Category business

ITRHD inaugurates 12th Annual Craft Festival initiative to connect rural artisans of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan directly with the market

New Delhi, Jan 7: The 12th Annual Craft Festival, organised by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD), opened in New Delhi on Wednesday. The event offers a rare platform to artisans from the border regions of Rajasthan and rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The objectives of the festival are to increase the reach of craftsmen to new markets while conserving cultural heritage.

The four-day festival is being held at Alliance Française New Delhi, Lodhi Estate. Artisans from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are participating, enabling direct interaction and sales between artisans and buyers without intermediaries. The exhibition will remain open till January 10, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with free entry.

The festival was formally inaugurated by renowned Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan, who emphasised the cultural responsibility of preserving India’s living craft traditions. ITRHD Chairman Shri S.K. Mishra was also present at the event.

Addressing the gathering, Shri S.K. Mishra said, “ITRHD’s objective goes beyond showcasing crafts. Our effort is to increase the reach of craftsmen to new markets while ensuring that their cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems are preserved.”

Shovana Narayan said, “Indian crafts are not static artefacts displayed in museums; they are living traditions sustained by families, memory, and daily practice. Platforms like this festival ensure that artisans are not reduced to anonymity and that the dignity of their labour and legacy is protected.”

A key focus of this year’s festival is Barmer district in western Rajasthan, located close to the India–Pakistan border. Six artisans from the region are participating, representing traditional skills such as embroidery, appliqué work, leather craft, dhurrie weaving, and Ajrak textile printing.

Participating artisans are conducting live demonstrations, offering urban audiences insight into crafts practiced in geographically isolated regions where access to markets remains limited. According to the organisers, the festival enables artisans to generate independent income while building long-term relationships with buyers.

ITRHD said it has been working continuously with artisans from Barmer for the past six to seven years, expanding participation every year. Beyond exhibitions, the Trust supports artisans through design intervention, product diversification, and access to multiple platforms, while covering participation-related costs so that artisans retain the full proceeds from sales.

From Uttar Pradesh, the festival features artisans from three villages in Azamgarh district, each representing a distinct cultural tradition.

Mubarakpur, located about 100 km from Varanasi, is known for its skilled handloom weavers whose work is closely linked to the Banarasi saree tradition. Despite this proximity, the region has remained relatively under-recognised. The festival aims to establish Mubarakpur as an independent weaving centre through direct sales and wider exposure.

Another major highlight is Nizamabad’s black pottery, which has emerged over the past decade as a significant example of craft revival. The pottery received global recognition after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Nizamabad black pottery to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the G7 Summit in Germany in June 2022. Several of the works on display have been created by members of the original artisan family associated with the revival of the craft.

Speaking at the festival, Ankit Prajapati, grandson of master artisan Rajendra Prasad Prajapati and a key figure in the contemporary revival of black pottery, raised concerns over misattribution and erosion of legacy.

“Black pottery is not just a product; it is a family-held knowledge system passed down through generations. Today, the biggest challenge is that the names of original artisans are disappearing, even as the craft gains fame. Our effort is to protect both the technique and the truth of its history,” Ankit Prajapati said.

The third cultural strand from Azamgarh is Hariharpur village, known for its classical music tradition linked to the Banaras gharana and musicians such as Pandit Chhannulal Mishra. Artists from the village will present a classical music recital on January 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Alliance Française auditorium.

Now in its 12th edition, the Annual Craft Festival is held every year in New Delhi. In addition, ITRHD also organises a similar annual craft event at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, where space is provided by the fort’s trustees to support sustained engagement with artisans in Rajasthan.

Marking one year in his role as Head Brand Services & Business Growth at Jio Creative Labs, Amar Kondekar has played a significant role in building organisational momentum over the past year. His focus has been on creating integrated creative and operational systems that enable scale, speed and consistency across an increasingly complex brand and content ecosystem.

At Jio Creative Labs, Amar has overseen diverse mandates across Reliance Consumer Products, cultural platforms such as NMACC, as well as Invisalign’s global campaigns, Muthoot Finance, Radio City and key Government initiatives. Managing work across 40+ categories, his leadership spans sectors including FMCG, food & beverages, personal care, beauty, fashion, media & entertainment, consumer durables, healthcare, financial services and public-sector communication. His work has centred on aligning creativity, content, production and delivery into unified frameworks that drive measurable business outcomes.

A defining aspect of his role has been the integration of AI into creative and operational workflows from planning and execution to quality control and optimisation. These AI-enabled systems are designed to enhance human creativity while improving efficiency, predictability and performance at scale.

Prior to Jio Creative Labs, Amar was closely associated with content-led marketing production at Netflix, contributing to campaigns around globally recognised titles such as Stranger Things, Money Heist and Extraction, along with Indian originals including Heeramandi and The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show. His work focused on building storytelling frameworks that connected culture, fandom and audience growth.

Earlier in his career, Amar led integrated brand mandates across multiple sectors, working on brands such as JSW Steel, Hershey’s, Park Avenue, Everyuth and Bajaj Electricals building a strong foundation in mass-scale brand strategy and execution.

Beyond campaigns, Amar actively mentor’s internship students and is involved in building SOLE  School of Learning & Experience, an educational co-operative model focused on developing future-ready creative and business talent. He is also a certified NLP Executive Coach, Yoga Instructor and triathlete, bringing a holistic, performance-led perspective to leadership and talent development.

As Jio Creative Labs continues to evolve at the intersection of creativity, content, AI and commerce, Amar Kondekar’s leadership reflects a long-term focus on building systems, talent and ideas that deliver sustained brand and business impact.

Hyderabad, Jan 7:- HDFC Bank today announced the integration of the Reserve Bank of India’s Central Bank Digital Currency the Digital Rupee  into its online merchant payment platform, SmartGateway. This integration enables merchants to offer customers a secure, zero-cost, and sovereign-backed digital payment option within the HDFC Bank checkout ecosystem.

With this enhancement, SmartGateway merchants can now accept payments via the Digital Rupee at zero transaction cost, alongside existing payment modes such as UPI, cards and net banking. Customers benefit from a seamless digital payment experience that is both instant and secure.

As of December 2025, HDFC Bank is one of the pilot banks servicing ~ 8.45 lakh registered CBDC wallets, with 13,000–15,000 new wallets getting added every month.

With zero-cost acceptance, CBDC offers merchants a future-ready, intermediary-free payment method that improves settlement certainty and reduces operational overheads. For consumers, the Digital Rupee offers the convenience of UPI with the added trust of RBI-backed digital currency, making every transaction fast, secure, and free.

By integrating CBDC into SmartGateway for merchants, HDFC Bank is offering customers yet another way to make payments and extending the benefits of a sovereign-backed digital currency to a wider set of businesses. This initiative reinforces HDFC Bank’s position as a digital-first leader and reflects its continued commitment to innovation and to supporting India’s transition towards a cash-light, inclusive digital economy.

Pune,  Jan 7:- Amway India, one of the leading companies supporting health and wellbeing needs, today shared major enhancements to its Home Delivery operations.  These upgrades underscored the company’s commitment to delivering a faster, more reliable and seamless ordering experience for distributors and their customers across the country. Over the last five years, Amway has significantly strengthened its home delivery capabilities, delivering a major improvement in delivery speed cutting delivery time by 48% (from 3.1 days to just 1.6 days), and increasing next-day deliveries from 29% to over 55%. This enhanced experience is supported by a major expansion of its service network, now reaching over 90% of India’s pin codes from 8,000 to more than 17,500. These milestones reflect Amway’s unwavering commitment to making quality wellness accessible to consumers across India.

Commenting on the transformation, Rajneesh Chopra, Managing Director, Amway India, said,

 “With distributors and customers at the core of our strategy, we are building Home Delivery as a strategic pillar one that empowers better service, improves product access, and delivers seamless experiences across India. This transformation has been driven by strategic investments in stronger national partnerships, a sharper digital backbone and a more agile supply chain, allowing us to respond faster, operate smarter and serve with greater consistency. What gives me confidence is the shift we are seeing on the ground: our reach is stronger, our systems are more intelligent, and the experience today is far more seamless than ever before. As we move forward, we remain focused on raising the bar further by strengthening reliability, enhancing the unboxing experience and building a future-ready delivery ecosystem for our customers across India.”

Adding to this, Sanjeev Suri, Senior Vice President, Global Omni Channel Logistics, Customer Services & North Region, Amway India, said,

 “As supply chains continue to evolve from cost centres into value creators, our focus at Amway has been on building an intelligent, responsive and people-centric network that delivers real customer value. The advancements in our Home Delivery operations reflect this shift. With advanced analytics, stronger collaboration across teams and deeper partnerships with national carriers, we have improved delivery speeds, enhanced reliability, and strengthened our ability to serve customers across geographies. Our journey has been shaped by real-time visibility, proactive communication and decisive action during disruptive phases. As we look ahead, we will continue integrating AI, digital tools and frontline empowerment to build a seamless, future-ready delivery experience.”

Amway’s commitment to a seamless customer experience is underpinned by a robust digital infrastructure. Amway India operates 23 warehouses nationwide, ensuring timely processing and dispatch of all home-delivery orders. Select warehouses are equipped with state-of-the-art Pick-to-Light technology to ensure seamless order processing. A unified tracking platform now gives customers real-time visibility into every order via email, SMS, and the company website. This integration supports a massive operational scale: Amway currently fulfills over 2 lakh home delivery orders monthly and boasts a Perfect Delivery Rate of 99.2% (up from 97.2% in 2020). This growth is driven by significant digital adoption, with online sales accounting for 76% of the total. Furthermore, the company ensures convenience even after delivery with a seamless return ecosystem, including a 30-day return policy at any Amway Store and doorstep return pickup available across more than 1,900 pincodes. This high performance is made possible by Amway’s flexible, multi-partner delivery model and expanded national alliances, which enhance reliability and guarantee consistently high service standards.

Looking ahead, Amway India is placing renewed emphasis on elevating the unboxing and delivery experience with premium and sustainable packaging solutions. The company aims to create a more seamless, engaging and consistent doorstep experience that aligns with its broader efforts to further enhance customer satisfaction and support the growing ambitions of its ABO community. With its strengthened home delivery network and continued digital investments, Amway India remains focused on setting new benchmarks in service excellence and customer experience.

‍New York, NY, Jan 7: Akur8, the next-generation insurance pricing and reserving solution built on transparent machine learning, announced today the acquisition of Matrisk, an AI-driven platform that transforms unstructured regulatory filings from publicly available sources into searchable, on-demand market insights. The addition of Matrisk brings regulatory and market insights into Akur8’s offering, giving actuaries richer context for pricing decisions and deeper visibility into market activity, regulatory developments, and emerging industry dynamics. The acquisition also expands Akur8’s AI capabilities within its pricing solution by adding deep expertise in large language models (LLMs) and unstructured data processing, strengthening the company’s ability to deliver advanced AI features across its pricing product suite.

A Unified Platform for Pricing, Market Intelligence, and Filing Strategy

The integration of Matrisk’s capabilities into Akur8 will enable insurers to:

• Leverage AI to search and analyze Property & Casualty (P&C) rate and rule filings, supported by structured variables, tables, rules, and citations
• Benchmark rating strategies and factor selections using insights derived from publicly available filings
• Incorporate regulatory and market insights into Akur8’s existing suite of tools including rate repositories, demand modeling, and financial forecasting
• Track market developments and rate evolution across states, perils, lines, and territories
• Anticipate regulatory objections using structured and source traceable insights derived directly from filings
• Accelerate pricing and filing cycles by pairing transparent model build with real time market intelligence and regulatory insight
• Support informed pricing decisions with additional insight into market and regulatory conditions
• Help regulators and consumer advocates better evaluate increasingly complex rate filings

Together, these capabilities will be delivered as Akur8 Discover, a new offering within Akur8’s pricing platform. By combining Akur8’s transparent machine learning with Matrisk’s LLM-based techniques for extracting and structuring insights from publicly available filings, the unified platform will further enhance Akur8’s ability to operationalize unstructured data and bring more powerful AI capabilities into day-to-day pricing workflows.

Samuel Falmagne, CEO, Akur8

“Akur8 has always focused on helping insurers build better pricing models faster, with full transparency and control. Matrisk adds a critical new dimension to that mission. By bringing powerful filings search and competitive intelligence into our platform, we can now offer insurers the ability to understand their market context and integrate this information with Akur8’s existing suite of tools for re-rating and rate selection, demand modeling, and financial forecasting. This combination reinforces Akur8’s position as the actuarial platform of choice for insurers seeking to modernize pricing while staying aligned with regulatory expectations and competitive pressures. We are delighted to welcome Matrisk to Akur8 as we take this next step forward.”

Sergey Filimonov, Co-founder, Matrisk AI

“We started Matrisk because we believed AI could turn the most tedious parts of insurance market research into real leverage. The industry depends on information that’s scattered, messy, and hard to operationalize. We’ve grown faster than I ever imagined, and the adoption we’ve seen clearly validates that need. With Akur8, we can scale this even further, meet users where they already build rates, and help redefine the pricing engine from a modeling tool into an end-to-end decision platform that embeds regulatory and market context. The shared goal is simple: deliver high‑impact AI capabilities that customers find indispensable.”

On January 13, 2026, Akur8 will host a special Akur8 Academy webinar, “Market Intelligence for Modeling & Ratemaking,” featuring Akur8’s Lead Actuarial Data Scientist, Max Martinelli, and Matrisk AI Co-founder, Sergey Filimonov. Click here to learn more and register.

Mumbai, Jan 07:  Star power met elevated living as Bollywood celebrities and leading lifestyle influencers explored JP Infra’s Club Marvel, the newly unveiled one lakh+ sq. ft. lifestyle landmark at North Garden City, Mira Road.

In a spectacular display of glamour and excitement, Club Marvel opened its doors to a dazzling lineup of personalities, instantly placing Mira Road on Mumbai’s celebrity map.

The showcase witnessed the presence of notable Bollywood celebrities including Rhea Chakraborty, Saiee Manjrekar, Jim Sarbh, and Nikita Dutta, among others, who explored the clubhouse’s scale, design sensibility, and immersive spaces. Complementing this star presence, prominent lifestyle influencers such as Curly Tales’ Kamiya Jani, Khushnaz Ashdin Turner, Natasha Luthra, Prerna Mehra, Funcho, Rafique Merchant, and Mayank Agarwal amplified the buzz across digital platforms. Their social media coverage offered audiences a closer look at Club Marvel’s striking architecture, vibrant interiors, and world-class amenities, sparking widespread digital conversations. The clubhouse has swiftly emerged as one of Mumbai’s most talked-about lifestyle destinations, drawing admiration for its design-forward approach and holistic living experiences.

Speaking about the unveiling, Mr. Shubham Jain, Managing Director, JP Infra Mumbai Pvt. Ltd. said, “Club Marvel represents the future of integrated living. We envisioned a space that goes far beyond amenities and becomes a true lifestyle anchor for our residents. The overwhelming appreciation reaffirms that we have created something truly special for all new buyers, an environment where people can bond, rejuvenate, and celebrate life every day. With Club Marvel, North Garden City sets a new benchmark for elevated living in the MMR.”

Spread across seven levels and spanning over one lakh square feet, Club Marvel is envisioned as a vibrant, multi-functional hub bringing together wellness, leisure, dining, learning, and recreation under one roof. Its curated collaborations further enrich the experience, including:

• Kamats offering refined culinary indulgence
• Dignity Foundation managing a dedicated Senior Citizens’ Arena
• Bhaktivedanta Wellness Centre extending holistic healthcare
• EuroKids providing early-learning excellence

From dynamic sports zones and wellness areas to relaxed lounges and thoughtfully designed social spaces, Club Marvel caters to residents across age groups. The clubhouse also serves as a platform for community engagement, hosting wellness sessions, family gatherings, festive celebrations, and cultural activities.

With rapid infrastructural development and increasing demand for integrated living, Mira Road is emerging as one of Mumbai’s most dynamic lifestyle corridors. The launch of Club Marvel further strengthens JP Infra’s vision of building purpose-driven communities that enhance quality of life and redefine the residential experience across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

As celebrities explored its offerings, one message resonated across their posts and stories that Club Marvel isn’t just a clubhouse; it’s where lifestyle meets star appeal with palatial living.

Hyderabad, Jan 07: Bondada Engineering Limited (BSE: 543971), a leading player in India’s renewable energy EPC sector, has successfully commissioned 120.46 MWp of solar power projects in December 2025, further strengthening its execution capabilities and expanding its footprint in the clean energy space.

The projects were delivered for prominent clients including Paradigm IT, MAHAGENCO, and NLC India Limited, across multiple locations in Maharashtra—Dhule, Amaravati, Hingoli, Pathardi, Shevgaon, Kannad, and Dharni—and Tamil Nadu at Neyveli.

Over the past two months, Bondada Engineering has doubled its monthly commissioning capacity, reflecting robust execution strength, efficient project management, and enhanced operational performance within its Solar EPC business. The timely completion of these large-scale projects underscores the company’s ability to deliver high-quality solar installations while adhering to stringent safety and governance standards.

This milestone also aligns with India’s renewable energy ambitions and supports the nation’s broader transition towards clean and sustainable power generation.

Commenting on the achievement, Rear Admiral R. Sreenivas, VSM (Retd), Chief Executive Officer, Bondada Group, said:

“The successful commissioning of these projects is a testament to the dedication and capability of our execution teams, as well as our unwavering focus on timely and quality delivery. This achievement reinforces our commitment to India’s renewable energy goals while creating sustainable value for our customers and stakeholders. Our ability to scale commissioning volumes reflects improved operational efficiencies and disciplined project management. As India accelerates its clean energy transition, we remain focused on delivering reliable, large-scale renewable projects that meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and governance.”

Bondada Engineering Limited continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, contributing meaningfully to India’s clean energy journey while creating long-term value for all stakeholders.

Las Vegas, NV, USA, Jan 7: LINK2CARE, a next‑generation  preventive‑health wearable platform, today announced the global debut of “WATCH2CARE VITAL”, a breakthrough smartwatch that blends Traditional Chinese  Medicine (TCM), large‑scale real‑world health data, and advanced AI systems to deliver a new standard in proactive personal health.

Unlike traditional wearables focused only on basic biometrics, WATCH2CARE VITAL provides organ‑system insights inspired by TCM across the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney functional systems. The device continuously measures 38 physiological metrics aligned to 18 key indicators, supporting medical grade accuracy in cardiovascular monitoring, sleep analysis, activity tracking, and organ system health status.

Combining Eastern Medicine, Western Science, and Modern AI  Powered by more than 30 years of research, 9 million+ historical user cases, and 300,000 active users, WATCH2CARE VITAL uses AI to identify subtle trends across demographic categories, providing highly personalized health assessments and daily recommendations. It’s AI engine, trained on classical TCM diagnostic reference, detects early physiological changes related to blood‑pressure variability, cardiovascular strain, and stroke‑related risk factors. Taking this data, it then translates findings into clear, actionable insights.

“WATCH2CARE VITAL represents a new chapter in preventive healthcare,” said Paul Yuen, a Watch2Care spokesperson. “By combining Eastern medical principles, Western measurement science, and large‑scale AI analysis, we’re giving users unprecedented visibility into their health and empowering timely, meaningful action.”

Key Capabilities

• Organ‑system insights blending TCM principles with real‑time biometrics
• Cardiovascular and sleep monitoring with high‑frequency multi-sensor signals
• Daily AI‑generated health reports and composite health scores
• Smart Sleep Alert System for abnormal nighttime heart‑rate spikes
• Fast charging (approx. 60 minutes)
• 48‑hour battery life
• Optional 4G connectivity, voice communication, and GPS (WATCH2CARE MAX)
• Fully encrypted, anonymized data protection

Setup is simple: users scan a QR code, connect the watch, and begin receiving continuous, personalized assessments through the Link2Care app.

Live CES Session
Link2Care will host live demonstrations showing how TCM diagnostics, continuous monitoring, multi‑demographic analysis, and AI forecasting combine to advance the future of preventive health.
More information: www.link2care.asia

Mumbai, Jan 06: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Gateway hotel in Hennur, Bengaluru. This is a greenfield project. 

Ms. Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said, “Bengaluru’s growth story continues to evolve with suburbs and satellite cities emerging as vibrant development hubs. North Bengaluru, in particular, has transformed into one of Karnataka’s fastest-growing corridors, propelled by infrastructure upgrades and sectors such as technology, aerospace and education. Capturing the growing need for quality hospitality, Gateway Hennur will offer a contemporary experience that complements the city’s expansion. We are delighted to extend our partnership with Mr. Sanjay Suresh with this project.” 

The 350-key Gateway Hennur, Bengaluru, will serve as a gateway to the destination. Guests can indulge in diverse culinary experiences at an all-day dining restaurant, a stylish bar, a specialty restaurant and a lounge. For events and conferences, the hotel offers banqueting facilities spanning over 16,000 sq. ft., supported by state-of-the-art meeting rooms. Wellness and recreation will be integral to the experience, with a fully equipped gym, health club, swimming pool and dedicated treatment rooms for rejuvenating therapies. 

Mr. Sanjay Suresh, Managing Director, Billore Ventures Pvt Ltd, said, “We are happy to continue our longstanding partnership with IHCL and add a Gateway to our offerings.” 

Hennur, a rapidly developing suburb in North Bengaluru, is strategically located near major IT hubs and the airport, offering excellent connectivity to key attractions in the city centre. 

With the addition of this hotel, IHCL will have 20 hotels in Bengaluru, including 11 under development.