Archives 2026

Promoter and Managing Director of P.E. Analytics Ltd, Samir Jasuja, has increased his shareholding in the company by about 3.1 percentage points, following an on-market purchase of equity shares, according to a regulatory filing made with the National Stock Exchange on January 20. The disclosure was made under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements.

Prior to the transaction, Jasuja, who is part of the promoter and promoter group, held 75,25,628 equity shares, representing 71.79 per cent of the company’s paid-up equity capital. He acquired an additional 3,36,000 equity shares through an on-market transaction, taking his total holding to 78,61,628 shares. Post-acquisition, his stake in the company increased to about 74.9 per cent.

The filing said the transaction was executed on January 20, 2026, on the National Stock Exchange of India. The acquisition resulted in a higher promoter holding and was carried out through the exchange’s regular trading mechanism.

In monetary terms, the shares were purchased at a price of ₹165 per share, aggregating to a total consideration of ₹5.54 crore. The company said the information has been disclosed to the exchange for record and regulatory compliance purposes.

New Delhi,  Jan 21: The Hosteller, India’s largest backpacker hostel chain, announced strong growth in 2025, driven by inventory expansion, rising repeat demand, and an increasing share of direct bookings. During January–December 2025, the brand added 2,100 new beds, a 72% year-on-year increase in bed inventory, and expanded its footprint to 5,100 beds across 72 hostels in 56 cities. In total, the company added 19 new hostels, marking a 25% growth in the number of hostels during the year.

The brand served 496,554 guests in 2025, reflecting robust demand in domestic travel. A key highlight of the year was the rise in guest loyalty, with the repeat guest rate increasing to 38.3%, up from 16.4% in 2024, representing 133% year-on-year growth. Direct bookings accounted for 55% of total reservations, demonstrating strong customer trust and engagement.

The Hosteller operates on a self-operated model, maintaining full control over guest experience and operational standards. In 2025, 95% of the company’s revenue came from self-operated hostels, with the remaining 5% from operational management contracts. By building a geographically diversified network, The Hosteller has been able to reduce the impact of seasonality, while standardised operations, technology-driven revenue management, and a community-first approach have supported efficient growth.

Commenting on the performance, Pranav Dangi, CEO & Founder, The Hosteller said, 

“2025 has been a strong year for us. We expanded our network to 56 cities and added 2,100 beds while maintaining operational control across all hostels. The growth in repeat guests and direct bookings demonstrates the trust in our brand and the strength of our community-led, self-operated model.”

Looking ahead, The Hosteller plans to continue expanding across key travel destinations in India, focusing on strengthening repeat guest engagement, direct bookings, and operational efficiency.

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Perfios.ai, India’s leading B2B SaaS TechFin, today announced that it has been certified with ISO/IEC 42001:2023 – world’s first Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) standard. Perfios is among the few BFSI-technology companies globally to attain this internationally recognized standard for its responsible AI-based solutions.

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification is an internationally recognized standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS) and is awarded following a rigorous independent external audit. The certification validates Perfios’ governance across the entire AI lifecycle including risk management, transparency, human oversight, and continuous monitoring.

Perfios has deeply embedded AI capabilities into its platforms to handle:

• Intelligent Digitization: Automated processing of KYC, financial, and healthcare records.
• Advanced Security: Deepfake and liveness detection for Video KYC and fraud prevention.
• Risk Intelligence: Real-time shell-entity detection and behavioural risk analysis.
• Decision Automation: AI-driven underwriting and complex financial decisioning support.

“Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 reinforces our commitment to delivering AI that is not only innovative and scalable but also explainable, secure, and compliant with global ethical standards,” said Mohit Srivastava, CISO, Perfios. “This reflects our dedication to embedding responsible AI practices across the entire lifecycle of our tech-led solutions. This certification provides customers, partners, and regulators with the assurance that Perfios’ AI-driven products meet the most stringent international requirements for safety and transparency.”

Globally, regulators are placing increased emphasis on AI ethics and accountability within the financial services industry. Perfios, already compliant with ISO 27001, ISO 27701, CSA STAR Level 2, and SOC 2 Type II standards, continues to stay ahead of evolving regulatory expectations.

Each year Perfios successfully undergoes 450+ audits and due diligence reviews. The ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification further strengthens Perfios’ position as a global leader in responsible AI governance in the BFSI sector and reinforces its strategic focus on delivering the highest levels of assurance, trust, and transparency to customers.

Awfis, India’s largest flexible workspace provider, in partnership with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)—the global authority advancing health in buildings, organisations, and communities—today announced a major milestone in creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive workplaces for India’s coworking workforce.

Through the WELL at Scale pathway, Awfis has achieved:

• WELL Health-Safety Rating across 35 locations nationwide

• WELL Equity Rating across 35 locations nationwide

• WELL Coworking Rating for 15 coworking centres, in collaboration with The Instant Group

This makes Awfis the first coworking brand in India to earn three WELL accolades simultaneously.

These achievements highlight Awfis’ leadership in people-first workplace design, prioritising physical, mental, and social well-being and moving beyond the traditional notion that health is merely the absence of illness. By aligning its spaces with the globally recognized WELL Standard, Awfis is setting a new benchmark for future-ready work environments in India.

“We are proud to mark a milestone that places Awfis at the forefront of healthier, safer, more inclusive, and future-ready workplaces in India,” said Amit Ramani, Chairman & Managing Director, Awfis Space Solutions Ltd. “These ratings reflect our unwavering commitment to creating environments where every individual can truly thrive. By embedding health, safety, and equity into the foundation of our spaces, we are not just providing workplaces, we are building communities that empower people and businesses to perform at their best.”

The WELL Health-Safety Rating recognises Awfis’ operational excellence in implementing health and safety strategies across its operations. Occupants benefit from enhanced confidence, reduced health risks, and robust business continuity measures, including rigorous cleaning, emergency preparedness, indoor air quality management, and stakeholder engagement. Organisations operating from these spaces enjoy environments that actively promote employee well-being, engagement, and productivity.

The WELL Equity Rating underscores Awfis’ commitment to fairness, inclusion, and accessibility. This recognition reflects robust policies to prevent discrimination, promote equitable access, and ensure barrier-free movement across facilities, creating workplaces that foster belonging and support diverse teams while strengthening employer branding.

The WELL Coworking Rating, introduced by IWBI in partnership with The Instant Group, focuses on people-first strategies for the coworking environment. The rating includes over 50 features across all 10 WELL concepts, highlighting Awfis’ dedication to:

• Advanced indoor air quality management with continuous monitoring and filtration

• Regular water quality testing

• Health-conscious food and nourishment guidelines

• Workspaces intentionally designed to enhance comfort, performance, and overall experience

“Awfis’ achievements reflect the leadership the flexible workspace sector in India needs today,” said Prateek Khanna, COO, IWBI. “As India’s coworking workforce grows, so does the need for healthier, more engaging, and equitable workplaces. By engaging WELL at scale, Awfis is setting a strong people-first benchmark for the market and redefining quality in flexible work environments.”

“Awfis achieving multiple WELL Ratings across its portfolio is a significant milestone. It is encouraging to see Awfis set a new benchmark for people-first flexible workspaces, demonstrating clear leadership in workplace health, safety, and equity across the region,” said Sam Pickering, Executive Director, Head of Sustainability, The Instant Group.

New Delhi, Jan 21: Mankind Pharma Limited has inaugurated Digital Smart Classrooms across government schools in Uttar Pradesh as part of its CSR platform, KindCare, marking a continued expansion of the company’s social investment beyond healthcare delivery. The initiative has enabled 460 digital classrooms across 400 government schools, supporting technology-led learning in underserved communities.

While healthcare remains central to Mankind Pharma’s CSR strategy, the Digital Smart Classroom Initiative reflects a broader focus on strengthening education as a key determinant of long-term public health outcomes and human capital development. A core component of the programme is teacher empowerment, with over 2,400 teachers trained to effectively integrate digital tools into classroom teaching.

The initiative was inaugurated in Ghaziabad by Shri Sunil Kumar Sharma, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and is being implemented in partnership with SEEDS Impact.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said,

“Mankind Pharma deserves recognition for its commitment to strengthening education in underserved communities through the Digital Smart Classroom Initiative. By enabling technology-led learning in government schools, the initiative addresses critical gaps in access and quality at a time when digital literacy is essential for future opportunity. Its community-first approach, with a strong focus on empowering teachers and strengthening local school ecosystems, ensures that the benefits are sustainable and reach those who need them most.”

Sheetal Arora, Promoter & CEO, Mankind Pharma Limited, said,

“Education has the power to shape not just individual futures but the destiny of communities. Through KindCare, our CSR platform, we have consciously taken a community-first approach, focusing on areas where access to quality education remains a challenge. The Digital Smart Classroom Initiative is rooted in empathy and responsibility, recognising that true progress begins when students and teachers are given the right tools, confidence, and support to succeed. This initiative is not about technology alone; it is about dignity, opportunity, and ensuring that children in remote and underserved regions are not left behind in an increasingly digital world.”

New Delhi, Jan 21: Care.fi, a healthcare-focused fintech founded by Vikrant Agrawal and Sidak Singh, today announced its acquisition of Aldun, a discharge-automation platform recognized for enabling near-instant, 10-minute patient discharges. Aldun currently supports around 10,000 discharges per month across hospital networks including Aster, Apollo, Manipal, Sir Ganga Ram, Fortis, KIMS, Narayana, and Cloudnine, impacting over 1 lakh lives and saving hospitals more than 10 lakh administrative hours.

Through this acquisition, Care.fi plans to scale the combined solution to 300 hospital units and approximately 1 lakh monthly discharges, creating a unified, transparent patient experience from admission to settlement.

By integrating Aldun’s last-mile orchestration with Care.fi’s revenue-cycle management (RCM) and financing rails, the acquisition addresses a critical system bottleneck—slow, manual discharge processes—unlocking measurable capacity and cash flow for providers. Hospitals will benefit from higher bed turnover, faster claims closure, reduced denials, and finance teams gain real-time visibility into receivables and working capital. Faster discharges also increase daily effective capacity without new capex, improving access and service levels for patients.

“Discharge is the last mile of care and the first memory a family takes home. By bringing Aldun into the Care.fi fold, we’re turning hours into minutes and queues into capacity. Coupled with our RCM and financing rails, including our single-window claims platform, hospitals get one operating layer for faster discharge, cleaner books, and a measurably better patient experience,” said Vikrant Agrawal, Co-founder, Care.fi.

Once the final bill is generated, patients typically head home in ~10 minutes, avoiding the traditional full-day wait. This reduces non-clinical costs such as parking, attendant time off work, and extra room charges, lowers anxiety at discharge, and supports earlier recovery at home with clearer, digital instructions and follow-ups.

“At scale, discharge delays aren’t just an operational issue—they distort cashflows, capacity planning, and patient confidence. This acquisition lets us redesign discharge as a predictable, system-level outcome rather than a daily firefight. By unifying financing, claims, and settlement into one workflow, we’re helping hospitals release locked capacity, accelerate collections, and deliver a consistent patient experience across cities and care settings,” said Sidak Singh, Co-founder, Care.fi.

The acquisition is a strategic fit, combining convenience, compliance, and cashflow with national-level distribution, delivering a consistent patient journey across partner hospitals. Standardizing 10-minute discharge processes across multi-specialty hospitals—especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets—will unlock throughput, lower administrative overheads, and improve operational efficiency without adding beds.

Backing from investors such as Peak XV (Care.fi) and 2am VC (Aldun) underscores growing confidence in practical, implementation-ready solutions that simultaneously enhance patient convenience and RCM discipline.

By: Sachin Sawrikar, Founder and Managing Partner, Artha Bharat Investment Managers

Currency volatility continues to hinder foreign investment into India, particularly for global investors assessing risk-adjusted returns. While India’s long-term growth prospects remain robust, abrupt currency fluctuations significantly erode returns when repatriated to foreign currencies, diminishing India’s competitiveness against other emerging markets. Long-term investors face compressed yields from elevated hedging costs, while short-term investors encounter heightened risks of sudden capital flight.

In risk-off scenarios, these dynamics intensify as global investors retreat from emerging markets toward safe-haven currencies and sovereign bonds. India typically experiences outflows from both debt and equity markets, exerting downward pressure on the rupee. Rising bond yields reflect foreign portfolio reductions, while equity markets—especially sectors with heavy foreign ownership or external capital dependence—face amplified volatility.

Mitigating currency volatility and sustaining policy credibility are therefore essential to maintaining investor confidence during periods of global uncertainty.

Mumbai, Jan 21:  Aditya Birla World Academy marks 12th year of ‘Infinity’, an engaging and interactive mathematics challenge bringing together 120 teams, 360 students across 68 schools, across five countries including pan India participation and students from UAE, Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait. Founded by Mrs. Neerja Birla, ABWA anchors the initiative in its commitment to nurturing minds that think, create, collaborate, and lead with impact. Infinity is a school-led initiative designed to encourage students to engage with mathematics through reasoning, collaboration, and application, rather than speed-based testing alone.

The three-day programme is designed around a combination of individual and team-based rounds that rigorously assess logical reasoning, problem-solving abilities, and conceptual understanding. By moving beyond an overemphasis on speed and scores, the format makes mathematics engaging and meaningful for students. Participants navigate a diverse set of challenges, culminating in the selection of the Mathematician of the Year. In 2026, Agastya B. Khare from Oakridge International School, Bengaluru (Seniors), and Yerin Choi from Indus International School, Pune (Juniors), were crowned Mathematician of the Year, while Utpal Shanghvi Global School secured the Champion Trophy in the Senior category. The programme places strong emphasis on clarity of thought and methodological approach, alongside accuracy.

Over the past 12 years, more than 6,000 students from schools in India and overseas have participated in Infinity, reflecting the initiative’s steady growth and relevance in the school-education landscape.

Unlike conventional mathematics competitions, Infinity encourages students to explore multiple solution pathways and collaborate with peers from different schools and regions. This approach allows participants to engage more deeply with mathematical concepts while building teamwork and communication skills

Commenting on the initiative, Ms. Shalini John, Principal, Aditya Birla World Academy, said,

“Infinity was started to give students a different experience of learning mathematics — one that values thinking and discussion as much as arriving at the right answer. Its continuity over 12 years reflects the sustained interest among schools and students.”

Mr. Prodipta Hore, Convener and Conceptualiser of Infinity, said,

“Platforms like Infinity allow students to apply classroom learning in a collaborative setting. Such experiences are increasingly important as education systems place greater emphasis on analytical and problem-solving skills.”

The 2026 edition of Infinity was supported by academic partners including BITS Pilani and Plaksha University, with faculty members and education leaders from these institutions engaging with students through keynote addresses and interactive sessions. Students also had the opportunity to interact with Dr. Mark Saul, a globally recognised American mathematician and educationist known for his work in mathematics education and gifted-student programmes, and for his leadership roles with the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). In addition, the initiative received support from organisations including the Lodha Foundation and Britannia Industries.

At Aditya Birla World Academy, learning is designed to extend beyond the classroom through platforms that encourage curiosity, collaboration, and real-world application. This year, the Infinity Trophy was sponsored by ABWA alumni who went on to build sortmyprep, an AI-powered exam-preparation platform supporting IB, IGCSE, and A-Level students through step-by-step solutions to past papers, real-time doubt solving, personalised performance analytics, and exam builders for unlimited practice. Founded by Aryaman Adhikary (CPO), Naman Kothari (COO), and Ananya Pritam (CEO)—all ABWA Batch of 2021 pass-outs—the venture stands as a reflection of how early exposure and opportunity at ABWA can translate into scalable, real-world impact.

Reflecting on their journey, Aryaman Adhikary, Co-founder, sortmyprep, said,

“At ABWA, we learn to think beyond boundaries, take initiative, and believe in our ideas. The values and exposure we received here laid the foundation for our entrepreneurial journey.”

Mumbai, Jan 21: The BC Jindal Foundation, social arm of India’s leading business conglomerate, the BC Jindal Group, has announced that it has planned Rs 40 Crore investment for various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects across India during FY26. Through this investment, the BC Jindal Foundation plans to focus on improving healthcare, skill development, animal welfare and nutrition by expanding its ongoing initiatives and introducing new projects under its CSR program.

The BC Jindal Group, led by Shyam Sunder Jindal, Promoter BC Jindal Group, through its foundation, will intensify its CSR operations in the states of Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana, and Maharashtra, among others. As a result, over 1.7 lakh people stand to benefit directly from BC Jindal Foundation’s initiatives in FY26.

“Sustainability as an ideology plays a central role in all undertakings at the BC Jindal Group. The corporate social responsibility initiatives that we have undertaken so far and plan to further implement in FY26 reflect our commitment towards promoting this philosophy. As a responsible organization, we will continue to expand our projects while complementing to the Government of India’s agenda of achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” said the spokesperson of BC Jindal Foundation.

In line with various SDGs, the BC Jindal Foundation, as part of its ongoing initiatives, has undertaken healthcare projects that focus on affordability, accessibility, and quality service. For skill development, the foundation is offering quality training in 9 high employability skill sectors and achieved approx. 70 percent placement rate for the students. The group’s community projects, including the drinking water facility at Delhi and the farmers’ livelihood program at Marathwada region of Maharashtra, are also in line with sustainable development goals. In addition, the foundation’s nutrition projects that so far offered 20 lakhs meals to people below the poverty line focus on the achieving ‘Zero Hunger’ of SDG 2.

The BC Jindal Group, which also runs the Meena Devi Jindal Charitable Polyclinic, plans to invest approximately Rs 4 crore to further expand the facility in FY26-27. As part of this growth plan, the foundation targets to benefit over 1 lakh people directly and will invest in dialysis, dental, physiotherapy, pathology, healthcare skilling, and diagnostics.

“In FY25-26, we have largely focused on enhancing the capacity of our flagship projects in terms of adding new services at our polyclinics to offer comprehensive healthcare services to unserved community. In addition, we have also commenced the construction of a Polyclinic in the Nalwa and a Skill Centre at Belur, Howrah, this year,” added the spokesperson.

To address the key challenges of accessibility and affordability in India’s healthcare sector, the BC Jindal Foundation has set up polyclinics in New Delhi, Nalwa in Haryana, Howrah in West Bengal, and Angul in Odisha. Over the years, these facilities, in addition to improving accessibility, have helped communities to economically by reducing their medical expenditures. The group’s expansion plans are expected to directly benefit approximately 2.5 lakh people across all 4 polyclinics run by the foundation.

Founded in 1952 by Shri B.C. Jindal, the BC Jindal Group, led by Shyam Sunder Jindal, Promoter, BC Jindal Group, is one of India’s leading conglomerates and is engaged in a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes packaging films, energy & steel products.

Satin Creditcare Network Limited (“SCNL”) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Satin Technologies Limited (“STL”), has entered into a Share Subscription-cum-Shareholders Agreement on January 17, 2026, to acquire up to 76.40% equity stake in QTrino Labs Private Limited (“QTrino”), in one or more tranches.

QTrino Labs, an IIT-incubated deep-tech cybersecurity startup, is engaged in the development of cost-effective, cutting-edge, quantum-safe security solutions for enterprises and government institutions. Operating in a rapidly evolving, high-growth technology segment, QTrino brings advanced cybersecurity capabilities that strongly align with STL’s long-term technology vision.

The proposed acquisition will enable Satin Technologies Limited to expand its presence in advanced technology and cybersecurity domains, strengthen its solution portfolio, and enhance the overall technology resilience of the Satin Group. Upon completion of the transaction, QTrino will be consolidated as a subsidiary, marking the Group’s strategic entry into technology-driven cybersecurity businesses.

Guided by a forward-looking philosophy, the Satin Group continues to anticipate change, embrace innovation, and invest in future-ready capabilities. Technology remains central to the Group’s strategy, enabling smarter solutions, improved operational resilience, and sustainable growth. This acquisition underscores Satin’s belief that innovation and responsible growth are deeply interconnected, shaping a future that is inclusive, resilient, and digitally empowered.

Commenting on the development, Prof. (Dr.) Jawar Singh, Founder and Director, QTrino Labs, said:

“With the Satin Group’s strong institutional backing, technology focus, and long-term vision, this partnership provides a powerful platform to advance our quantum-safe security solutions for enterprises and government institutions. Together, we aim to strengthen cyber resilience, drive impactful innovation, and contribute meaningfully to India’s growing digital security ecosystem.”

Mr. Rupinder Kalia, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Satin Technologies Limited, added:

“This marks a significant milestone in Satin Technologies Limited’s journey to build advanced, future-ready technology capabilities. As cybersecurity becomes increasingly critical in a digitally interconnected world, QTrino’s deep-tech and quantum-safe solutions strongly complement our strategic vision. This partnership has immense potential to accelerate innovation, enhance cyber resilience, and deliver scalable, cost-effective security solutions for enterprises and government institutions. It positions Satin Technologies at the forefront of next-generation cybersecurity while strengthening the broader technology ecosystem of the Satin Group and driving sustainable long-term value.”