All posts by Neel Achary

Mumbai, Dec 26: India’s winter pollution worsened across major metros in late 2025, with government monitoring agencies reporting sustained deterioration in air quality. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi repeatedly slipped into the Severe and Severe Plus categories during November and December, triggering stricter measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Air Quality Index (AQI) levels crossed 400 on multiple occasions, far exceeding safe limits.

Mumbai, while typically less affected than the capital, also saw air quality decline. Monitoring stations across the city recorded Poor to Very Poor AQI levels during peak winter weeks, particularly in high-traffic and industrial areas, indicating that pollution stress is no longer limited to North India.

Against this backdrop, consumer search behaviour across urban India points to a clear shift towards both preventive and compliance-driven responses. From protecting indoor air quality to meeting vehicular emission standards, urban consumers are acting with increased urgency and awareness.

According to data from Justdial Limited, India’s No. 1 local search engine, searches linked to pollution-related categories recorded a sharp rise during October November December 2025 (OND’25). To assess this behavioural shift, Justdial compared search trends between OND’25 and OND’24, as well as with the preceding quarter July–August–September 2025 (JAS’25).

Searches for Air Purifier Dealers surged significantly across the country, underlining growing concern around indoor air safety amid deteriorating outdoor air quality. Pan-India searches rose 103% year-on-year, while demand intensified sharply in recent months, with OND’25 searches becoming six times the levels in JAS’25. Delhi emerged as the strongest market, recording a 134% increase compared to OND’24, with November 2025 alone witnessing a sixfold jump over October 2025, reflecting the immediate impact of worsening air conditions. Other urban centres such as Gurgaon and Mumbai also saw notable spikes, pointing to a broader metropolitan response.

Alongside indoor air solutions, searches for Pollution Under Control (PUC) Testing also recorded consistent growth, signalling rising awareness around vehicular emission compliance. Pan-India PUC searches increased 55% year-on-year in OND’25, with a 4% rise compared to JAS’25. In Delhi, searches grew 38% versus OND’24, alongside an 11% quarter-on-quarter increase, indicating sustained intent rather than a short-term surge. Mumbai emerged as another key market showing notable growth in PUC-related searches.

Taken together, the data reveals a clear shift in urban consumer behaviour, where pollution is prompting both immediate protective actions within homes and a more responsible approach towards emissions on the road. While air purifier searches reflect an urgent need to secure indoor environments, rising PUC queries highlight growing accountability towards pollution control.

With search volumes rising across major metros, Justdial’s findings indicate that pollution is no longer viewed as a temporary seasonal challenge, but as a catalyst shaping everyday decisions and search behaviour across India’s cities.

Thiruvananthapuram,  Dec 26:- Acsia Technologies, a global provider of automotive software powering Digital Cockpits & Displays, e-Mobility, and Telematics, has been recognised as one of India’s Top 50 Innovative Companies for 2025 by the Confederation of Indian Industry  India’s leading industry-led, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation.

Acsia secured the award in the MSME category at the 12th CII Industrial Innovation Awards for its LiLA Agentic AI Platform, a next-generation AI system designed to transform software engineering workflows through intelligent automation and agentic AI capabilities. The awards ceremony took place on 16 December 2025 in New Delhi during the Global Summit on Technology, R&D & Intellectual Property.

The award was presented to Jijimon Chandran, Founder and CEO of Acsia Technologies, by Dr. Chandrika Kaushik, Distinguished Scientist and Director General DRDO, Ministry of Defence, in the presence of Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-founder, ReNew; Inge Buffolo, Director  Business Development, European Union Intellectual Property Office  and TitoKishan Vemuri, Founder and CEO, Proinn Consultancy.

Commenting on the recognition, Jijimon Chandran said:
“This award is a testament to our relentless pursuit of innovation and engineering excellence. LiLA represents a fundamental shift in how software development and validation are approached—helping teams improve productivity while maintaining the highest standards of quality and compliance. Being named among India’s Top 50 Innovative Companies reinforces our commitment to building technologies that solve real-world engineering challenges. It is a proud moment for the entire Acsia team and a validation of the strength of Thiruvananthapuram’s R&D ecosystem and technology talent.”

Deployed with a human-in-the-loop (HITL) approach at leading automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, LiLA has demonstrated strong results in production environments, including:

• Accelerating code analysis

• Improving defect resolution cycles

• Strengthening documentation quality

• Delivering 50–60% productivity improvements across key stages of the software development lifecycle

The CII Industrial Innovation Awards recognise organisations demonstrating sustained innovation capability and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Acsia’s inclusion among the Top 50 Innovative Companies underscores its leadership in applying AI-driven solutions to address complex challenges in automotive and embedded software engineering.

In addition, Acsia Technologies was honoured with the CII Industry Academia Partnership Award 2025  for the second consecutive year, recognising its role in strengthening collaboration between industry and academia through:

• Applied research initiatives

• Skill development programmes

• Faculty development initiatives

• Hackathons and training programmes

• Flagship finishing school programme

These initiatives reflect Acsia’s commitment to building a future-ready talent ecosystem, bridging the gap between education and industry, and contributing meaningfully to India’s technology and innovation landscape.

For more information about LiLA, visit: https://www.acsiatech.com/agentic-ai/

Photo Caption:
The award was presented to Acsia Founder and CEO Jijimon Chandran by Dr. Chandrika Kaushik, Distinguished Scientist & Director General, Production Coordination & Services, DRDO, Government of India, in the presence of Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-founder, ReNew; Inge Buffolo, Director, Business Development, EUIPO; and TitoKishan Vemuri, Founder and CEO, Proinn Consultancy.

PHDCCI organized Bihar Health Care Summit 2025 with the association of the Chandragupta Institute of Management Patna (CIMP)

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized Bihar Health Care Summit 2025 in association with Chandragupta Institute of Management Patna on 24th December, 2025 at CIMP auditorium, Patna, Bihar on the subject of “Boost Healthcare for India@2047″, this event promises to be of great interest in the healthcare sector.

The seminar was aimed at aligns with strengthen the healthcare system in pursuit of a healthy and developed India by 2047.

The objective of this initiative is to provide a unique platform for the present and highlight the various health policies, investment incentives, and opportunities available in the healthcare sector of Bihar. 

The event witnessed the esteemed presence of Prof. (Dr.) Usha Kumari, Principal, Nalanda Medical College, Patna, Prof. (Dr.) Punam Prasad Bhadani, Dean Academics, AIIMS, Patna; Dr. Anil Kumar, Zonal Director, HMRI, Paras Hospital, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Founding Director – STMA cum Sr Faculty  Brahmakumaris, Mr. Kumod Kumar –Chair, Bihar Chapter, PHDCCI, Prof.  Dr. Rana Singh Director, CIMP; Mr. Pranab Singh Resident Director, PHDCCI and Mr. Varun Yadav, Resident Officer, PHDCCI. More than 100+ participants from medical device manufacturers medical practitioners, institutions, academicians and industries in Health Care sector, Herbal traders and medicinal plants cultivators, Entrepreneurs, innovators & startups Medical & healthcare professionals, health, wellness and nutrition experts, technology providers for Healthcare and opinion leaders are attended the seminar.

Prof. (Dr.) Usha Kumari, Principal, Nalanda Medical College, Patna inaugurates the Bihar Health Care summit 2025.

Mr. Kumud Kumar – Chair, PHDCCI – In his welcome address, welcomed all the dignitaries and participants and highlighted the importance of this event in the state of Bihar. 

Prof. (Dr.) Punam Prasad Bhadani, Dean Academics, AIIMS, Patna in her guest of honour address describes the cancer disease. She said the AIIMS Patna molecular facility high end diagnosis procedure free of cost. She creates the awareness on cancer disease and organic and herbal products. During the COVID-19, AIIMS, Patna played a vital role to support the state. She focused the major challenge is the shortage of healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, patient load a challenge, infrastructure, medical devices, less awareness of healthcare in Bihar. 

Prof. (Dr.) Usha Kumari, Principal, Nalanda Medical College, Patna In her opening remarks highlighted the importance of the medial infrastructure,  medical devices and implementation under the guidance of NMCH. NMCH participates in government health programs including national immunization efforts and preventive health outreach. The high patient load and diverse case mix at NMCH give medical students and trainees robust hands-on clinical exposure critical for producing competent practitioners. She focused the during health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, NMCH played a key role in patient care, treatment, and public vaccination efforts, highlighting its importance as a frontline healthcare institution within the state.

Dr. Anil Kumar, Zonal Director, HMRI, Paras Hospital emphasized that research alone is not enough, its implementation is crucial. He noted that the technology will play a vital role in the medical. India’s demographic dividend, rapid technological progress, and policy momentum present a unique opportunity to reimagine health systems. The India@2047 healthcare mission aims to embed resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability at the heart of national health priorities.

Prof. Dr. Rana Singh, Director, CIMP In his key note address greeted all the attendees and emphasized the strengthen global efforts against cancer, leading health research institutions, governments, and international partners today reaffirmed their commitment to enhanced collaboration in cancer research and innovation. He focused on Collaborative Research Networks, Data Sharing and Digital Health Platforms, Innovation in Diagnostics and Therapeutics. He further emphasized the international cooperation in research, stakeholders aim to achieve measurable progress in the coming decade, including: Significant increases in early-stage diagnosis rates. He expressed gratitude to all the esteemed speakers, panelists and organizers for their contributions in making this program a success.

Shri Sanjay Kumar, Founding Director – STMA cum Sr Faculty Brahmakumaris He explained the mental health affects how we think, feel, act, and handle stress. Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation and it supports mental health and reduces Stress and Anxiety

Mr. Kumud Kumar Chair, PHDCCI gave thank you note and concluded the opening ceremony by presenting Mementos to the dignitaries.

The programme was moderated by Mr Pranab Singh, Resident Director, PHDCCI and Mr. Varun Yadav  Resident Officer, PHDCCI.

The half-day program was facilitated direct interaction and more than 80-100 leading industry players from diverse sectors. Over the course of this summit, experts, policymakers, health professionals, civil society leaders, and stakeholders have engaged in thoughtful dialogue on the most pressing health challenges facing Bihar from accessibility and affordability of services to workforce shortages and infrastructure gaps.

The summit is envisioned as a strategic step to Bihar’s healthcare business potential; build confidence among investors, navigating risks and building resilient healthcare systems and exploring strategic cost containment and value-based care models that can drive health care growth and economic development in the state.

New Delhi, Dec 26: Disciples, enthusiasts of Indian classical music, and members of the Smt. Siddheshwari Devi Academy of Indian Music came together at Triveni Auditorium, Mandi House, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, to pay a heartfelt musical tribute to Vidushi Savita Devi, eminent classical vocalist of the Banaras Gharana, on her 6th death anniversary.

Vidushi Savita Devi, daughter of Padma Shri Smt. Siddheshwari Devi, revered across the world as the “Queen of Thumri,” was remembered for her immense contribution to Indian classical music and her lifelong dedication to preserving the rich traditions of the Banaras Gharana.

The commemorative evening witnessed an audience of over 200 music lovers from across the city. The event was graced by Padma Shri Vidushi Rita Ganguly, noted classical vocalist, as the Chief Guest, and Padma Bhushan Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, as the Guest of Honour.

The programme commenced with a soulful Guru Vandana presented by students of the Academy, setting a reverent tone for the evening. This was followed by short audio-visual presentations offering glimpses into Vidushi Savita Devi’s life, musical journey, and artistic legacy. Vidushi Rita Ganguly fondly recalled her association with Vidushi Savita Devi and her illustrious mother, Vidushi Siddheshwari Devi, transporting the audience to a bygone era of purity, discipline, and devotion to classical music.

The evening continued with a classical vocal recital by the young and talented Vidushi Aastha Goswami, who mesmerised the audience with a nuanced rendition of Raag Bageshree, concluding with a poignant Thumri as a tribute to Vidushi Savita Devi. She was ably accompanied by Ustad Akhtar Hasan on Tabla, Shri Ghanshyam Sisodia on Sarangi, and Shri Rajendra Banerjee on Harmonium.

The programme concluded with a spellbinding Kathak performance by Pt. Deepak Maharaj, son of the legendary Kathak maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj. His recital featured intricate compositions in Teen Taal, expressive Thumri abhinaya, the celebrated Mayur (Peacock) Dance, and other traditional elements of the Lucknow Kathak repertoire, enthralling the audience with his grace, rhythm, and emotive storytelling. He was accompanied by Shri Rishabh Joshi (vocals), Ustad Zakir Hussain Warsi (tabla), Shri Gulam Waris (sarangi), Shri Salim Kumar (sitar), and Shri Ballu Khan (harmonium).

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ajey Maharaj, Managing Director, Smt. Siddheshwari Devi Academy of Indian Music, said, “The Academy remains deeply committed to preserving and propagating the rich legacy of Vidushi Siddheshwari Devi and Vidushi Savita Devi. Through these annual commemorative concerts, we not only pay tribute to our revered gurus but also create a platform to encourage young talent and bring the timeless beauty of Indian classical music, especially Thumri, closer to the younger generation and the wider public.”

Smt. Anjana Maharaj, President, Smt. Siddheshwari Devi Academy of Indian Music, added, “We are deeply grateful to our Chief Guest, Vidushi Rita Ganguly, our Guest of Honour, Dr. Ashok Seth, and all the distinguished guests, artistes, disciples, and members of the Academy for their presence and wholehearted participation. Their support and encouragement strengthen our resolve to continue celebrating and preserving the rich legacy of our gurus and the enduring traditions of Indian classical music.”

Vidushi Savita Devi hailed from a distinguished musical lineage of the Banaras Gharana. An accomplished vocalist of rare artistry, she specialised in Thumri, Dadra, Hori, Chaiti, Kajri, and Tappa in the Purab Ang tradition, a style popularised by her illustrious mother. She passed away in December 2019 after a brief illness, leaving behind an enduring legacy that continues to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers alike.

Bengaluru, Dec 26:  Usher into 2026 with ITC Gardenia this New Year’s Eve with a line-up of unforgettable experiences with a fun filled carnival, foot tapping DJ and heart whelming food. The Grand Gardenia Carnival adds to the excitement with the lobby turning into a cheerful space filled with colourful stalls, live painting and fun activities for the kids to enjoy. Indulge, imbibe, dance & celebrate the year that was while you unravel the year ahead with style, grace & elegance with family, friends & loved ones.

NEW YEAR’S EVE 31st December 2025

Cubbon Pavilion

Welcome the New Year with a warm and lively dinner at the newly refreshed and reopened Cubbon Pavilion. Enjoy a wide buffet spread, live music and premium beverages surrounded by vertical gardens and cheerful ambience. The gala dinner will feature live counters for chaat, grills, pasta, and a lot more! Dance to the tunes of 2025 on the dance floor at Highland Nectar.

EDO Restaurant & Bar

ITC Gardenia’s award-winning Japanese restaurant, EDO is hosting a Neon-Themed Party with glowing lights, neon paint, DJ beats, and live music. It will be a night of classic Japanese food, foot tapping music and endless joy as you welcome 2026 Tokyo Style at EDO.

CAJSA

Celebrate the year gone by with a 12-course chef’s special dinner, where each course represents a month of the year. Enjoy the soulful tunes of a live violinist as you dine in a warm, elegant setting. Each course will take inspiration from seasonal produce of every month of the year to curate a tasting menu that bids the perfect ode to 2025. After the flavourful meal, head to Highland Nectar and join the dance floor to welcome 2026 with a musical count down.

Kebabs & Kurries

End the year with a meal of north west frontier flavours at Kebab and Kurries. Relish a set menu packed with our signature kebabs, Dal Bukhara and biryani along with a range of select premium beverages. Join the dance floor at Highland Nectar after the soul filling meal to don your dancing shoes.

Lotus Pavilion

Bid adieu to 2025 with a meal under in Lotus Pavilion as Bangalore’s weather sets the perfect tone for a memorable dinner. Choose from our ala carte food and beverage menu and enjoy live music as you reminisce the year gone by.

Mumbai, Dec 26:- As India continues to invest in infrastructure and urban development, the need for specialised talent to support execution, quality and operational efficiency is increasingly becoming urgent for the CRIP sector. Responding to this emerging skills gap, NICMAR University, Pune campus has announced the launch of two new one-year postgraduate diploma programmes: Asset and Facilities Management  and Ready-Mix Concrete Management  in the upcoming academic year.

According to various reports, there is an estimated 15-20% increase demand in asset and facility management industry by 2030. Similarly, India’s RMC market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate  of 8% from 2023 to 2027. Both are being driven by the government’s increased focus on infrastructure projects, including smart cities, highways, and affordable housing schemes.

With the country’s continued drive to add and improve large-scale physical assets such as airports, metros, commercial complexes and industrial parks, sector experts have repeatedly flagged the lack of trained asset and facilities managers capable of ensuring long-term performance, safety and sustainability of these investments. The PGD in Asset and Facilities Management seeks to address this gap by preparing professionals to manage the post-construction lifecycle of built assets, covering areas such as operations planning, maintenance systems, compliance, energy efficiency and user-centric facility performance.

At the same time, infrastructure expansion has brought renewed focus on construction quality and durability, particularly in high-volume projects such as highways, metro corridors and urban housing. Industry assessments point to a shortage of professionals with specialised expertise in ready mix concrete production, quality assurance and supply-chain coordination. The PGD in Ready Mix Concrete Management has been structured to build capability in concrete technology, plant operations, quality control and logistics management, with the aim of strengthening consistency and performance across construction projects.

Speaking about the launch of these two new courses, Dr Tapash Kumar Ganguli, Director-General NICMAR said, 

“By consulting with industry partners and practitioners, these two new programmes at NICMAR University, Pune Campus  Asset and Facilities Management and Ready-Mix Concrete Management  have been developed to align training with on-ground requirements. The curriculum emphasises applied learning, case-based instruction and exposure to real-world project environments, reflecting the increasing demand for technically grounded managers rather than purely theoretical qualifications.”

Education and infrastructure experts note that as India’s infrastructure ambitions scale up, the success of projects will depend not only on capital expenditure and engineering design, but also on the availability of specialised managerial talent across the value chain. Programmes such as asset management and ready-mix concrete management are expected to play a critical role in improving execution outcomes, reducing lifecycle costs and enhancing the resilience of built infrastructure.

With the introduction of these two new programmes, NICMAR aims to strengthen its focus on niche, industry-aligned education that supports India’s long-term infrastructure development goals.

As the advertising and marketing industry prepares to step into 2026, 2025 is being widely seen as a year of reckoning, one that forces brands, agencies, and creators to pause, recalibrate, and rethink how communication truly works in an attention-saturated world.

According to Siddharth Jalan, Founder of boutique marketing lab SquidJC, the most significant shift of the year wasn’t driven by a new platform, tool, or format, but by a fundamental change in audience behaviour and selective content consumption.

“2025 was the year audiences stopped tolerating noise,” says Jalan. “People didn’t stop consuming content, but instead became extremely selective about what deserves their time. Brands that kept shouting, blended into the background. Brands that spoke with clarity, context, and intent stood out.”

From Volume to Value

The past year saw an explosion of content fuelled by AI tools, short-form video, and always-on publishing. While output increased, engagement became harder to earn. Public-facing digital behaviour studies released in 2025 consistently pointed to a rise in selective consumption, with users actively avoiding repetitive or low-value content in favour of fewer, more trusted voices.

This shift, Jalan notes, pushed brands away from volume-led strategies and toward more intentional storytelling. “Posting more stopped being the answer,” he explains. “Saying something meaningful and saying it consistently became the only way forward.”

Creativity and Performance Finally Found Common Ground

Another defining change in 2025 was the gradual collapse of the long-standing divide between creativity and performance marketing. Instead of operating in silos, the two disciplines increasingly converged around shared outcomes.

“Performance stopped being about hacks, and creativity stopped being about cleverness for its own sake,” says Jalan. “The work that performed best understood the context. Be it cultural, platform-led, or emotional. That’s where the results came from.” This evolution mirrors broader workplace trends identified in global employment studies released this year, which highlighted hybrid skill sets combining creative thinking, technological fluency, and analytical reasoning as among the fastest-growing across industries.

Pop Culture Reflected the Shift

Interestingly, pop culture in 2025 echoed the same recalibration. From the rise of long-form podcast conversations and stripped-back celebrity interviews to creator-led documentaries and unfiltered social content, audiences gravitated towards material that felt intentional rather than overproduced.

“The popularity of long conversations and behind-the-scenes storytelling revealed something very important,” Jalan adds. “People weren’t chasing polish. They were chasing perspective.” 

Brands that embraced this cultural shift opting for simplicity, honesty, and restraint found deeper resonance with audiences.

Systems Over Campaigns

Structurally, one of the most important changes Jalan observed was a move away from campaign-first thinking. Instead of relying on short bursts of visibility, brands began investing in communication systems core narratives and content frameworks designed to work across platforms and over time.

“Consistency became more valuable than virality,” he notes. “Recall mattered more than reach.” As automation and AI continued to reshape workflows, industry-wide conversations increasingly focused on building systems that allow creativity to scale without losing coherence.

What 2026 Will Demand

Looking ahead, Jalan believes 2026 will be less about experimentation and more about consolidation. “The next year will reward brands that know who they are,” he says. “Agility will no longer mean reacting to everything. It will mean knowing what not to react to. ”He expects brands to place greater emphasis on:

• Clear, long-term narratives over trend-hopping

• Tighter integration between creative, tech, and strategy teams

• Trust, consistency, and cultural awareness over short-term visibility

“2025 taught us that attention isn’t free anymore,” Jalan concludes. “2026 will test a brand’s understanding of trust, which can only be earned slowly, through clarity, respect for the audience, and the courage to say less, better.”

Dec 26: United Way Bengaluru’s flagship water stewardship initiative, One Billion Drops (OBD), has been honoured with the SABERA Awards 2025 in the Environment & Consumption category, reaffirming its leadership in driving sustainable water conservation through collective action.

The SABERA Awards, recognised as South Asia’s most credible awards for brand-building, reputation management, and purpose-led communication, celebrate initiatives that create meaningful social and environmental impact while demonstrating excellence in strategy and execution.

The One Billion Drops campaign was recognised for its sustained, scalable, and collaborative approach to addressing India’s growing water crisis. By mobilising corporates, communities, government bodies, and civil society, the campaign has focused on water conservation, rejuvenation of water bodies, groundwater recharge, and responsible water consumption, creating measurable impact across urban and rural landscapes.

The award was received by Mr. Radhakrishna Pradeep, Senior Manager – Climate Action & Partnerships, United Way Bengaluru, along with Mr. Muniraju, a well digger from the Bovi community and a resident of Bovipalya, Karnataka. Today, nearly 120 families from the community are engaged with the initiative. With over 10,000 rainwater harvesting wells created in the city of Bengaluru, One Billion Drops has emerged as a milestone initiative contributing to India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat.

Since its inception, the campaign has enabled the harvesting, replenishment, and conservation of millions of litres of water annually, while also building awareness around water-positive practices among citizens and institutions. Its integrated model combines on-ground action with advocacy, volunteer engagement, and long-term ecosystem partnerships.

The award underscores United Way Bengaluru’s commitment to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, through innovative, inclusive, and impact-driven programmes.

United Way Bengaluru continues to work closely with corporates, civic authorities, and local communities to expand the reach of One Billion Drops, ensuring long-term water sustainability and climate resilience for future generations.

By:-Santosh Agarwal, CFO & Executive Director, Alpha Corp Development Limited

“India’s real estate sector continues to display strong resilience, with Delhi-NCR reinforcing its position as a key residential and commercial destination. Residential demand remains healthy, supported by changing lifestyle preferences, improving infrastructure, and increased aspiration for quality living. Alongside this, developers are actively exploring opportunities in Tier II and III cities, which are emerging as important growth markets. In NCR, Shop-cum-Office (SCO) developments are gaining significant traction, driven by their mixed-use flexibility, visibility, and strong end-user and investor interest. Office spaces remain relevant as workplace strategies evolve, supported by enhanced connectivity and a renewed focus on quality, well-planned developments, strengthening confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects. At the same time, rising manufacturing expansion and infrastructure-led growth are accelerating demand for industrial parks and logistics hubs, positioning them as a key pillar of the sector’s next phase of sustainable growth.”

By:-Abhishek Trehan, Executive Director, Trehan Iris

“2025 has been a pivotal year for real estate across Delhi NCR, marked by a decisive shift toward luxury living and wellness-oriented residential communities. Luxury home sales in NCR grew by 9% in H1 2025, with Gurugram accounting for nearly 91% of all high-end transactions reaffirming its position as the region’s strongest market.

At the same time, homebuyers are increasingly prioritising health over price, seeking communities that offer integrated wellness facilities, expansive green landscapes, and state-of-the-art fitness infrastructure to support holistic well-being. This reflects the evolving lifestyle preferences of modern homeowners. Looking ahead to 2026, we, as developers, remain committed to this direction by placing health, environmental quality, and overall well-being at the core of our upcoming projects in Gurugram, Noida & Bengaluru. In line with rising AQI concerns and the growing preference for wellness-focused homes, our forthcoming residential development in Sector 80, Gurugram has been meticulously designed to offer a wellness-centric living experience”

By:-Ashish Sharma, AVP Operations, Brahma Group

 “2025 has been a breakthrough year for commercial real estate, with NCR’s office leasing activity reaching 7.2 million sq. ft. in the first half, marking a 27% year-on-year increase and reaffirming the sector’s robust performance. Additionally, Gurugram emerged as the primary growth driver, contributing nearly 65% of the total leasing. This uptick reflects the strong preference among occupiers for high-quality Grade-A office spaces, technologically advanced smart buildings, and environmentally sustainable developments. continue to position the region as a preferred commercial destination. These factors collectively continue to strengthen the region’s position as a highly sought-after commercial destination. As we move into 2026, we anticipate even more growth, fuelled by infrastructure upgrades, rising rental values, and growing demand from both domestic companies and global firms, and we remain committed to delivering future-ready, flexible, premium-grade spaces that meet evolving corporate needs.”