Archives February 2026

Mumbai, Feb 19: iQOO S8UL, the MOBA Legends 5v5 roster of esports and gaming content powerhouse S8UL Esports, emerged victorious at the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup following a thrilling 4-3 win in the grand final held in Kolkata on February 18. The triumph earned the team a total of INR 12.5 lakh in prize money and further solidified the organization’s standing as a dominant force in India’s competitive MOBA ecosystem.

Featuring a massive open qualifier pool with participation from 1,024 teams across the country, the month-long Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup established itself as one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments. Led by in-game leader (IGL) Mohammad Saad (Apex), alongside Abhijeet Katkar, Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang iQOO S8UL’s championship run was defined by composure, adaptability, and elite-level execution under pressure.

Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder of S8UL Esports, said,

“This victory is a testament to the structure and long-term vision we are building at S8UL. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth, with larger tournaments, stronger grassroots participation, higher competitive standards and we are proud to have a strong, well-balanced lineup featuring some of the best players in the title. Wins like this validate our investment in building elite lineups and support systems around our players. Our focus now is to sustain this level of performance and replicate similar success in upcoming national and international tournaments.”

The tournament commenced with single-elimination open qualifiers played in a Best-of-One (Bo1) format, from which only 16 teams advanced. iQOO S8UL secured their place among the top contenders before entering the main event brackets, where the intensity increased significantly.

In the Group A playoffs, iQOO S8UL defeated Megatron Esports 2-0 in the Best-of-Three quarterfinals, followed by a commanding 3-1 victory over PEAK in the Best-of-Five semifinals. They then delivered a dominant 4-0 sweep against Elusivity Esports in the Best-of-Seven Group A finals to book their spot in the grand final. In what turned out to be a nail-biting Best-of-Seven decider, iQOO S8UL held their nerve in a fiercely contested series, eventually closing out the matchup 4-3 against Godlike Esports to be crowned champions.

“Coming into this tournament with so many teams, we knew the margin for error would be extremely small. As a team, we focused heavily on preparation, communication, and adapting our gameplay depending on the opponent’s playstyle. That grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played as a team and this title belongs to everyone who believed in us,”

commented Mohammad Saad aka Apex, IGL of iQOO S8UL’s MOBA Legends 5v5 team who has previously competed at the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024 at the Esports World Cup, a global event that featured a staggering USD 3 million prize pool.

The championship further strengthens S8UL Esports’ reputation as one of India’s leading esports organizations, underlining its commitment to nurturing elite talent and elevating Indian esports on both national and global stages.

Gadchiroli, Maharashtra: A Pune based charity, Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF) has reached a significant milestone with the completion of its 24th Period Positive Holiday Home across 24 hamlets in the Dhanora block of Gadchiroli district—one of India’s most backward, tribal, and naxal-affected regions as identified by the Government of India. What began as a small, compassionate response during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic has today evolved into a model of dignity, sustainability, and women-led empowerment.

For generations, menstruating women and girls in parts of Gadchiroli were compelled to stay in unsafe period huts, locally known as Kurma Ghars located at the end of the forest. These spaces exposed them to health risks, social exclusion, and physical danger as they are not allowed to cook or do any kind of common domestic work and food and water delivered by villagers.

Recognising that menstruation should not result in isolation or punishment, MMF reimagined these huts as safe, hygienic, and eco-friendly spaces termed Period Positive Holiday Homes. The women of Tukum village – where the first modern period hut was built in 2020 introduced by implementation partner Yuva Parivartan and subsequently MMF also invited corporates, individuals, and other NGOs, such as Project Naveli, to support the initiative, with Finolex Industries Limited remaining the principal donor. MMF firmly believes in collaborating with like-minded individuals and organisations to strengthen impact.

The voices of many women echoed the same painful truth. “We stayed there alone, in fear,” they recalled. “One of our sisters died of a snake bite. There was no one to help her. Our relatives could not come near, and the men stood at a distance, watching helplessly, because they believed they would become impure if they touched her.” Such was the harsh reality faced by women and young girls.

In earlier times, as their menstrual dates approached, anxiety would begin to build. The thought of moving into the thatched hut filled them with dread. The structure had no proper ventilation and lacked even the most basic facilities. It was dark, cramped, and unsafe. For bathing or washing clothes, the women had to walk nearly a kilometre to the nearest water body, often alone and vulnerable.

What should have been a natural biological process became a period marked by isolation, fear, and indignity.

Built using innovative bottle-brick construction, the initiative tackled two challenges simultaneously—plastic waste and menstrual stigma. What began as basic Safe Resting Homes has evolved into Period Positive Holiday Homes, transforming both physical infrastructure and community mindsets.

Initially simple rooms with basic sanitation, the spaces were redesigned through continuous engagement with women to ensure dignity, safety, and comfort. Today, each Holiday Home includes safe toilets and bathing facilities with assured water supply, solar lighting and fans, comfortable mosquito-protected sleeping spaces, kitchenettes with smokeless chullas, clean drinking water, first aid support, secure storage, and climate-responsive design features.

Recognising that menstrual health is inseparable from access to water and sanitation, the initiative integrates strong WASH infrastructure to ensure privacy and hygiene. Over time, these homes have become more than resting spaces—they are centres of empowerment. Equipped with sewing machines and basic training facilities, several Holiday Homes now support skill development and livelihood generation, enabling women to rebuild confidence, income, and agency.

The project has also created livelihood opportunities through the training of local masons, painters, and helpers, green job creation via bottle-brick construction, and promotion of sanitary napkin production at the village level. In building dignity for women, the initiative has contributed to strengthening local economies and skills.

The impact of the Period Positive Holiday Homes has drawn national and international recognition. The initiative has been featured by BBC News, highlighting its innovative approach to addressing menstrual stigma and sustainable construction. It also received special recognition on the popular television show Kaun Banega Crorepati, where its story was shared with a nationwide audience, further amplifying the message of dignity, safety, and empowerment for women.

State Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar inaugurated the “Period Positive Holiday Homes” at Pawni, located in Dhanora taluka of Gadchiroli district.

He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mukul Madhav Foundation, Finolex Industries, and Yuva Parivartan for improving healthcare support in remote villages by providing Period Positive Holiday Homes for women. He stated that MMF has implemented 24 such projects across different villages in Dhanora taluka, describing it as remarkable social work by MMF and Finolex Industries.

He further expressed hope that the organizations would continue supporting similar initiatives in the future, with a strong focus not only on women’s health but also on skill development programs to help women improve their economic status.

He emphasized the importance of improving the health of poor women and maintaining proper hygiene during menstruation to prevent infections.

“The Period Positive Holiday Home goes beyond awareness—it creates safe, nurturing spaces where girls and women can manage menstruation with comfort, confidence, and dignity. At MMF, we believe meaningful change happens when communities, partners, and institutions come together to respond collectively to the real needs of society, placing hygiene and care at the heart of menstrual health.

We are deeply grateful to the local communities who welcomed us with such warmth, despite the challenging terrain and circumstances. Their trust and support strengthened our resolve and enabled us to continue this journey with commitment and compassion,” said Mrs. Chhabria of Mukul Madhav Foundation.

“I commend Mukul Madhav Foundation for its sustained leadership in advancing period positive home construction in tribal communities. By integrating dignity, privacy and menstrual well-being into the design of homes, their commitment deserves sincere appreciation.” – Says Dr. Rani Bang, Co-founder, SEARCH Gadchiroli

“At Yuva Parivartan, we deeply value our partnership with Finolex Industries Ltd. & Mukul Madhav Foundation and are grateful for their continued trust and support. What began as a small intervention has grown into a powerful movement that restores dignity, safety, and confidence to women and girls during menstruation. MMF’s commitment to listening to communities, improving infrastructure thoughtfully, and integrating sustainability and livelihoods has transformed Period Positive Holiday Homes into spaces of care, learning, and empowerment. We thank MMF for standing with us and the communities of Gadchiroli in reimagining menstruation with dignity and compassion.” Darshana Sawant

“Empowering women is a truly revolutionary step — it changes mindsets, reshapes futures, and unlocks the limitless potential of our society. When we invest in women, we invest in lasting progress,” said Sandip Patil IPS DIG, Nagpur region.

As MMF marks this achievement, the Foundation reiterated its commitment to creating environments where menstruation is addressed with care rather than exclusion, and where women are supported to live healthy, confident, and self-reliant lives.

This is Finolex Pipes and Fittings:

We are India’s most trusted PVC pipes and fittings manufacturer. For 44 years, we have impacted the sanitation, plumbing and agricultural sectors with prudent investments across our value chain. Right from the sourcing of quality raw materials and resin production to manufacturing, storage, transport, sales, marketing, and even further downstream to include customer engagement.

To stay focused on making superior quality pipes and fittings, and nothing else but that, for forty-four years, is no mean feat. Aligning every decision, every action, every resource towards delivering quality pipes and fittings. To choose to do just this one thing and do it well. So that once our customers install our pipes, they completely forget about us. We take great pride in this dependable quality that has not only earned us ISO 9001:2015 certifications across plants, but also earned us the sincere affection of farmers, plumbers, homeowners, partners, associates and shareholders. They have all come to expect the world from us. Because that’s exactly what we expect from ourselves.

When we choose to diversify, it’s upstream with an open sea jetty to manage our raw materials, and downstream into last mile fulfilment. When we evolve, it has to be in our understanding of customer expectations and finding better machines and processes to meet those expectations. When we choose to expand, it is into newer markets, delivering our pipes and fittings to newer customers. And when we measure our growth, it is in reputation. The effect of which reflects in our bottom line, growing manifold in the last decade.

This quality focus is not just restricted to our products but defines every aspect of our functioning. Whether quality support for our dealers, vendors and suppliers. Quality opportunities to our employees. Superior quality of life, education and health of the people we serve through our various social responsibility initiatives.

Over the last forty-four years, we have steadily added depth to our company, instead of spreading ourselves wide and thin. Consistently delivering the exact same products that fulfil the exact same promise. Every time. That’s what makes us a strong brand, with a strong network, and even stronger goodwill. We are Finolex Industries Limited.

Partners in Compassion: 

Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), our CSR partner, is a registered charitable trust under the Bombay Charitable Act, 1950. It has dedicated itself to uplifting underprivileged and vulnerable communities with opportunities that pave their path to success. Empowering them with educational facilities, hospitals, healthcare, sanitation and environmental support, social welfare and so much more. Creating a foundation for individuals, their communities and their environment to thrive. MMF also supports existing infrastructure 

Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, with support from global healthcare company Abbott, today launched new healthy habits resources in India. This program aims to help families establish routines around nutrition, physical activity, and sleep from an early age, laying the foundation for lifelong wellness and reducing the risk of chronic illnesses. Abbott and Sesame Workshop in India are sharing resources in Hindi to help make health concepts easy and simple to understand and practice. This adaptation of the global program reflects local culture, community systems, and the unique needs of children and caregivers in India.

As part of this program, a family special, Elmo’s World: Dance Party, was premiered in Hindi on the India YouTube channel Featuring everyone’s favorite Sesame Street residents, lively music, and engaging movement activities, the special encourages children and caregivers to explore healthy behaviors together in a fun and supportive environment.

The program was officially launched recently in Lucknow by Smt. Leena Johri, Additional Chief Secretary – Women and Child Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The on-ground launch brought together representatives from the government, Sesame Workshop India, Abbott India, and frontline health workers from local Anganwadi centers. This on-ground launch represents a significant step toward fostering healthy routines from an early age.

At the event, Anganwadi workers received the healthy habits resources, highlighting the critical role of community systems and government support in promoting healthy behaviors at the grassroots level. Designed with a strong focus on early childhood, the resources feature beloved Sesame Street characters and use play-based learning and simple activities to help children and caregivers adopt healthy habits. In India, the program offers Hindi-language resources such as storybooks, activity books, yoga guides, calendars, flashcards, and interactive games. These materials are distributed through childcare centers, community platforms, and digital channels to support families and frontline workers (from local Anganwadi Centres).

During the launch, Smt. Johri emphasized the need to address the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of children in a timely manner, noting that encouraging healthy habits, such as balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, structured daily routines, and positive thinking, from an early age plays a crucial role in enabling children to lead healthy and empowered lives. She also drew attention to the importance of focused efforts in remote and underserved areas, stressing the value of play-based and activity-oriented learning, connection with nature, and the creation of safe, supportive, and nurturing environments for children.

She further reiterated the Department of Women and Child Development’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the implementation of programs related to nutrition, health, education, and mental wellbeing at the grassroots level, and highlighted the importance of collaborative initiatives involving government systems, local communities, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and social organizations in achieving these objectives.

Reflecting on the initiative, Sonali Khan, Managing Director, Sesame Workshop India, said

“The healthy habits program is rooted in the belief that healthy habits, when introduced early, can shape a child’s wellbeing for life. Through this initiative, we are reaching more than 10000 children and caregivers on-ground by working closely with Anganwadi centres and ASHA workers, while also connecting with millions of families through digital platforms, including our YouTube special and related resources. By aligning with existing government programs and community systems active in Uttar Pradesh, the initiative complements the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen nutrition, health, and early childhood development, helping make healthy routines a part of everyday life for children and families”

Customers to gain accelerated AI-driven business outcomes from implementation expertise, cloud hosting, and data migration support in a governed operating model

 San Antonio, TX – Feb 19– Rackspace Technology® (NASDAQ: RXT), a hybrid multicloud and AI solutions company, and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), a global leader in operational artificial intelligence platforms, today announced a strategic partnership to help enterprises rapidly deploy and operate Palantir’s Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) in production to achieve measurable business outcomes.

 Through this partnership, Rackspace’s governed operating model will provide consistent security, operating controls and compliance from edge to core to cloud enabling customers to deploy AI use cases with Palantir in production in weeks or months versus months or years. The companies are also collaborating to run Palantir software in Rackspace’s Private Cloud and UK Sovereign data centers. This is especially critical for regulated industries where AI deployments must meet strict data sovereignty and compliance requirements. 

 Organizations struggle to extract business value from AI and data platforms because deploying and operating these systems at scale requires specialized expertise they often don’t have in-house. As Palantir’s strategic partner in data migration and global implementation services, Rackspace will help customers prioritize their most high-impact business problems, then deliver implementation, including data readiness, hosting, and ongoing managed operations of Palantir’s platform to realize outcomes. As part of this collaboration, Rackspace has 30 Palantir-trained engineers to provide data migration and apply a forward deployed approach to solving high impact customer problems and is on track to scale to over 250 in the next 12 months.

 “Organizations need AI that works in production, not just in demos,” said Gajen Kandiah, CEO of Rackspace Technology. “Palantir’s platform, combined with Rackspace’s governed cloud operations and our shared forward deployed engineering approach, enables customers to accelerate time to value and drive competitive business impact with governance and security. This is especially important in regulated industries.”

 The partnership combines Rackspace’s 25 years of experience managing mission-critical enterprise workloads across hybrid environments with Palantir’s decision-intelligence platform. Customers can benefit from a turnkey deployment model designed to reduce risk and operational burdens and accelerates time to value. For regulated and data-sensitive organizations, this partnership aims to deliver greater confidence to deploy advanced AI capabilities in a private cloud environment that meets sovereignty, security, and residency requirements.

 “Organizations that adopt our AI Operating Systems fundamentally change their unit economics. In the context of migrating complex data environments, Palantir AIP is taking completion timelines from years to days. Rackspace will help our customers accelerate their pace of adoption and as a result, lead their respective industries,” said Sameer Kirtane, Head of US Commercial at Palantir.

 Integrated Service Delivery Across the Stack

Customers want a consistent way to deploy, govern, and operate AI across their data environments, with accountability and measurable outcomes. Unlike point solutions that require customers to manage infrastructure, data pipelines, and AI operations separately, this partnership is aimed at providing end-to-end infrastructure hosting, data migration, implementation services and ongoing managed operations as an integrated service.

PHOENIX, Ariz, Feb. 19— What if humanity’s greatest knowledge crisis isn’t in the past — but unfolding right now? In an age of cloud storage, artificial intelligence and instant information, global innovator and engineer Jack R. Bialik warns of the hidden risks of a fully digital society — and what history reveals about how knowledge is lost.

 “A DVD or a CD … those only last 30 or 40 years,” Bialik said in a recent interview. “Thumb drives or USB drives or solid-state drives … how long do those last? How long does your computer last? Five or 10 years? We’re taking our information, putting it on denser things with no thought about how long it lasts.”

 In his new book, Lost in Time: Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge, Bialik reveals a startling reality: only 1.6 percent of our collective history has been preserved, and today’s preferred method of preservation — digital records — may be placing humanity’s memory on its most unstable footing yet.

 Through bite-sized nuggets of wisdom, Lost in Time takes readers on a captivating exploration of humanity’s lost ingenuity and the forgotten knowledge that once shaped civilizations. Spanning centuries and continents, the book uncovers astonishing technologies, philosophies and cultural practices that have been buried under the sands of time — some of which are more advanced than what people use today. Bialik effortlessly confronts the assumption that only modern-day humans are capable of producing innovative feats of technology and brilliance.

 With meticulous research that spanned over 10 years and compelling storytelling, Bialik highlights how these past innovations could still hold the potential to address modern challenges, from knowledge sustainability to societal resilience. Lost in Time unravels the intricate tapestry of human civilization, weaving together narratives of inventions of yesterday, overlooked pioneers and epoch-defining discoveries that have shaped the modern world.

 Among the amazing facts readers will learn:

•             Cataract surgery was being performed in India more than 2000 years ago.

•             The first known fountain pen was created centuries before Europe “invented” it.

•             Ancient civilizations debated waste disposal and sanitation solutions that rival or even surpass some modern systems.

 Through thought-provoking analysis, Lost in Time examines the fragile nature of human knowledge and the forces — be they war, natural disasters or changing priorities — that contribute to its disappearance.

 However, Lost in Time is more than an archive of historical losses. Bialik inspires readers to reconnect with the lessons of the past as a means of fostering a more informed and innovative future. He challenges readers to consider whether humanity is building a legacy of accessible wisdom — or an archive of forgotten lessons.

 In Bialik’s own words: “We keep trying to save knowledge, and what we need to do is turn the knowledge into wisdom so that it can be saved from generation to generation.”

 Both a cautionary tale and a celebration of resilience, this book illuminates the enduring power of human curiosity and determination. Readers will contemplate how much of humanity’s ingenuity has been left behind, urging them to consider the steps needed to safeguard knowledge for generations to come.

 From history enthusiasts to curious thinkers to those passionate about reclaiming lost wisdom, this book offers a fascinating lens through which to view humanity’s enduring quest for progress. This book is appropriate for grade school children all the way to adults of all ages.

Mumbai, Feb 19 : Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development and production of animated shows and feature films based on Mukta Arts’ iconic intellectual property portfolio.

As part of its strategic expansion into animation, Mukta Arts launched SGM Animation Studio in 2025 as its dedicated Animation and Games division. The studio is focused on developing, producing and co-producing animated films, series, comic books and games, leveraging Mukta Arts’ rich IP library built over four decades, along with creating new original properties rooted in the company’s storytelling legacy.

Green Gold Animation, founded by Rajiv Chilaka, is India’s leading animation studio and the creator of some of the country’s most successful homegrown animation IPs, including the globally popular Chhota Bheem universe. With decades of experience and hundreds of hours of animated content, Green Gold brings deep expertise in building scalable, character-driven franchises for television, OTT and feature films.

Under the MOU, Mukta Arts and Green Gold Animation will work together to develop multiple animated IPs inspired by landmark films from Mukta Arts’ celebrated catalogue, including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar, Iqbal and more, along with character-led spin-offs from these universes.

Creative teams from Mukta Arts and Green Gold Animation have already initiated discussions, with the first project currently in development.

Commenting on the collaboration, Rajiv Chilaka, Founder and CEO, Green Gold Animation, said

“This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”

Subhash Ghai, Filmmaker and Founder, Mukta Arts Ltd added,

“Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”

New cohesive talent experience enables long-term workforce reliability and scale to address the rapidly escalating administrative capacity crisis

 SAN FRANCISCO – Feb. 19 –Edge announced Edge Elevate, a significant evolution of its talent experience designed to support scalable growth across roles, markets, and categories globally. Employers are shifting from hiring for isolated roles to building ongoing, distributed workforces. This platform-level evolution addresses that shift, establishing Edge as a unified talent network built for scale and empowering customers with long-term workforce durability.

 Most workforce platforms are based on transactional hiring models, which rely on static resumes, one-off applications, and opaque advancement paths. This clearly isn’t working, as the administrative capacity crisis is rising faster than organizations can adapt. More than three-fourths (75.5%) of healthcare leaders we recently surveyed reported that workload has increased over the last 12 months, and 56.3% are facing weekly or daily administrative backlogs.

 Edge Elevate replaces this fragmented, suboptimal approach with a cohesive talent experience based on single, enduring talent profiles, standardized roles, structured development, and transparent progression.

 “Fragmented hiring experiences no longer support the reliability or scale modern businesses require,” said Edge CEO Iffi Wahla. “As roles become more specialized and teams more global, companies need talent models that prioritize consistency, transparency, and long-term development. Edge is answering the call with a durable platform experience.”

 Key elements of Edge’s unified talent network include:

• Talent Application 2.0 – Serving as a single, enduring talent profile that captures experience, feedback, certifications, and readiness
• Standardized role catalog – Clearly defining the roles supported by the platform
• Edge Edu integration – Tying Edge certifications directly to advancement

“Talent Application 2.0 is the anchor for our platform evolution,” explained Ghazanfar Idrees, Edge chief product officer. “Giving talent a persistent profile and clear visibility into roles, feedback, and growth creates better experiences for workers and a higher-quality network for Edge customers – empowering these organizations to conquer the administrative capacity crisis, effectively scale their operations, and grow stronger.”

Talent benefits from:

• Having one profile that carries forward, instead of having to reapply for jobs repeatedly
• Gaining clearer visibility into roles, expectations, and growth paths
• Accessing structured development tied directly to advancement

Customers benefit from:

• More consistent quality and role clarity
• Talent who are developed and progressed against defined standards
• Reduced variability as Edge scales across roles and markets

 “After five years of rapid expansion, Edge is entering our next phase of growth,” said Wahla. “Far beyond job-by-job hiring, Edge Elevate reflects our deliberate shift toward a unified talent network, built to scale with clarity, consistency, and long-term development at its core.”

Manipal, Feb 19th: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools across teaching, research, and academic administration. This collaboration aims to enhance learning outcomes, accelerate research productivity, and equip students and faculty with critical AI skills for a rapidly evolving global workforce. MAHE will implement AI-powered tools and resources across its academic programs to support personalised learning, boost critical thinking, and encourage ethical AI use. Faculty will also gain access to advanced AI tools for curriculum planning, research, and innovation.

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, VSM (Retd.), MAHE, said, “MAHE has always been guided by academic excellence and innovation. Our partnership with OpenAI represents a strategic step toward embedding AI as a transformative enabler across teaching, research, and administration. By integrating advanced AI tools responsibly, we aim to enhance learning outcomes, accelerate research impact, and prepare our students for leadership in an AI-driven world.

The collaboration will focus on building AI literacy across disciplines, ensuring that students from Health Sciences, Technology & Science, Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences, and allied fields gain practical exposure to AI applications relevant to their domains. MAHE will also promote interdisciplinary research and innovation using AI to address complex real-world challenges.  MAHE will also establish structured AI governance guidelines to ensure responsible, ethical, and transparent governance use of artificial intelligence across academic functions.

The partnership aligns with MAHE’s long-term digital transformation roadmap and reinforces its commitment to innovation, industry relevance, and societal impact. With this collaboration, MAHE reinforces its vision of becoming a globally benchmarked, AI-enabled university committed to shaping responsible innovation and future-ready leaders.

Mumbai, Feb 19th: Capgemini today announced its platinum partnership with the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to accelerating innovation and strengthening cross-border collaboration between the two countries. As part of this collaboration, Capgemini has developed a digital platform that connects innovators across India and France, creating a single environment for organizations to partner, connect, learn, and stay updated on programs and events in both countries.

Capgemini’s selection as a partner is underpinned by its global innovation capabilities, and its proven track record in building global ecosystems that connect organizations with emerging technologies, start-ups and academic institutions – to empower enterprises to accelerate real-world innovation and turn ideas into scalable impact. The company’s continued investments in advanced technologies, supported by a significant number of employees being trained in generative AI, further positions Capgemini to support innovation initiatives at scale.

“India and France are deepening their collaboration in emerging technologies, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, where both countries share a common vision and long‑term strategic interests. This makes 2026 a significant milestone in their innovation journey. As an AI‑powered business and technology company and a proud partner for the Year of Innovation, Capgemini brings its expertise in supporting complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives across geographies. We combine our technology leadership with extensive experience in large ecosystem engagements to help organizations collaborate in a more structured, seamless, and effective way,” said Aiman Ezzat, Chief Executive Officer of the Capgemini Group.

With deep expertise in technology-led transformation and ecosystem orchestration, Capgemini is adept at enabling structured engagement, greater visibility, and seamless knowledge exchange across diverse stakeholder groups.

Bengaluru, Feb 19: greytHR, India’s most trusted full-suite HRMS for hire-to-retire solutions today announced the release of HR Predictions for 2026 – A greytHR Perspective, a flagship insights release based on findings from the 2026 HR Leader Prediction Index, developed from responses by over 500 senior HR leaders and features exclusive viewpoints from experienced HR practitioners and industry leaders.

The Index assesses organisational readiness using greytHR’s HR Prediction Score (HPS), measuring confidence across six dimensions of HR maturity. While results show visible progress across several areas, the data also highlights uneven preparedness as organisations face scale, skills disruption, and rapid AI adoption.

According to the findings, Performance Enablement, Organizational Vitality, and Workforce Experience are showing strong progress.

• Performance Enablement recorded the highest HPS (+66.08), reflecting a shift towards “hard HR,” with systems linking individual output to business strategy becoming central to success.
• Organizational Vitality scored +64.58, indicating healthy leadership pipelines and effective manager training, allowing organisations to take bigger risks with AI and reskilling.
• Workforce Experience scored +61.57, showing a move from perks to stability, with hybrid work models largely stabilised.

Yet, the Index also highlights areas that need attention. Culture & Inclusion, Digital Dilemma, and Talent Agility highlight emerging vulnerabilities.

• Culture and Inclusion scored +59.74, sitting just below the confidence zone; well-being programmes are active, but burnout remains a persistent risk.
• Digital Dilemma scored +57.12, with tech fragmentation diminishing and unified data platforms emerging, though trust in AI and accountability in digital decisions remain uneven.
• Talent Agility was the weakest dimension (+50.39), with skill obsolescence, limited internal mobility, and the need for dynamic skill graphing as key challenges.

The greytHR perspective notes that many of today’s workforce challenges—burnout, stalled career progression, and leadership strain—are structural rather than individual, rooted in how work, skills, and technology are designed and governed. As AI moves from experimentation to operational use, the findings emphasise the need for human-in-the-loop governance, workflow redesign, and AI literacy.

“The future of HR is about intentional design—where performance, skills, leadership, and technology evolve as one connected system. Organisations that integrate these elements thoughtfully can unlock greater potential, foster stronger engagement, and drive sustainable growth in an ever-changing business landscape.”

 Girish Rowjee, Co-founder and CEO, greytHR. 

“We are at an exciting inflection point where AI and digital systems are becoming integral to how HR operates. The opportunity now is to build intelligent, interoperable platforms that combine strong data foundations with human insight. When technology and judgment work seamlessly together, organisations gain the clarity and agility needed to scale with confidence.”

Sayeed Anjum, Co-founder and CTO, greytHR. 

The release concludes with five priority actions for HR leaders, offering practical guidance to help organisations move from HR maturity to strategic acceleration as they prepare for 2026.