Category business

Chennai, Feb 20: Antara Senior Care, the only fully integrated senior care ecosystem in India, has announced the launch of its second senior care home in Chennai. The 72-bed facility is located along the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) corridor in the heart of the city. Together with a Care Home on the arterial ECR, it expands access to long- and short-term assisted living services for seniors in the region.

Nearly 14% of Tamil Nadu’s population is now aged 60 and above—the second-highest proportion of seniors in the country after Kerala. In urban centres, one in every seven residents is a senior citizen, many of whom either live alone or only with their spouse. This demographic trend underlines the need for specialised ageing-friendly care in a region that’s also one of the fastest-growing senior care markets.

Mr. Ishaan Khanna, CEO, Antara Assisted Care Services, said,

“Tamil Nadu’s ageing profile is already far more advanced than the rest of India’s. It has one of the highest shares of seniors living alone at 6.8%, nearly double the national average of 3.6%, with women being disproportionately affected. This is creating deep social, emotional and health vulnerabilities as loneliness and isolation present an elevated health risk. Additionally, seniors constitute a higher proportion of post-acute patients needing long-term care. All these factors compelled us to bring Antara Care Homes’ ‘Expert Senior Care, Apno Jaisi’ to the heart of Chennai in OMR.”

Antara Care Homes’ network expansion also improves access to senior-first transition care services in a city often called ‘The Health Capital of India’. Located in the medical hub of Chennai, close to leading hospitals and key medical infrastructure, the OMR Antara Care Home offers excellent connectivity via both road and air.

Mr. Ishaan Khanna added.

“Our increasing presence in Chennai reflects not just rising demand for long-term assisted living, but the city’s growing role as a hub for transition care. Blending healthcare with lifecare empowers seniors to age with dignity and provides invaluable peace of mind for caregivers and family members.”

India is at the cusp of a profound demographic and healthcare shift. According to the JLL-ASLI report, the country’s elderly population is poised to more than double from 156.7 million in 2024 to an estimated 346 million by 2050. During this time, UNFPA data projects that the population of people aged 80+ in India will grow at a rate of 279% by 2050. By 2046, the rising senior population is expected to outnumber children for the first time in the nation’s history.

Changing demographics mean it is becoming important for families to choose senior-friendly environments with robust clinical care protocols. Chennai has a rapidly ageing population, improved lifespan and a tertiary healthcare ecosystem that’s among the strongest in India.

Antara Care Homes are built with care, independence and safety at their core. They bring together clinical care, kitchens offering home-style nutritionally planned meals, end-to-end services including laundry and housekeeping. All services, clinical and non-clinical, are delivered by our staff trained on geriatric care modules approved by the Government of India’s Healthcare Sector Skills Council (HSSC). The facilities feature ramps, extra-wide corridors and doorways, grab rails, raised seating, rounded walls and furniture, anti-skid flooring, panic buttons, luxe lighting, generous balconies, open terraces and gardens to boost mental health. The suite-style rooms have been designed for couples and single occupancy. They open into common areas promoting natural interaction among residents; activity room doubles up as family room. Backed by a clinic, nurses’ stations on each floor and a physiotherapy room, our rooms can evolve to accommodate growing care needs.

New Delhi, India Feb 21: Zscaler, Inc., the leader in cloud security, in partnership with Bharti Airtel (Airtel), one of India’s largest telecommunication service providers, today announced the launch of the AI & Cyber Threat Research Center India. This multi-stakeholder initiative is dedicated to advancing national cyber resilience, protecting sectors, industries and assets that are essential to India’s economic and national security, such as telecommunications, banking, and energy, as well as digital users, and accelerating trusted AI adoption across India’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem. 

India has long been a key hub for Zscaler’s technology innovation and cyber research, with a significant share of Zscaler’s research talent based in the country. The research center will serve as an expansion of Zscaler’s operations into a national platform for collaboration between the private sector, public sector, academia and the government. The center is designed “In India, For India,” with the goal of strengthening the nation’s cyber defenses and building a future-ready talent pipeline to support India’s progress toward Viksit Bharat and a peaceful, secure, and digitally self-reliant future. 

India is in the midst of a generational digital transformation, building systems not at enterprise scale, but at population scale across critical sectors dramatically expanding the national attack surface. At the same time, the threat landscape is evolving at machine speed, with nation state and financially motivated attackers increasingly leveraging AI to probe, target, and weaponize vulnerabilities in minutes. Zscaler’s research arm, ThreatLabz India, has observed millions of infiltrations attempts each month, including notable campaigns such as: 

• Nation-state cyber espionage activity using the theme of regional geopolitical tensions, which attempted to target multiple Indian entities. 
• A surge in attempts to infiltrate India’s private and public sectors, with 1.2 million intrusion attempts originating from 20,000 sources targeting 58 Indian digital entities; and 
• An increase in zero-day exploit attempts aimed at multiple industries in India. 

As threats grow in sophistication, traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer adequate, and disruptions to essential services can threaten national economic stability making secure-by-design foundations and a modern architectural shift imperative to protect national digital systems in an increasingly borderless, AI-enabled environment. 

The objectives of the AI & Cyber Threat Research Center – India are anchored in four strategic pillars: 

• Protect: Deliver real-time, actionable intelligence to strengthen India’s national cyber resilience and digital-first businesses. 
• Remediate: Partner directly with government agencies to neutralize and prevent cyber-attacks. 
• Facilitate: Drive the adoption of modern security frameworks, specifically focusing on AI-driven defenses and Zero Trust architecture. 
• Build: Strengthen the cybersecurity talent pipeline through specialized AI and Zero Trust certifications to bridge the national skills gap.  

As founding members, Zscaler and Airtel will combine the former’s global intelligence with the latter’s local operational reach to create a stronger, faster research-to-response loop for India. Zscaler will deploy a specialized threat research team focused on India. This team will leverage the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform, which processes over 500 billion daily transactions, to extract threat intelligence to secure India’s public and private sectors. Airtel will contribute deep visibility into IoT and mobile traffic, collaborating with Zscaler to monitor networks and develop new solutions, enabling faster identification of suspicious activity and more effective coordination with ecosystem stakeholders. Looking ahead, additional members from India’s critical public and private sectors will be invited to join the center to expand collaboration and strengthen cyber resilience across India. 

“At Airtel, our commitment has been to safeguard our customers and the nation’s digital fabric. This partnership with Zscaler marks a significant extension of this commitment that will combine the power of our AI capabilities and deep scale for cybersecurity research to protect the country’s expanding digital ecosystem,” said Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice-Chairman, Bharti Airtel. “We will focus on addressing challenges unique to our market to build a safer, more resilient digital India where every citizen and enterprise can connect and thrive with confidence. Our research-backed preventive mechanism will also encourage peaceful and secure engagements on digital platforms.” 

“India is building digital systems at an unmatched population scale. You cannot secure this level of ambition with legacy firewalls and VPNs that were never designed for a hyper-connected world. It demands a modern Zero Trust architecture that is secure-by-design,” said Jay Chaudhry, CEO, Chairman, and Founder, Zscaler. “With the AI & Cyber Threat Research Center – India, we will bring the full power of the world’s largest security cloud to protect the nation’s public and private sectors. By combining actionable intelligence from over 500 billion daily transactions with local expertise, we aren’t just building readiness; we are empowering a new generation of defenders to stay ahead of the adversary.” 

Indian Investor & Entrepreneur HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa & HE DATO Dr S. Selvaganesh Selvaraj Meets Yam Raja Izzuddin Iskandar Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Afiffullah Shah, Seeks Blessings for Kampung Bharu 2.0 Project

 Signs Major MoU to Speed Up Iconic Twin-Tower Plan, Boost FDI, Create High-Value Jobs, Modernize City Infrastructure, and Strengthen Malaysia–India Ties

Malaysia / India, Feb 20: HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa, a prominent Indian investor and entrepreneur from the MBRA Group, along with HE DATO Dr S Selvaganesh Selvaraj, recently met Yam Raja Izzuddin Iskandar Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Afiffullah Shah, a Member of the Malaysian Royal Family (Perak), on February 15 at the Mid Valley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

During the meeting, HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa sought His Highness’s blessings for the ambitious Kampung Bharu 2.0 redevelopment project. The discussion focused on shared vision, mutual respect, and long-term cooperation aimed at transforming one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest and most historic neighbourhoods.

Following the meeting, a major strategic partnership was formalized with DSAT Private Equity Sdn. Bhd., under which HE Dato Dr Bhargav Mallappa is committing substantial investment to accelerate the redevelopment initiative. A key highlight of the project is the proposed iconic twin-tower development, designed to redefine the city’s skyline while carefully preserving the cultural and historical identity of Kampung Bharu.

As part of the agreement, HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa has acquired equity in DSAT Private Equity Sdn. Bhd., a company licensed and regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia. The regulated structure ensures that all investments follow strict legal, regulatory, and governance standards, maintaining full transparency and accountability.

Speaking about the initiative, HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa said:

“Malaysia stands out for its economic resilience, stable governance, and vast opportunities in urban transformation. Kampung Bharu 2.0 presents a unique opportunity to create a landmark that honors heritage while embracing modern progress. Our commitment is to invest responsibly, transparently, and with a long-term development vision.”

Adding to this, HE DATO Dr. S Selvaganesh Selvaraj stated:

“This collaboration reflects the growing strength of Malaysia–India partnerships in strategic development. By combining international expertise with local vision, we aim to contribute meaningfully to sustainable growth, job creation, and long-term economic value.”

Welcoming the engagement, Yam Raja Izzuddin Iskandar Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Afiffullah Shah said:

“We appreciate the confidence shown by international investors in Malaysia’s growth story. Development must be forward-looking while respecting our cultural roots. Initiatives like Kampung Bharu 2.0 have the potential to generate economic value, create skilled employment, and further strengthen Malaysia–India relations.”

The partnership is expected to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), create high-value jobs, upgrade urban infrastructure, and deepen economic ties between Malaysia and India, while supporting inclusive and sustainable national development goals.

New Delhi, Feb 20th:The National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, will organise the Special Handloom Expo 2026 at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi, from February 21 to March 2, 2026. The expo will remain open to visitors from 9:00 AM onwards each day.

Organised under the initiatives of Vocal for Local and Make in India, the expo aims to promote Swadeshi handloom products, create direct market linkages between weavers and consumers, and strengthen livelihood opportunities for artisans across the country. Weavers and artisan groups from 21 States will participate in the expo, offering a diverse range of authentic handwoven products.

Visitors will be able to purchase directly from weavers and explore a rich collection of handloom sarees, dress materials, home furnishings, shawls, stoles, and contemporary handloom apparel. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the expo will showcase eco-friendly handloom products that support a greener environment while empowering traditional weaving communities.

Providing direct selling platforms to weavers remains an important part of strengthening the handloom value chain, as it enables them to expand their customer base while ensuring fair price realisation, said a senior official from NHDC.

The Special Handloom Expo reflects the Government of India’s continued focus on strengthening the handloom sector by encouraging domestic consumption of indigenous textiles and supporting artisan livelihoods. By enabling direct interaction between weavers and buyers, the expo seeks to enhance awareness about the cultural and ecological value of handloom products.

Handloom remains one of India’s largest cottage industries, sustaining millions of weavers and allied workers. Events such as this expo play a significant role in preserving traditional skills, promoting eco-friendly production practices, and showcasing the diversity of India’s weaving traditions.

Centrally located and open with free entry to all visitors, the exhibition invites citizens and tourists alike to experience the richness of Indian handlooms, reinforcing the importance of preserving indigenous skills and promoting locally made products.

Dharmendra Pradhan Announces Conversion of SRCC GBO Diploma into Full-Fledged Master’s Degree Programme at Yugantar ’26

Feb 20| New Delhi: The Education Minister on Friday called on institutions to “exit the Macaulay doctrine” and align higher education with the vision of Viksit Bharat, and announced the conversion of SRCC’s Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO) into a full-fledged Master’s degree programme.

He made these remarks while inaugurating Yugantar ’26, the Annual Management Conclave of SRCC’s Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO), themed “AI for Sustainability & Startup Innovation.”

The inaugural session at the Shridhar Shriram Auditorium was graced by Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India, as the Distinguished Chief Guest. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, and hosted by Prof. Simrit Kaur, Principal, SRCC. Senior faculty members, industry leaders, alumni, and students attended the event, along with Dr. Misha Govil, GBO Coordinator, SRCC; Dr. Sapna Bansal, Convener, Yugantar 2026; and Dr. Sunita Sharma, Co-Convener, Yugantar 2026.

The programme opened with a tribute to Sir Shri Ram, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.

“We Must Not Be Afraid to Accept Change”

In his keynote address, the Education Minister described the National Education Policy (NEP) as a structural reset of India’s academic framework.

“We have to get out of the Macaulay doctrine that enslaved India academically. The National Education Policy, envisioned by Prime Minister Modi ji, will ensure that Bharat becomes a Vishwa Guru. Institutions like SRCC must lead this transformation. SRCC is sowing the seeds to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

He emphasised technological sovereignty and institutional reform: “In this age of technology, the nature of competition has fundamentally changed. We know that change is needed — but we must not be afraid to accept it. India must move toward sovereign AI ecosystems, strengthening institutions like IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, and building indigenous capabilities so that Bharat becomes a leader in Artificial Intelligence.”

He urged higher education institutions to embed research, patents, startup incubation, and AI-led innovation into their academic structures.

PGDGBO to Be Upgraded into Master’s Degree Programme

The Education Minister announced that SRCC’s two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO), offered by Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, will be converted into a full-fledged Master’s degree programme.

The transition is expected to strengthen academic recognition, align the programme with National Education Policy reforms, and enhance its global academic equivalence while integrating greater research and innovation components.

Universities Must Build Market-Ready Innovation

Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said universities must convert research into commercially viable outcomes.

“Only three words can safeguard the future of young minds — innovation, creativity, and originality. Universities must go beyond publications; we must develop patents, prototypes, and commercially sustainable products.”

He cautioned institutions against resisting technological shifts and called for stronger university–industry collaboration.

AI Must Be Ethical and Inclusive

Principal Simrit Kaur said institutions must guide artificial intelligence with responsibility and human judgment.

“Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to shift both demand and supply curves, improving productivity and efficiency. But without the intelligence of humans, there is no optimal solution. AI must be coordinated with humanity and adopted responsibly.”

She added, “We are committed to viewing Artificial Intelligence as our destiny — ensuring that its growth remains inclusive, accountable, and sustainable.”

Day 1 of Yugantar ’26 featured corporate panels on AI-enabled sustainability, founder sessions on startup scaling, and case simulations across finance, marketing, analytics, HR, and international business.

The Education Minister also visited the Viksit Bharat Startup Expo 2026, where student-led ventures showcased innovation prototypes.

With the announcement of the Master’s degree upgrade for SRCC GBO and a push toward NEP-led reform and sovereign AI capabilities, Yugantar ’26 positioned SRCC within the broader roadmap toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

AI is no longer emerging, it is getting firmly embedded across industries, reshaping economies, and redefining how businesses operate. The Indian AI market, estimated at around USD 10 billion, is however at a nascent stage and holds tremendous potential to transform economic sectors including real estate. In fact, AI is set to redefine the future of Indian real estate across every stage of the property lifecycle, starting from design & planning to sales & facility management services.

Design phases will increasingly rely on hyper realistic AI driven simulations, generative 3D models, and predictive cost engines that reduce errors and project bottlenecks. In the planning phase, AI will enhance efficiencies through project scheduling, resource allocation, and real time monitoring to prevent delays. Construction sites will operate like interconnected ecosystems where AI guided drones, vision based safety systems and predictive analytics will continuously monitor progress, anticipate risks and self optimize workflows. Within sales, customized property discovery, curated market insights, automated valuations, immersive virtual tours, and predictive investment modelling will transform real estate transactions. Property management will evolve with heightened adoption of smart environments powered by sensor networks, adaptive lighting, intelligent access systems and AI driven assistants that proactively respond to usage patterns. Overall, PropTech and AI are poised to significantly transform Indian real estate over the course of next few decades, ushering in transparency, efficiency and future-readiness.

SINGAPORE, Feb 20 - Asia’s largest food retailers, manufacturers, restaurant chains, and hospitality groups remain behind international better practice on sustainable and responsible protein sourcing, but progress is accelerating across the region, according to The Asian Protein Buyers 100: An Assessment of Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing released today by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE). 

The APB100 is a benchmark based on investor-backed priorities – assessing how 100 of Asia’s largest listed protein-buying companies — headquartered or operating across Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam — manage environmental, social, and governance risks embedded in meat, dairy, poultry, and seafood supply chains. Collectively, the companies assessed represent more than USD500 billion in market capitalisation and sit at the choke point of Asia’s protein system, where procurement decisions shape production standards, risk management and food-system outcomes. 

The companies assessed include some of Asia’s most recognisable food and retail groups. These include China Mengniu Dairy, Yili Group, Yonghui and Yum China (Mainland China); AEON, Seven & I Holdings, Meiji, Nissin and NH Foods (Japan); CJ CheilJedang, Lotte and E-Mart (South Korea); Charoen Pokphand Foods and Thai Union (Thailand); Jollibee, Century Pacific Food and San Miguel Food & Beverage (Philippines); Vinamilk (Vietnam); and Hindustan Lever, Nestle India, Jubilant, Devyani, DMart, Westlife Foodworld (McDonald’s India) (India), among others. 

Scores are improving, but the baseline remains low 

Now in its second edition, the benchmark shows clear momentum since 2023 — but also highlights that most companies remain at an early stage of credible implementation. 

The average overall score increased from 9% in 2023 to 16% in 2025, with around 80% of companies improving year-on-year. More than half of comparable companies moved up at least one performance tier. 

However, no company reached the top two performance tiers, underscoring a persistent gap between sustainability commitments and on-the-ground execution. 

A growing group of leaders is emerging 

The number of companies in the leading Tier 3 group more than doubled from 10 in 2023 to 26 in 2025, while the lowest-scoring group halved from 44 to 21 companies. 

Progress, however, remains uneven and concentrated among a subset of early movers and sustainability themes, while a significant minority of companies continues to disclose little or nothing across several material risk areas. 

Climate, labour, and waste are moving fastest 

Companies performed strongest on Water & Waste, Labour , and Climate Change, reflecting wider uptake of international disclosure frameworks and growing expectations around supply-chain due diligence. 

Climate and labour show the fastest improvement since 2023, driven by emerging regulatory pressure and investor scrutiny, particularly around Scope 3 emissions and labour standards in supply chains. 

Governance and protein diversification remain critical gaps 

Several material risk areas continue to show weak performance. Governance in relation to protein sustainability, remains the lowest-scoring theme, averaging just 4.5%, with most companies scoring zero. Few have board-approved protein sustainability strategies, capital allocation plans, or accountability mechanisms. 

Protein diversification also remains underdeveloped at 7.4%, indicating that most companies have yet to articulate how they will shift product portfolios toward truly low carbon plant proteins at scale. 

Disclosures on deforestation and biodiversity, animal welfare, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) also remain thin and rarely quantified. The intersection of climate and deforestation is still not being duly harnessed. Similarly, policies and procurement practices that strengthen animal welfare and enable antibiotic reduction remain a low point, with average animal welfare performance at just 14.1% and only one company aligned with recognised higher-welfare standards or independently certified disclosure. 

Why this matters: Asia is the decisive region for global protein systems 

Compared with innovative international peers, many of Asia’s protein buyers remain behind on deforestation-free sourcing, antibiotic stewardship, higher-welfare policies and procurement, plant-protein targets and science-based climate transition planning. 

However, Asia now represents the most important opportunity for global leadership in responsible protein systems. And with less than five years to implement meaningful change towards various 2030 United Nations and related targets, the vision of a more responsible and sustainable food system is at risk. 

“Asia is the world’s fastest-growing protein market, which means what happens here will determine the future of global food systems,” said Kate Blaszak, ARE Director, Protein Transition. “ThisAPB100 shows that disclosure and awareness are improving and aims to trigger a shift from Policy to Practice. With a realm of better practice examples in the report to also assist companies, the next phase must focus on full supply-chain coverage, measurable targets, and annual progress with board-level accountability.”