Archives 2026

New Delhi,  Jan 28: Global cloud communications platform Infobip, today announced a series of key leadership changes, effective 1 January 2026, supporting the company’s rapid growth and innovation agenda. These appointments promote experienced leaders from within the company, reflecting Infobip’s commitment to nurture internal talent and aligning leadership with strategic goals to deliver greater value to customers and partners.

Krešo Žmak has been appointed as Chief Innovation Officer a new position in which he will lead company-wide change initiatives ensuring that innovation efforts are tightly aligned with business goals. As AI is the driving force of innovation, a big focus will be on enabling and accelerating AI adoption across Infobip’s product portfolio and steering the organization’s broader transformation into an AI-first company.

Ante Pamuković has been named Chief Revenue Officer In his new role as CRO, Ante Pamuković is the strategic architect for revenue driving sustainable growth through global alignment, innovation, and operational excellence. One of the key priorities will be leveraging automation through AI and Go-To-Market strategies to enhance the value and experience delivered to Infobip’s customers worldwide.

In addition, Veselin Vuković is joining the Board of Directors as Chief Alliances Officer. Veselin, who joined Infobip in 2010, has been Chief Alliances Officer since January 2025 and now takes on responsibilities as new Board member overseeing Infobip’s business operations and is responsible for approving key governance, strategic, and operational decisions.

Furthermore, Igor Dvoršak has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing all VP General Managers to streamline organizational structure and enhancing regional coordination. Igor also takes responsibility for Strategy Development and Market Intelligence, enabling a more integrated approach to leveraging insights that drive operational excellence and support for regional teams.

Silvio Kutić, CEO and founder of Infobip, said:

 “By appointing these senior executives from within the company, we are strengthening our leadership framework to seize the opportunities ahead. Having grown with Infobip for many years, these leaders embody our company’s journey. This year, we celebrate our 20th anniversary, marking two decades of innovation and growth. To support our long-term strategy and maintain our lead, we must be prepared to continually restart and evolve, consistently adapting to the needs of our customers and the market.”

Goregaon West is fast consolidating its position as one of Mumbai’s most resilient and high-performing residential micro-markets, particularly in the luxury and premium housing segment. Backed by established social infrastructure, seamless connectivity to key business districts, and limited availability of new high-quality developments, the locality is witnessing sustained demand from both end-users and investors, resulting in steady price appreciation.

Industry trends indicate that luxury housing in Goregaon West is benefiting from a shift in buyer preferences toward well-located, execution-driven projects that offer long-term value rather than speculative gains. With supply remaining constrained and buyers closely tracking construction progress, projects that demonstrate timely execution are seeing faster absorption and quicker price movements.

A notable example of this market momentum is Ariha Group’s luxury residential project at Jawahar Nagar, Goregaon West, which has recently announced an upward revision in prices following an exceptional buyer response. Launched in October at ₹27,500 per sq. ft., the project has already seen prices appreciate to ₹36,000 per sq. ft., highlighting the strength of demand and the market’s willingness to reward quality developments.

The project’s strong performance is further reinforced by its construction progress, with the structure having breached the 7th slab ahead of schedule. This visible on-ground execution has played a key role in strengthening buyer confidence and accelerating decision-making in a market where delivery assurance has become a critical factor.

Commenting on the broader market and the project’s performance, Mr. Dhruman Shah, Promoter, Ariha Group said,

“Goregaon West continues to attract discerning homebuyers who are looking for a combination of location advantage, lifestyle quality, and assured execution. The response to our luxury project at Jawahar Nagar reflects this evolving mindset. The price appreciation we have witnessed is driven by genuine demand, limited supply of premium homes, and consistent construction progress, with the project already crossing the 7th slab ahead of timelines.”

Providing a strategic market perspective, Mr. Nihar Jayesh Thakkar, Founder, The Mandate House added,

“From a market standpoint, Goregaon West is clearly transitioning into a mature luxury residential zone. Buyers today closely monitor appreciation trends and construction milestones before committing. Ariha Group’s project is a strong example of how timely execution, limited inventory, and a clear luxury positioning translate into rapid value creation in this micro-market.”

To mark the project’s price appreciation and sustained demand, a premium celebratory initiative has also been introduced post the price revision. As part of this offering, a luxury Rolex watch is being extended as a special incentive on every booking, applicable on select limited inventories, reinforcing the project’s aspirational and elite positioning.

With prices already revised upward, limited availability, and construction progressing ahead of schedule, Ariha Group’s luxury development at Jawahar Nagar, Goregaon West stands as a compelling case study of how the Goregaon real estate market is rewarding well-executed luxury projects with strong and early appreciation.

New Delhi, Jan 28: TATA Starbucks today announced an enhancement to beverage customisation across its stores in India, empowering customers to enjoy their favourite flavoured hot or iced beverages with greater personalisation to choose their preferred level of sweetness with zero-sugar flavours such as Vanilla, Hazelnut and Caramel now also available with zero added sugar, customers can select from options including No Sugar, Less Sweet or Regular, rendering lesser calories beverages, across all Starbucks stores, mobile ordering and delivery platforms.

“India’s coffee culture has evolved significantly over the years, with consumers increasingly seeking more control over how their beverages are crafted,” said Sushant Dash, ceo, Tata Starbucks.

“Sweetness is a key part of that choice, and this enhancement allows customers to decide the level that works for them without altering the flavour profile they are familiar with also with a lower calorie beverage output. It preserves the Starbucks experience consumers expect, while offering greater flexibility at the point of order. Our focus remains on delivering consistency across stores and channels, strengthening our ability to serve a wider range of preferences at scale, while keeping the experience seamless for both customers and partners.”

As health and wellness continue to influence beverage choices, more consumers are paying closer attention to ingredients and calorie intake while still seeking flavour and indulgence. This shift is particularly visible at the start of the year, as resolutions and reset is taking precedence and people reassess everyday choices and routines. With this offering, Starbucks is enabling greater flexibility for customers with options that suit their tastes and daily preferences while upholding the quality, consistency and indulgence that define the signature Starbucks experience.

The customisation options are now available across Starbucks 506 stores in 81 cities, giving customers the ability to select their desired sweetness across beverages.

Las Vegas, USA Jan 28: Eastman IMPEX, a global leader in engineering goods and construction solutions, participated in World of Concrete 2026, one of the world’s premier exhibitions for the concrete and construction industry. The company showcased its advanced formwork, shoring, and scaffolding solutions at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from January 20–22, 2026, at South Hall, Booth S10655.

At the event, Eastman IMPEX presented its robust, performance-driven systems designed to address the evolving requirements of large-scale infrastructure, commercial, and industrial construction projects across global markets. The showcased solutions highlighted the company’s strong focus on safety, efficiency, durability, and adaptability across diverse construction environments.

World of Concrete 2026 brought together global construction leaders, engineers, contractors, and solution providers, offering Eastman IMPEX a strategic platform to strengthen international partnerships and engage with stakeholders from North America and other key global regions.

Commenting on the participation, Gaurav Singal, CEO, Eastman IMPEX, said,

“World of Concrete is a critical platform for engaging with the global construction ecosystem. Our participation reflected Eastman IMPEX’s commitment to delivering engineering solutions that are stronger from the ground up and built to perform across complex construction requirements. As infrastructure projects continue to scale globally, the need for reliable, safe, and high-performance formwork and scaffolding systems has never been greater, and we were proud to showcase solutions that address these needs head-on.”

He further added,

“The exhibition enabled us to connect with industry leaders, gain insights into market expectations, and demonstrate how Eastman IMPEX continues to innovate while maintaining the highest standards of quality and engineering excellence.”

Visitors to the Eastman IMPEX booth explored the company’s comprehensive product portfolio, interacted with technical experts, and gained insights into solutions designed to support faster project execution, enhanced site safety, and long-term structural integrity.

With a strong global presence and decades of engineering expertise, Eastman IMPEX continued to play a pivotal role in supporting construction projects across infrastructure, real estate, industrial, and urban development sectors worldwide.

Neal Thakker, Founder and CEO of Magma Group

“As India’s manufacturing base scales, the next phase has to be about building factories that are not just bigger, but cleaner and more resilient. From our experience on the ground, MSMEs are ready to invest in energy-efficient machinery, better materials, and circular processes if access to capital and policy support is predictable. Budget 2026 is a real opportunity to align sustainability with competitiveness by backing technology upgradation, green materials, and simpler compliance for manufacturers who want to modernise without losing margins.”

“Manufacturing growth today is less about announcing new schemes and more about improving execution at the factory level. MSMEs need easier access to working capital, faster GST processes, and incentives to adopt digital and energy-efficient systems that directly improve throughput. If Budget 2026 strengthens technology upgradation and supports sustainable manufacturing at scale, it will help factories become globally competitive while staying grounded in unit economics.”

 Tripat Girdhar, Founder of Arete Design Studio

“The 2026 Union Budget must approach the built environment as a long-term national asset, not a short-term fiscal lever. From a policy perspective, real estate needs stability, tax clarity, and predictable approval frameworks to unlock sustained housing-led growth and investor confidence. For developers, the focus should shift from volume-driven construction to performance-led development, where design efficiency, lifecycle cost, and operational sustainability define value. Architecture must be recognised as core infrastructure that directly impacts energy consumption, public health, and urban resilience. Budget incentives should reward climate-responsive design, passive strategies, and durable materials that reduce long-term maintenance and energy costs for both occupants and asset owners. Affordable housing policy must emphasise liveability, dignity, and long-term performance, not just unit counts. Urban planning, public spaces, and last-mile connectivity deserve stronger fiscal support. A design-led budget will help developers build smarter assets while enabling policymakers to create resilient, efficient, and people-centric cities.”

Ajay Rao, Founder & CEO, Emiza

“The upcoming Union Budget is an opportunity to accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a globally competitive logistics hub. Continued capex under PM Gati Shakti, across roads, rail, ports and integrated logistics parks, will be critical to reducing logistics costs and improving efficiency.

For 3PL players, policy support for technology adoption such as automation, AI and digital supply chains, along with incentives for green warehousing, can significantly enhance productivity and sustainability. Clarity on GST, especially input tax credit on construction, will unlock faster development of Grade A warehouses.

Easier access to long-term financing, focused support for MSMEs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and sustained investment in air cargo and cold-chain infrastructure will help build a resilient, future-ready logistics ecosystem aligned with the National Logistics Policy.” 

BITS Pilani WILP Launches Cutting-Edge Programmes in AI, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity to Empower Professionals and Entrepreneurs

BITS Pilani Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP) today announced the launch of specialized courses in Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML), and Cybersecurity. The new offerings underscore WILP’s commitment to advancing India’s digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem by equipping working professionals, entrepreneurs and organisations with future‑ready skills to meet the growing demand for advanced technology expertise across industries.

The 11‑month Post Graduate Certificate in AI & ML is designed for graduates in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or Engineering (B.Sc., B.Tech., and higher). The programme builds expertise in Generative AI, Agentic AI, MLOps for production-grade AI systems, and computer vision through a mix of core courses, electives, and a capstone project. Foundation modules in Python and Math are available for those who require additional preparation, ensuring accessibility for learners from diverse academic backgrounds.

The 12‑month Post Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity is open to candidates with a four‑year Integrated First Degree of BITS or its equivalent such as B.E., B.Tech., M.Sc., or MCA. It focusses on advanced skills in AI/ML for security, modern cryptography, ethical hacking, and compliance frameworks, with emphasis on programming, computer networks, operating systems, and databases. The curriculum combines core courses, electives, and applied projects to prepare professionals to safeguard digital infrastructure against evolving threats.

Commenting on the launch, Prof. G. Sundar, Director, BITS WILP said,

“At BITS WILP, our focus is on bridging the skill gap that industries face today. These new programmes in AIML, and Cybersecurity are not just about mastering advanced technologies, they are about preparing professionals to lead responsibly, apply knowledge in real-world contexts, and strengthen the digital resilience of organizations. By embedding experiential learning and industry alignment into the curriculum, we ensure that learners graduate ready to drive innovation and safeguard the future of India’s digital economy.”

Both programmes are designed for working professionals, offering flexible, industry‑aligned learning while continuing in their professions. Enrolment opens in January 2026, with the first batch commencing in April.

Delhi, Jan 28: As antimicrobial resistance increasingly complicates infection management, orthopaedic specialists are encountering more cases where standard antibiotic treatment alone is insufficient. In one such case, Dr. Simon Thomas, Director and Head of Robotic Joint Replacement & Reconstruction, Max Hospital, successfully treated an 85-year-old patient with a drug-resistant knee implant infection through a carefully planned, staged surgical approach, demonstrating how complex infections can be managed effectively with timely, evidence-based care.

Implant-related infections present challenges distinct from routine infections. In joint replacements, bacteria can adhere to the implant surface and form a biofilm, reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics if treatment is initiated without identifying the infecting organism. The issue has gained wider attention amid growing concerns around antimicrobial resistance, which has also been highlighted at a national level. In a recent episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, noting that indiscriminate use can weaken their effectiveness over time. When antibiotics are started without culture confirmation, resistant bacteria may persist, making infections harder to eradicate and recovery more prolonged.

In this case, the patient, Mrs Pushpa, had undergone bilateral knee replacement surgery in March 2022 and remained active for several years. In early 2025, she developed persistent pain and swelling in both knees. Further evaluation, including joint fluid analysis and laboratory investigations, identified Achromobacter xylosoxidans, a rare organism known for resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Implant-related infections require specialised management, particularly in elderly patients, where treatment decisions must carefully balance infection control with overall safety.

Explaining the clinical approach, Dr. Simon Thomas, Director and Head of Robotic Joint Replacement & Reconstruction, Max Hospital, said, “Implant-related infections are especially challenging today because antimicrobial resistance limits treatment options. In these cases, starting antibiotics without identifying the organism can allow resistant bacteria to persist. A step-by-step approach, based on accurate diagnosis, targeted antibiotics, and timely surgery, is essential to control the infection while protecting long-term joint function.”

Adding to this, Dr. Divesh Gulati, Associate Director Robotic Joint Replacements & Orthopaedics, Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, said,

“Cases like this underline the importance of restraint and precision in infection management. When antimicrobial resistance is involved, every decision—from investigation to intervention—must be deliberate. A structured, staged strategy not only improves outcomes but also avoids unnecessary procedures, which is especially critical in elderly patients.”

Mrs Pushpa added,

“At my age, the infection was worrying, and I was unsure how well I would recover. The treatment was explained clearly and carried out step by step, which helped reassure me. I am now recovering steadily and able to move better.”

In May 2025, the infected implant from the patient’s left knee was removed, and the joint was thoroughly cleaned. This was followed by high-dose, culture-specific antibiotic therapy. After infection parameters stabilised, a second-stage revision knee replacement was performed using a high-stability implant, with intra-operative checks confirming infection clearance before implantation. During the same hospital stay, the patient’s right knee, which showed raised inflammatory markers, was evaluated cautiously through joint aspiration and laboratory testing, helping rule out active infection and avoid unnecessary surgery. Despite her age, the patient tolerated the procedures well and is currently undergoing supervised rehabilitation to improve mobility and daily function.

The case highlights the growing clinical impact of antimicrobial resistance and the need for early diagnosis, targeted treatment, and appropriate surgical intervention. It demonstrates that with specialised care and careful planning, even complex, drug-resistant implant infections can be managed successfully in elderly patient

Swiggy Ltd India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, today announced a major leap in conversational commerce with the launch of Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations across various business verticals. This rollout, covering Swiggy Food, Instamart, and Dineout, enables users to order groceries, place food orders, and make dining reservations directly through popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and others.

With this launch, Instamart becomes the first quick-commerce platform globally to adopt MCP, allowing users to browse and purchase from an assortment of over 40,000 SKUs using simple, natural language prompts.

The Shift to Agentic AI in Commerce

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source framework that connects AI systems and chatbots to live data, sources, and services, allowing them to interact securely with external applications. By exposing a secure set of tools via MCP servers, Swiggy allows AI agents to perform complex tasks that previously required navigating multiple app screens. Users can bypass traditional app interfaces and issue intent-based commands. For example, a user can simply type: “Order ingredients needed for Thai green curry.” or “Order a highly rated biryani I would love.”

The AI agent then handles the entire process: searching for products or restaurants, comparing options, building and updating the cart, applying the best offers or coupons, getting addresses, placing the order, and even tracking delivery. It can also retrieve available booking time slots for a specific restaurant and book a table by creating a cart, applying offers, and confirming the booking in a single prompt.

As users grow more AI-native, increasingly relying on conversational interfaces for planning and decision-making, Swiggy’s integration reflects this shift from static app navigation to dynamic, conversational commerce. This “agentic AI flow” significantly reduces friction by allowing the large language models to handle brand comparisons, quantity selection, and checkout details. The result is a simpler, faster, and more personalized shopping experience that lets users express their intent once and leave it on AI to handle the rest.

Madhusudhan Rao, Chief Technology Officer, Swiggy, said, “India’s convenience needs are deeply contextual, shaped by everyday moments, family routines, personal preferences, and time constraints. Swiggy has always focused on solving for convenience at scale, and conversational commerce takes that a step further by allowing users to simply express what they want, when they want it, whether it is to book a table at their favourite restaurant or order drinks and snacks for a match-viewing party. By bringing MCP to quick commerce, food delivery, and dining out, we’re removing friction from daily decisions and enabling a level of ease, personalisation, and joy that makes on-demand convenience feel effortless.”

Swiggy’s MCP launch builds the foundation for future AI-led experiences, where intelligent agents can act contextually across use cases like meal planning, health goals, dietary preferences, and occasion-based shopping, while remaining privacy-first and secure. In practice, this means users can ask an AI assistant to discover a recipe, identify the right ingredients for four people and add them to their Instamart cart before checking out, build and order a keto or vegan shopping list, compare brands and prices for everyday household staples, or search restaurants and menus, apply relevant offers and book a dine-in table, all through a single, conversational interaction.

How this works

Users can connect the service with AI assistants such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Cursor, or any agent of their choice in just a few simple steps:

1. Navigate to Settings → Connectors → Add Custom Connector/App
2. Enter a Name for your connector
3. Provide the URL for the service you want to integrate

Kaynes Semicon executes Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents Required to Receive Fiscal Support under India Semiconductor Mission Framework

Bangalore, Jan 28 :   Kaynes Semicon Private Limited (“Kaynes Semicon”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaynes Technology India Limited, today announced the execution of its Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents with the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Government of India, under the policy framework established to develop semiconductor manufacturing capability in the country.

The signing of the Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents Required marks an important procedural milestone in the implementation of eligible fiscal support as notified under the scheme guidelines, and is a reflection of the Government of India’s sustained commitment to the success of the India Semiconductor Mission. For Kaynes Semicon, this underscores our resolve to operate with the highest levels of governance, transparency and compliance as we scale our semiconductor initiatives. We are deeply committed to playing a leadership role — both in execution and in shaping India’s semiconductor manufacturing capability — in alignment with the country’s long-term strategic objectives.

Shri Amitesh Kumar Sinha, CEO, ISM, added:

“The execution of the Fiscal Support Agreement and other Transaction Documents mark an important milestone for the project and we look forward to continued progress in line with the Mission’s objectives.”

Commenting on the development, Mr. Raghu Panicker, CEO, Kaynes Semicon, said:

“Execution of all these documents along with Fiscal Support Agreement and all other Transaction Documents Required is an important step forward for Kaynes Semicon as we progress on our semiconductor manufacturing journey. We remain grateful to the Government of India, India Semiconductor Mission and Government of Gujarat for their continued support in this journey. We are committed to building a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem from India with a clear focus on operational excellence and robust compliance.”

Mr. Ramesh Kannan, Executive Vice Chairman, Kaynes Technology India Limited, added:

“Semiconductors are foundational to India’s digital and manufacturing ambitions, and this milestone reinforces our strategic commitment to play a meaningful role in this sector through Kaynes Semicon. We appreciate the structured governance framework established by the India Semiconductor Mission and remain focused on long-term value creation for all stakeholders.”

“Kaynes Semicon, an IESA member, has demonstrated how strong industry capability combined with decisive government action can accelerate India’s semiconductor journey. We commend ISM and MeitY for their timely approvals and structured execution framework, which are building confidence across the ecosystem, Commented Ashok Chandak, President IESA.

Hyderabad, Jan 28: As India gears up for Union Budget 2026, Zithara.AI—a Hyderabad-based pioneer in AI-powered offline retail transformation—outlines key expectations to accelerate deep-tech adoption. Serving 500+ stores like jewellery chains and Bajaj Electronics, the company addresses challenges including data silos, skilling gaps, and infrastructure hurdles in India’s 12M+ offline retail ecosystem.

Varun Kashyap and Sridevi Reddy, Co-Founders, Zithara.AI, said:

To have the government be more all-in and to be more invested both in letter, money and spirit, for that matter, as far as the ecosystem is concerned. The Government set aside a budget of Rs. 10,300+  Crore to boost the India AI mission over 5 years might not be sufficient for scaling up the AI-powered ecosystem. We need to treat AI as a future technology and treat it like Infrastructure to ensure better accessibility to funding.

We would also like to highlight that if the government is more invested in the business, then the ecosystem will be primed to support the startups. If a startup gets the 1^st set of funding from the government and they need to scale up, going back to the government is not an option. The startup has to depend on VC’s. Therefore, we would like the Government to set up funds to facilitate the funding for scaling up, particularly for startups with a proven track record for performance.

AI startups, we can allocate only 10 to 15 percent budget allocated for AI R&D, which is not sufficient to scaleup. Moreover, currently, we use the GPUs that are not in India; we’re always living on borrowed technology and have to pay a substantial amount for the same. With the high velocity of AI startups in the country, we need to build that capability inside India – a budget allocation for the same will be a great trigger for future growth. If the government is backing an initiative, it is going to be the nation’s competitive advantage.

The Centre must fully commit to AI startups in Budget 2026 with enhanced funding and security measures to power India’s deep-tech ecosystem.