Archives February 2026

New Delhi, Feb 23: Univest, India’s Biggest Advisory First Broking SuperApp with a host of SEBI-registered Analysts (RAs) and Investment Analysts (RIAs), successfully hosted the Wealth Multiplier Summit 2026 on 20 February at The Grand, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

The expansion marks a calibrated move by the company to broaden its advisory framework, its strategic entry into the Mutual Fund Advisory segment, positioning UNIVEST at the forefront of India’s next phase of disciplined, research-backed wealth creation.

The event brought together some of the most influential voices in India’s financial sector to deliberate on the future of wealth creation and the evolving mutual fund landscape.

Sponsored by HDFC Mutual Fund, presented by Mirae Asset, and co-powered by ICCL and NSDL, the summit convened policymakers, asset management leaders, market infrastructure institutions, and SEBI-registered research experts under one roof.

The evening commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Pranit Arora, Co-Founder & CEO, UNIVEST, who also extended a warm reception to Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, the Chief Guest of the summit.

The event featured distinguished industry leaders including Pankaj Makkar (Managing Director, BII); Yashpal Arora (Head of Research, Uniresearch); Sushant Majhi (CRO, ICCL); Harish Narayanan (CMO, HDFC AMC); Shrinivas Khanolkar (Head of Digital Business, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund); Ashu Madan (MD & Co-Head – Business Affiliates, JM Financial); Saurabh Arora (National Digital Head, HDFC MF) and Sameer Patil (CBO, NSDL) among others.

The discussions spanned a range of critical topics affecting investors and wealth managers alike, including discussions on navigating volatile and flat market cycles, the transformative role of technology in mutual fund advisory. Through keynote sessions, fireside chats, and thought-provoking panel discussions, the summit fostered high-quality conversations around the structural shifts shaping India’s wealth management ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Pranit Arora, Co-Founder & CEO, UNIVEST, said

“The Wealth Multiplier Summit 2026 is not just an event, it is a declaration of intent. At UNIVEST, we believe the future belongs to investors who are empowered with institutional-grade insights, not speculation. Our entry into Mutual Fund Advisory marks a structural shift, from fragmented advice to integrated, research-led wealth strategy. We are building a future where every Indian investor, whether in a metro city or a Tier-4 town, can access the same depth of research, risk frameworks, and disciplined asset allocation that institutions rely on. Wealth creation should not be accidental. It should be engineered.”

The strong participation from leading AMCs, policymakers, financial strategists, and market infrastructure institutions underscored a shared industry mandate: to build a resilient, research-led wealth ecosystem for India’s expanding investor base. With its entry into Mutual Fund Advisory, UNIVEST signals not just business expansion, but a structural commitment to redefining how retail investors engage with capital markets.

New Delhi, 23 Feb:  The Delhi Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) marked India MS Day with a celebration at Dilli Haat, INA, bringing together people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), caregivers, families and the MS community. The event was centred on the theme ‘Celebrating the person behind Multiple Sclerosis,’ shifting the focus from the disease to the lived experiences, resilience and aspirations of individuals navigating life with MS.  

Accessibility remained a key priority throughout the event. The venue was wheelchair-friendly and equipped to support the mobility needs of attendees. The event created a warm, inclusive space allowing participants to momentarily step beyond the challenges of the condition. The programme featured interactive and community engagement activities, cultural performances, patient storytelling sessions along with music and surprise elements designed to foster camaraderie and positivity. The India MS Day event closely aligned with the “Walk In My Shoes” campaign, a joint initiative with Roche and MSSI India launched in 2025, which was established to put empathy front and centre in addressing the often unseen and unspoken struggles faced by individuals living with MS. 

Beyond celebration, the event also served as a platform to deepen public understanding of Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. People living with MS often experience symptoms such as fatigue, vision problems, cognitive changes, numbness, balance difficulties and speech challenges, many of which are invisible to others. This invisibility can contribute to delays in recognition and diagnosis.  

Speaking on the occasion of India MS Day ’26, Bipasha Gupta, Chairperson MSSI – Delhi, “Multiple Sclerosis may be called both a visible and invisible illness, but the strength, determination, and spirit of those living with it are deeply visible. MSSI Delhi today celebrated India MS day 2026 at the Dilli Haat INA with around 100 MS patients and caregivers. Through this celebration, we aimed to create a space where individuals felt freedom of movement, seen, heard and supported. For many people, the journey to diagnosis and effective care is marked by uncertainty and misunderstanding. Building awareness, empathy and community support can make that journey less isolating and help people access care earlier. We want to place people and not disease at the centre of this narrative- while MS may shape lives, it does not define them.” 

Meenakshi Bhujwala, Hon. Treasurer of MSSI Delhi Chapter, commented, “For the last 40 years, MSSI has continued to spread awareness and assist MS patients with medical appointments, counselling sessions, amenities, regular caregiver assistance and physiotherapy; the latter is supported by a team of 15-16 dedicated physiotherapists in Delhi alone. As we celebrated India MS Day today, we have ensured the venue at Dilli Haat was made completely accessible and in line with MS patients’ needs. Today’s celebration was a tribute to every individual living with MS – a day to honor their strength, let them feel truly seen, and build a community that stands with them.” 

MS remains under-recognized in several parts of India, often due to low awareness and the subtle nature of early symptoms. The India MS Day event served as a reminder that increased visibility, informed conversations and timely diagnosis can significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for those living with the condition. 

Pune, 21st February, 2026: Mitsubishi Electric India, a global leader in Electric & Electronic Equipment, announced the winners of the 6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup on Saturday, 21st February 2026. The two-day National Level Automation Competition, returning after a five-year gap post Covid, saw 35 teams compete on the theme ‘Automating the World through Digital Innovation’. Organised annually, the competition challenges engineering students to design, build, and demonstrate innovative working models using Mitsubishi Electric factory automation technologies.

The virtual registration for the 6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup began in July 2025 and received 288 proposals from 140 institutions across 19 states and 2 Union Territories. Participating teams were mentored by Mitsubishi Electric India’s technical team and provided with essential Factory Automation products such as PLCs, HMIs, Servo Motors, VFDs, and CNCs to develop smart manufacturing solutions.

“The Mitsubishi Electric Cup’s core vision is to cultivate future-ready engineers who can innovate, automate, and contribute to a technologically advanced and sustainable world. The idea is to strengthen students’ innovative consciousness, cooperative spirit, and engineering practice abilities by encouraging hands on technological and automation-based projects,” said Mr. Atsushi Takase, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India, speaking of the 2026 edition. “Response for the event was very positive, and quality of received proposals were in various domains such as IoT, Energy efficient automation, Smart manufacturing solutions, AgriTech, and Application-specific industry problems that are suitable for a host of industries, besides accruing social benefits like energy management and reusable waste management,” he added.

The competition featured innovative project models addressing areas such as building automation, industrial manufacturing processes, and societal challenges. Team “Nexus AI” from Sona College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, won the 6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup, receiving Rs. 1,00,000 and a Winner Trophy. “Recycron” from MKSSS Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune secured second place with Rs. 75,000 and a Runner-up Trophy, while Team “Pegasus” from COEP Technological University, Pune secured third place, receiving Rs. 50,000 and a Trophy. The ‘Most Popular Team’ award went to Team “Trisense Innovators” from Dr Vishwanath Karad MIT-WPU, Pune. The top 15 teams received appreciation prizes of Rs. 10,000 each along with certificates. The winning team will represent Mitsubishi Electric India at the global MECA competition. All participating teams received participation certificates.

Teams were evaluated on two key parameters: System Design (innovation, implementation, safety, and digitalisation concepts) and Overall Presentation (system demo, presentation skills, and FA knowledge). Teams were required to design and build complete working models aligned to the competition theme, ‘Automating the World through Digital Innovation’ using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation products, based on the e-F@ctory concept, while demonstrating strong product and application understanding. The participating teams had to independently design and produce a complete set of devices/models using Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation products. The control system was to be built based on the-F@ctory concept.

“The 2025-26 Mitsubishi Electric Cup centred on the theme ‘Automating the World through Digital Innovation’, which directly mirrors the current transformation underway in global and Indian manufacturing. The competition’s focus areas highlight several critical industrial challenges that companies are actively trying to solve today,” said Dr. S. Sriram, Director & Head, Factory Automation & Industrial Division (FAID), Mitsubishi Electric India. He referred to the students receiving hands on training and mentorship from Mitsubishi engineers, strengthening their practical understanding of automation technologies. “Through this platform, students were exposed to modern Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 environments. By building complete working models, students learned how advanced technologies interact in real factory ecosystems, fostering industry ready skills. Mitsubishi Electric is not only helping a world of industries, but also a world of societies to apply automation for the greater benefit,” he emphasized.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Team Nexus AI from Sona College of Technology, for emerging as the winners of the 6th Edition of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup. I would also like to commend all participating teams for demonstrating exceptional technical capability, creativity, and innovative thinking throughout the competition. Mitsubishi Electric India is proud to engage with young talent and academic institutions across the country, fostering the development of innovative automation solutions that have the potential to create meaningful societal impact. Through platforms like the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, we aim to empower young minds to transform ideas into practical solutions, while gaining valuable mentorship from experienced professionals in the field of Factory Automation,” said Mr. Atsushi Takase, summing up the proceedings of the 6th edition of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Competitions like the ME Cup support India’s national skill development initiatives and contribute to building a highly skilled workforce capable of driving industrial and technological growth. Mitsubishi Electric India will continue to inspire young innovators to push boundaries, excel in advanced technologies, and strengthen India’s position on the global innovation landscape.

LONDON – Feb 23:: Yellow Capital, a leading market-making firm with a venture arm focused on supporting Web3 projects, today announced the launch of TradePoint, a proprietary platform for token distribution, CEX visibility, and algorithmic liquidation.

The platform addresses persistent challenges faced by projects for token distribution through unlocks, airdrops, or treasury sales. Manual selling can trigger sharp price declines, while working with traditional market makers may require giving up custody and accepting opaque processes. These approaches frequently result in wider spreads and damaged market confidence.

TradePoint provides an alternative through programmatic distribution connected directly to trading algorithms. The platform monitors real-time market conditions and releases tokens only when sufficient buying activity is present. This non-custodial approach allows projects to maintain control of their assets while executing distributions that align with natural market demand. 

The TradePoint platform provides full execution visibility and automated settlement infrastructure, enabling projects to track every token movement in real time. It replaces manual selling with algorithmic liquidation that responds to live market conditions, distributing tokens efficiently to minimize price impact.

“We built TradePoint because the existing options for token distribution were fundamentally broken,” said Diego Martin, CEO of Yellow Capital. “Projects need no more choosing between crashing their own market or handing over custody to opaque intermediaries. TradePoint gives them a third option – an algorithmic distribution that works with market conditions. The vision is to empower projects with the infrastructure they need to manage token supply efficiently.”

This launch is part of Yellow Capital’s broader offering to support Web3 projects across their full lifecycle. The firm provides liquidity solutions across more than 140 centralized exchanges, combining market-making services with treasury management and strategic advisory. TradePoint completes this offering by addressing the final critical challenge, managing token supply during distribution events.

New Delhi, Feb 23: Anytime Fitness, India’s fastest-growing fitness franchise and part of the world’s largest gym chain, has further expanded its footprint in Delhi with the grand opening of its newest club in Mayur Vihar Phase 2. This milestone reinforces the brand’s commitment to making world-class fitness accessible across emerging cities and communities.

The newly launched club is owned and operated by Mr. Rishabh Sanehwal, Ms. Rosy Gaur and Ms. Sadhvi Gaur, marking their third Anytime Fitness franchise and reflecting their strong partnership and continued belief in the brand. It also highlights the growing demand for structured, premium fitness solutions, along with increasing awareness around preventive health and active lifestyles.

The Anytime Fitness Mayur Vihar Phase 2 club features state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment, dedicated functional training zones, certified personal trainers, and Anytime Fitness’ signature 24/7 access, offering unmatched convenience and flexibility. Members will also benefit from access to the brand’s global network of clubs and its holistic approach to fitness, which combines personalized coaching, community engagement, and safe workout environments.

Speaking on the expansion, Mr. Vikas Jain, Managing Director, Anytime Fitness India, said: “The launch of our Mayur Vihar Phase 2 club marks another important step in Anytime Fitness India’s growth journey. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to making premium fitness more accessible across key urban communities. We are proud to partner with driven entrepreneurs like Mr. Rishabh Sanehwal, Ms. Rosy Gaur and Ms. Sadhvi Gaur, who share our vision of empowering communities through fitness.”

Anytime Fitness has built a strong presence across India through its rapidly expanding network, serving a growing community of fitness enthusiasts. Delhi remains a strategic focus market for the brand, driven by rising health awareness, rapid urbanisation, and increasing demand for premium fitness experiences. Since entering India in 2013, Anytime Fitness has grown to 180+ clubs nationwide, redefining fitness with its accessibility, inclusivity, and innovation. Beyond gyms, the brand has fostered community-driven initiatives like FitCraft and Be Fit Fest, bringing together members, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts to celebrate active living.

The new launch aligns with Anytime Fitness India’s vision to strengthen its presence in high-growth markets and contribute to building a healthier, fitter India.

Mumbai, Feb 23: OmniScience Capital has released a comprehensive report on retirement solutions highlighting the structural risks embedded in them. The report titled “The Science of Retirement Planning : Navigating Hidden Risks in a Long Retirement” underscores that retirement success is not determined solely by the starting corpus, but by how effectively that capital withstands inflation risk, longevity risk, and market volatility — particularly sequence-of-return risk over multi-decade horizons. The analysis evaluates four approaches — Fixed Deposits, Life Annuity, Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWP) using hybrid funds, and an equity-biased aggressive strategy — assuming an initial corpus of Rs 1 crore, annual income requirement of ₹6 lakh in today’s terms and survival up to age 100.

Income Sustainability and Depletion Risk

Under conservative assumptions, a Fixed Deposit approach could see capital depleted by the mid-70s, with income already falling short of inflation-adjusted requirements by over 50% by age 70. A conventional SWP approach could face depletion risk by the early-80s, with deficits widening to over 30% by age 70. A life annuity may provide lifetime income continuity, but because payouts remain fixed, purchasing power erosion could result in deficits, potentially crossing 30% by age 70 and over 80% by age 100.

Table 1 : Nominal Corpus Levels over Time under Different Retirement Solutions

Table 2 : Annual Payouts Needed vs Received under Different Retirement Solutions

In contrast, an equity-biased aggressive strategy could potentially not only avoid depletion within the horizon examined but generate growing surpluses relative to inflation-adjusted income requirements — rising from single digit surplus at age 70 to over 30% by age 100.

Breakeven Corpus Levels

Recognising that a ₹1 crore corpus may not sustain inflation-adjusted income over a 40-year retirement horizon, the study also estimates the breakeven corpus required as a multiple of annual expenses.

Traditional fixed-deposit and insurance annuity-based structures could require close to 40 times annual expenses, conventional SWP structure could require roughly 30 times annual expenses. An equity-biased aggressive strategy could potentially sustain long-term income at approximately 20 times annual expenses.

Table 3 : Breakeven Corpus Required for survival until 40 Years after Retirement

Navigating Retirement Risks

Each retirement structure addresses certain risks while leaving others exposed. Fixed Deposits provide stability and predictability but may struggle to protect purchasing power depleting capital if income gaps are funded from corpus. Life Annuities eliminate longevity risk by guaranteeing lifetime income, yet do not adjust adequately for inflation. SWPs introduce growth potential to combat inflation but remain vulnerable to sequence-of-returns risk, particularly during early market downturns that can permanently impair capital.

An equity-biased strategy that maintains a dedicated debt portion as a buffer while keeping the remainder invested in equities could help navigate these shortcomings. By funding withdrawals from the debt bucket during weaker market phases and linking payouts to a fixed percentage of portfolio value, the approach aims to reduce the need to sell equities at depressed levels while retaining the ability to compound over time.

Since this approach allocates significant part of the investment corpus to equities and with the inherent volatile nature of equities it is expected that the portfolio value will fluctuate significantly. The suggested withdrawals which are defined as a percentage of the portfolio value would also vary in rupee terms. Hence, for the initial 3 to 5 years investors should be prepared for the portfolio volatility and the lower payouts in the rupee terms if markets are unfavourable (sequence of returns risk).

The infographic below illustrates how these vehicles compare across key retirement outcomes.