’s ability to learn or explore. By offering the PADI Open Water course in Hindi, we are making dive education more inclusive and accessible. This will empower more Indians to confidently take their first step into the underwater world,” said Vinod Bondi, Regional Manager – India, PADI. 

This milestone reflects PADI’s broader commitment to inclusivity, sustainable tourism, and marine conservation awareness. By breaking language barriers, PADI continues to inspire a new generation of divers while strengthening India’s growing ocean community.

Iora’s Nature Day at Delhi Climate Innovation Week brings Multi-sectoral Stakeholder Perspective on Scaling Nature-based Solutions in India

New Delhi, Feb 26: Iora Ecological Solutions marked its Nature Day at the Delhi Climate Innovation Week with a day-long series of high-level dialogues focused on accelerating credible, bankable Nature- based Solutions (NbS) across India. The convening brought together more than 65 representatives from government leadership, multilateral institutions, financial sector representatives, technology innovators and community practitioners to articulate a coordinated pathway for embedding nature within India’s development and economic architecture.

Delivering the Keynote Address, Shri Tanmay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), underscored the need to balance development aspirations with ecological responsibility and cultural stewardship. “Our development must be in harmony with ecological balance. We must ask whether we can reverse the damage caused by unsustainable growth. We need a development paradigm inspired by nature’s wisdom, one that integrates ecological health into economics without reducing nature to just a number,” he said.

Mr. Swapan Mehra, Founder and CEO of Iora Ecological Solutions, emphasised the scale of the opportunity before India. “Nature is not a liability but the biggest investment opportunity. India is in a strong position to build on our legacy of regenerative relationships with nature. We have scale, markets, and communities close to nature. The question is, why are we not actively investing?” he stated, framing Nature Day as a call to shift from fragmented restoration efforts to structured, finance-ready NbS portfolios.

Dr Amitabh Kundu (Senior Fellow, IORA), Mr. Ankit Todi (Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group) and Mr. Gaurav Sarup (Chief Sustainability Officer and Deputy Head – HSE, Vedanta Group), underscored the importance of institutional alignment, private sector participation and innovation-led partnerships in mainstreaming nature within India’s growth strategy.

Four Thematic Sessions Identify Pathways to Scale

To address structural barriers and enabling mechanisms for scaling NbS, expert discussions were curated across four key themes of Economics, Financing, Technology and Community.

Economics of Nature Conservation

Moderated by Dr Madhu Verma, the session examined valuation, incentives and evidence frameworks required for scaling NbS. Experts including Mr. Pyush Dogra, Mr. Reuben Gergan, Dr Ritesh Kumar and Shri Soumitra Dasgupta IFS (Retd.) emphasised the urgent need for credible valuation frameworks, incentive design and landscape-level approaches. Discussions reinforced that measurable ecological restoration and climate resilience must replace narrow metrics such as tree counts.

Financing Nature-based Solutions: Pathways, Instruments and Scale

Moderated by Mr. Varghese Paul, this session addressed persistent barriers to capital mobilisation. Panelists Mr. Kirtiman Awasthi, Mr. Manoj Dabas, Ms Neha Kumar and Ms Nidhi Batra examined why capital flows remain fragmented despite clear socio-economic returns from NbS. The session identified the need for bankable project pipelines, viable revenue models and de-risking instruments to unlock institutional finance at scale.

Nature and AI: Data, MRV and Decision Systems

Moderated by Shri RK Srivastava IFS (Retd.), the discussion focused on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), interoperable data systems and technological innovation. With contributions from Mr. Mohammad Aatish Khan, Ms Saranya M, Dr Subhash Ashutosh IFS (Retd.) and Mr. Swapan Mehra, the discussion highlighted the central role of data integrity, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, and interoperable platforms. Speakers stressed that trust, scientific rigour and governance frameworks will determine whether AI becomes a credible enabler of large-scale nature finance.

Empowering Communities: Institutions, Incentives and Inclusion

Moderated by Ms. Chhaya Bhanti, the session highlighted the institutional and behavioural dimensions of NbS. Speakers including Ms Anjali Makhija, Ms Jaskiran Warrik, Dr Mrigen Barua AFS (Retd.), Dr Nabaneeta Rudra and Mr. Ramanshu Ganguly emphasised that scaling NbS is ultimately an institutional and behavioural challenge, not merely a financial one. NbS scale when institutions are trusted, incentives are aligned, markets are accessible, and communities are architects rather than beneficiaries.

Clear Call for Integrated Action

The closing session featured a synthesis by Dr Aakriti Wanchoo, outlining integrated recommendations across finance, governance and technology. Reflections from Mr. Jagjeet Sareen and Shri Rajbir Singh Panwar, IFS (Retd.) reinforced the need to align national strategy with on-ground implementation.

Delivering the valedictory address, Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi, IFS, reinforced the importance of institutional accountability and leadership in embedding nature within India’s growth trajectory.

Participants concluded that nature finance must scale, but it must scale with science, transparency and accountability at its core.

This Nature Day convening organised in partnership with Iora Ecological Trust and Vertiver, positioned investment in nature at the heart of climate innovation and economic planning.

Hyderabad, Feb 26: Florian Hurel Hair Couture & Spa announces the opening of its newest flagship in Jubilee Hills, introducing a 15,000 sq. ft. private bungalow designed as a dedicated destination for immersive, experience-led luxury. Conceived as more than a salon, the space represents a significant evolution for the brand — transforming its couture philosophy into a fully realised architectural and experiential environment.

Founded by Florian Hurel, the brand has become synonymous with precision-led craftsmanship and high-glamour sophistication. The Hyderabad opening marks one of its most ambitious milestones to date, reinforcing Hurel’s position as a leading luxury beauty entrepreneur in India while expanding the brand beyond the traditional salon model into a layered, design-forward beauty residence.

At its core, Florian Hurel Hair Couture & Spa approaches beauty as couture — meticulous, intentional, and deeply personal. The Hyderabad flagship extends this ethos across multiple levels, integrating technical mastery, advanced diagnostics, and restorative rituals within a setting defined by scale, glamour, and refinement. Every detail, from spatial flow to service design, is curated to create a seamless and immersive guest journey.

The expansive main hair floor houses 14 couture hair stations dedicated to bespoke cuts, colour, and styling, alongside a private nail atelier featuring four immersive hand-and-foot ritual stations. An in-house coffee bar encourages an unhurried, elevated experience, while a glass garden introduces natural light into the interiors, softening the architectural lines. A suspended lounge overlooks the main floor, offering a tranquil pause between services — distinct zones that remain visually and spatially connected.

The spa occupies dedicated levels within the bungalow and is anchored by three couples’ suites, each centred around distinct rituals. The sanctuary also features two steam rooms, a red-light sauna, a hammam, an ice bath, two skin treatment rooms, two Korean scalp therapy rooms, and an exclusive VIP suite. An internal lift ensures fluid movement between floors, reinforcing the sense of cohesion throughout the residence.

Signature offerings include the Florian Hurel Hair Couture & Spa Signature Skin Treatment and Couture Haircut And Colour , AI-powered Korean Scalp Rituals, AI-based skin analysis and Hydrafacial, Red Light Therapy, Bamboo Massage, Potli Massage, Hot Stone Massage, and the fHair Signature Hair Spa & Ritual. The integration of advanced AI diagnostics reflects the brand’s commitment to merging technological innovation with couture-level precision and personalisation.

Set in Jubilee Hills — widely regarded as Hyderabad’s cultural nucleus — the bungalow balances creative vibrancy with discreet privacy. Designed by RII Arc, the space reinterprets Florian Hurel’s signature cement textures through a restrained monochromatic palette and hand-finished surfaces. Soft curves and sculpted niches replace rigid geometry, lending the interiors a fluid, almost organic quality. Indirect lighting enhances depth and warmth, creating an atmosphere that feels composed, intimate, and quietly luxurious without relying on high-gloss finishes.

Commenting on the launch, Florian Hurel said: “Drawing inspiration from both France and India, I envisioned this space as an expression of a contemporary cultural dialogue. It harmonises the quiet restraint and structural elegance I inherited from France with the richness, warmth, and sensory depth I have come to cherish in India. To me, luxury today transcends the purely visual — it is profoundly emotional. It lies in crafting an environment that feels layered, immersive, and deeply intentional.”

The Hyderabad team has been largely recruited locally and supported by a structured training framework led by the brand’s Mumbai headquarters. A five-day foundational programme is followed by extended on-ground mentorship to ensure alignment with global luxury standards across haircutting, colouring, consultation protocols, hygiene practices, AI-based analysis, and specialised treatment rituals.

With this launch, Florian Hurel Hair Couture & Spa expands its national footprint with a flagship that embodies its signature blend of couture craftsmanship and contemporary luxury — establishing a new benchmark for immersive beauty experiences in Hyderabad.

Gurugram, Feb 26 : The Indian School of Hospitality has launched a four-year B.Sc. in Global Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership, expanding its academic portfolio beyond hospitality-focused pathways into integrated business leadership education aligned with India’s evolving economic structure.

India’s services sector contributes over half of the country’s GDP and is supported by complex networks of logistics, digital infrastructure, capital flows and consumer markets. As enterprises operate within increasingly interconnected environments, industry demand is shifting toward graduates who understand how pricing, supply chains, working capital and governance decisions influence one another.

The new program has been structured around that integrated view of business.

Rather than organising learning around isolated management functions, the B.Sc. in Global Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership (GBEL) is designed to help students understand how business decisions create consequences across an entire enterprise. Students will examine how consumer demand shapes revenue models, how operational design affects margins, how capital allocation influences growth and how governance frameworks shape long-term performance.

Academic progression moves from foundational business literacy in the first year to enterprise-level strategy and capstone integration in the final year. The curriculum includes structured internships and applied decision exercises across all four years.

The degree will be awarded by Gurugram University and operates under academic direction from Les Roches, part of the Sommet Education network.

Kunal Vasudeva, Managing Director and Co-founder of the Indian School of Hospitality, said the launch reflects a broader institutional alignment.

“India’s next phase of growth will be shaped by professionals who understand how complex enterprises function. Business is not a collection of subjects. It is a chain of consequences. Pricing affects demand. Demand affects operations. Operations affect cash. Cash affects growth. Education must prepare students to think in that interconnected way. This program extends our liberal hospitality philosophy into broader business leadership aligned with India’s economic direction.”

With this launch, ISH extends its academic framework beyond hospitality-focused pathways into integrated business leadership education while sustaining its liberal hospitality philosophy and allied services foundation.