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India Achieves 12 Guinness World Records in Yoga: Akshar Yoga Kendraa Marks Historic Milestone After 70 Years

Bangalore, July 21, 2025 – In a landmark achievement that has brought global recognition to India’s ancient wisdom, Akshar Yoga Kendraa, headquartered in Bangalore, has been officially awarded 12 Guinness World Records in Yogasana. This unprecedented accomplishment not only places India firmly on the global map of excellence in yoga but also marks history after 70 years in the Guinness World Records’ legacy—making it the first time such a vast number of global records have been awarded in a single day to a yoga institution.

The announcement was formally made at a grand event organized in Bangalore today, in the presence of spiritual leaders, yoga practitioners, athletes, and members of the press from around the world. This recognition follows the mega event held on 21st June 2025, International Yoga Day, where 2,500+ participants from different walks of life namely Indian Army, Air Force, CRPF, CISF, Karnataka State Police, KSRP, Specially abled and NCC came together under the guidance of Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa to create a legacy through unity, discipline, and devotion to the yogic path.

The records include:

New Guinness World Records – Official First Attempts:

• Bhadrasana (Gracious Pose) – 550 participants
• Adho Mukha Shvanasana (Downward Dog Pose) – 864 participants
• Salabhasana (Locust Pose) – 539 participants
• Garudasana (Eagle Pose) – 522 participants
• Ubhaya Padangusthasana (Double Toe Hold Pose) – 461 participants
• Eka Pada Padangusthasana (Pistol Squat Pose) – 514 participants

Broken World Records – Surpassing Previous Records:

• Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose):

Previous Record – 1,682 (Puducherry, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,692 participants
• Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand):
Previous Record – 1,134 (Chennai, 2017)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,633 participants
• Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose):
Previous Record – 1,011 (Hong Kong, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,634 participants
• Utkatasana (Chair Pose):
Previous Record – 623 (Shanghai, China, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,695 participants
• Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Mermaid Pose):
Previous Record – (Rishikesh, India, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 863 participants
• Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III Pose):
Previous Global Record – 387
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 529 participants

Each of these records is not merely a statistical milestone but a celebration of India’s timeless yogic lineage—an offering from Bharat to the world.

This auspicious event witnessed the august presence of Param Pujya Atithi His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamij – Pejavara Mutt, Param Pujya Atithi His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Shivarudra Swamiji – Beli Mutt, Sri Seemanth Kumar Singh – Police Commissioner, Bangalore, Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan – MLA, Malleshwaram and Former Deputy Chief Minister and Sri Jose Mohan – Inspector General, Central Industrial Security Force during the event.

Speaking on this historic occasion, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, shared:
“Yoga is India’s gift to humanity— its power flows through postures and leads to transformation. These 12 Guinness World Records are a tribute to our sages, gurus and scriptures. This is a proud moment for every Indian. Through this achievement, we are taking our lineage to the world and reinforcing yoga as the foundation of global wellness.”

This grand success also signals a larger vision—to promote Yoga as a competitive sport and a part of the Olympic movement, aligning ancient Indian practices with contemporary global platforms. It showcases India’s leadership in building a global wellness ecosystem, and the potential of yoga as a unifying force for mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL), a leading power utility supplying electricity to populace of around 9 million in North Delhi, is working round-the-clock to ensure complete public safety along designated routes of ongoing Kanwar Yatra, in its area of operation.

Undertaken by lakhs of devotees, this annual pilgrimage witnesses heavy footfall, increasing the risk of accidental contact with electrical infrastructure—especially during the monsoon season.

With the goal of ensuring zero incidents during Kanwar Yatra 2025, zonal teams of the discom have been instructed to identify all Kanwar camps within their respective areas and implement strict safety measures which include – leakage testing of all electric poles, transformers, and substations along the yatra routes.

The teams have been asked to prioritize areas with high foot traffic or temporary camps, replace or repair all cable joints and/ or damaged jumpers etc., ensure that covers of all feeder and service pillars are properly closed and locked, repair any damaged earthing, ensure proper working of all streetlights, availability and fixing of Danger signboards, besides keeping sufficient stock of all PPEs and tools for field teams.

To ensure electrical safety in camps, Tata Power-DDL has undertaken critical safety measures:

• All Kanwar Camps are metered with proper rated MCB and ELCB installed.
• Good quality, insulated wires of proper rating (as per connected load) have been used ensuring no open joints.
• Any hazardous installation or open panels if covers are damaged or locking is not possible, have been barricaded or fenced.
• In view of monsoon season, special attention is being given to low lying waterlogged areas.

The discom has also urged cooperation of public and pilgrims for maintaining the highest standards of safety to ensure a safe environment for Kanwariyas.

Delhi, 21st July 2025: Hudle, India’s largest sports community platform has secured $2.5 million in a Series A round led by Sky Impact Capital, with participation from Physis Capital, Atrium Venture, Mahesh Bhupathi (12 Time Grand Slam winner and serial investor), Gaurav Kapur (TV presenter and Producer) and founders of Blue Tokai (Shivam Shahi) and Nitro Commerce (Umair Mohammed). This fundraise marks a pivotal moment for Hudle, propelling its mission to make fitness and recreational sports accessible to all.

Hudle will use the funds to fast-track product innovation, including frictionless booking, match discovery and performance tracking features to improve the player experience with a specific focus on pickleball and padel, the 2 fastest growing sports in India and globally. The company is also introducing India’s first-ever rating system in August to help players track progress and connect with players of similar skill levels. Another objective is to expand its venue partner network across Tier 1/2/3 cities to meet the growing demand for community and recreational sports.

Suhail Narain, Founder & CEO, Hudle, says, “At Hudle, we genuinely believe that playing sports should be as easy and normal as going out for coffee. That’s what drives us — making it easier for people across India to play, connect, and stay active. We’re adding over 300 pickleball courts every month; we’ve seen that people love the sport once they try it. This fundraise isn’t just about scale — it’s about doubling down on the experience, the tech, and the community. For us, it’s always been about putting sport at the centre of everyday life — and we’re just getting started.”

Founded by Suhail Narain (Founder & CEO), Arjun Singh Verma (Co-Founder & COO), and Sonam Taneja (Co-Founder & Head, Business Development), Hudle envisions using technology to help 100 million Indians make sports a way of life by connecting players with venues, streamlining facility management, helping track performance and creating a digital ecosystem for the sports community.

Aakash Sachdev, Founder & Managing Partner, Sky Impact Capital, says. “Hudle is rewiring India’s recreational sports economy. Its frictionless platform lets tens of thousands of sports enthusiasts discover and book courts in seconds, turning fitness into a social routine. Lifestyle diseases burden 300 million Indians each year and wellness spending already tops $98 billion, so the runway for growth is enormous. Over the last 18 months we have applied our value creation playbook to help Hudle scale. This round will fund the next wave of product innovation, player engagement and nationwide venue expansion, ensuring that—true to Hudle’s ethos—no player is left behind. We are pleased to deepen our commitment at this inflection point in Hudle’s Journey.”

Commenting on investment, Vinay Bansal, Partner, Physis Capital, says, “While they say that you need a healthy body for a healthy mind, I think sports is the only addictive activity that is healthy for both physical and mental well being. The sports ecosystem in India is fragmented and unorganized due to which the sports participation number amongst the general population is very low. Hudle is bridging the gap through a tech-enabled full-stack sporting experience to make outdoor sports more accessible to the public, making it easier for people to discover, play, and compete in a variety of sports, bringing in a sense of community and accessibility. As we see more and more people struggling with health issues due to a sedentary lifestyle, Hudle stands at a vantage point of not only improving the sports infrastructure but also paving the way towards a more fitter and healthier India.”

The company has reported 3.5x growth in gross transaction value and 2.5x growth in revenue over the last twelve months.

Hyderabad, July 19, 2025 — The Nizamabad Police Commissioner, Sri Potharaju Sai Chaitanya, IPS, unveiled the poster for the 8th Edition of the Global Grace Cancer Run, expected to draw over 1.5 lakh runners across 130 countries and to be held in October in a hybrid format (online & in-person) in a function in Nizamabad.

It was launched during the community outreach program, a full-day Cancer Screening Drive at the Rural Community Cancer Hospital called Bridge Gap Hospital in Nizamabad. It was launched in the presence of the city’s elite doctors, NRIs, 12 Indian origin medical interns from the USA. These interns were present as part of the initiative titled Bridging Borders—an internship program for Indian-origin medical students from the United States. The internship aims to connect global youth with grassroots healthcare systems in India.

The poster was launched during a day-long Free Cancer Screening Camp jointly organised by Hyderabad-based Grace Cancer Foundation and Bridge Gap Hospitals, the only rural community cancer hospital serving five districts in Northern Telangana, disclosed this in a press note issued in Hyderabad today.

The 8th Edition of Global Grace Cancer Run–2025 is the World’s Largest Cancer Awareness Run. The run will be held on 12th October, 2025, in Hybrid mode—physical and virtual across the globe.

The theme for the edition is “Run for Grace and Screen for Life”

The run will be organised by the Hyderabad-based non-profit Grace Cancer Foundation, which has worked for 11 years to alleviate the cancer burden through Education, Early Detection, Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Research.

Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli shared the vision behind the event: “The Run aims to make a meaningful impact by raising cancer awareness, promoting physical activity as a preventive measure, and enabling access to free doorstep cancer screening for the underprivileged.”

The physical run will be held at Gachibowli, Hyderabad, with over 30,000 to 40,000 runners, including 10,000 students from Navodaya schools, expected to be participated.

The proceeds will fund mobile cancer screenings for underserved communities, to screen one lakh lives for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS) and deliver doorstep healthcare to rural India.

The 7th edition drew an overwhelming 1.5 lakh runners from 130 countries, making it a truly global movement.

AI voice agents are changing the face of customer service and experience management. Conversational AI sits at the very core of the intelligent solution, ensuring seamless automation of conversations that eventually enhance both front-end and back-end support processes for all businesses in any industry. It offers much quicker, more customized support available around the clock, thereby increasing the efficiency of a company and its customer happiness.

Key Benefits of AI Voice Agents:

• High call volume is managed without any hassle by AI voice agents, thus reducing the requirement for a big customer service team and eliminating the waiting time for customers.
• Companies can save a good amount of money that they used to spend on their operations because now routine calls and inquiries are handled by AI agents. These agents are always available and ready to work anytime.
• Consistency, Accuracy, and Timeliness – AI voice agents deliver consistent, accurate, and timely responses.

Major platforms leading this revolution include Engati with an AI-native Customer eXperience platform to build and customize AI agents at various touch points, Skit.ai, empowering enterprises’ automation of contact center conversations through Voice AI, and Gnani.ai, which offers conversational AI for customer experience. Their ‘Automate365’ virtual assistant can automate all messaging applications and channels.

These platforms are completely flipping the entire support and experience process on its head by raising efficiency levels through automation of responses to common queries and tasks, thus improving the satisfaction levels of customers due to the provision of 24/7 support plus personalized interactions. They also increase the scalability of operations, as well as handle large volumes of customer support.

Guwahati, July 18, 2025: In a proud moment for northeast India, Nikhil Okram from Manipur has been officially conferred the title of Mister International India 2025 by Mega Entertainment. With this coveted title, Nikhil will represent the country at the Mister International Pageant, scheduled to be held in the Philippines in December 2025.

Nikhil’s international representation comes on the heels of his recent win at the 14th Set Wet Mega Mister North East 2025, where he was crowned as one of the three winners from the region. The national selection process, led by Abhijeet Singha, National Director of Mister International India and Founder of Mega Entertainment, was rigorous and merit-based, culminating in Nikhil being chosen to represent India on the global platform.

A native of Imphal, Nikhil Okram is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Manipur University. Deeply rooted in community values, he is also an active member of the National Service Scheme (NSS), contributing to youth development and welfare initiatives across the state.

Speaking on this milestone, Kavita Keisham, Manipur State Director of Mega Entertainment, shared, “Nikhil has always shown exceptional dedication and spirit. His selection to represent India is not just a personal victory but a triumph for Manipur and the entire Northeast. I urge everyone to support him as he carries our hopes to the international stage.”

Nikhil’s journey from a state finalist to a national representative is an inspiring reflection of the Northeast’s growing contribution to India’s fashion, lifestyle, and youth empowerment movements. He now joins a league of exceptional talents from the region who have gone on to make India proud on international platforms.

Life’s Purple, a Guwahati-based PR and Reputation Management agency, is the official PR Partner of Mega Entertainment. During Nikhil’s reigning tenure, Life’s Purple has been offering him reputation management advisory and media training expertise to ensure he is well-prepared to navigate the national and global spotlight.

With a strong foundation in education, social service, and personal charisma, Nikhil Okram is set to represent India with pride, grace, and purpose at Mister International 2025, marking another milestone in the region’s journey of rising global recognition.

18th July 2025: lendingplate, a digital-first NBFC under Unifinz Capital India Limited, announced its audited financial results for the fiscal 2025. The company reported strong revenue and loan growth driven by digital lending innovation, wider geographic reach, and responsible risk management. The performance signals strong demand for the company’s tech-driven, customer-centric model in the rapidly evolving digital credit space.

The company’s total income rose by 309% buoyed by the 5X disbursal of ₹512 cores compared to the previous year. This surge demonstrates the growing trust among borrowers in the digital platform for its promise of unsecured loans with flexible terms and real-time approvals. The NBFC recorded a profit after tax of ₹20 crore in FY25 compared to the loss of ₹1.14 crore in FY24, marking a solid financial turnaround. The performance underscores enhanced cost efficiency, improved collections, and strengthened underwriting capabilities.

During the year, the company successfully raised ₹54 crore through equity and warrant conversions, with funds deployed as per stated objectives: strengthening capital adequacy, supporting working capital, and driving business expansion.

“With solid earnings, a scalable platform, and fresh capital infusion, we are well-positioned to responsibly scale our offerings and serve the underserved credit market,” said Mr. Kaushik Chatterjee, founder & CEO of lendingplate”

As demand for personal credit in India continues to rise, particularly from younger and salaried demographics, lendingplate stands out for its AI-led underwriting, user-friendly app experience, and fast disbursal capabilities all while maintaining a responsible credit lens. The company combines technology with a human-first approach to ensure loan decisions are both efficient and equitable.

Public Transport is for us, and we must own it and deal with it accordingly to make it a pleasant experience for all

Hyderabad, July 17, 2025 — As women across Telangana embrace the free bus travel scheme in record numbers, a group of young researchers from EThames Business School is urging a deeper look into the commuting experience, not to find fault, but to find ways forward. Their message is clear: when a free ride sparks a fight, what commuters truly need is respect.

Recent viral videos of seat-related disputes among women commuters in TSRTC buses highlight the growing demand for public transport infrastructure, particularly during peak hours. The study by EThames students emphasises that these are not just isolated clashes, but reflections of the need for greater support systems, awareness, and shared commuter responsibility.

Public transport is more than just mobility — it’s a lifeline for millions. Telangana’s RTC operates over 9,000 buses daily, serving more than 40 lakh commuters across Telangana, a significant proportion of them women. The free travel scheme has empowered countless women with newfound independence and access to education, work, and healthcare.

However, with the rise in ridership, the challenges of overcrowding, comfort, and safety also increase. This study by EThames aims to make a positive contribution to existing efforts by highlighting practical, implementable suggestions to improve travel dignity for all.

The Key Findings from the EThames Study. The study was conducted over 43 days, and the student-led study surveyed 480 women and held 20+ interviews across bus routes in Hyderabad. While 52% of the surveyed respondents reported experiencing discomfort, only 23% were aware of or had used safety tools, such as apps or helplines. Key concerns included overcrowding, undertrained staff, and limited complaint visibility.

Rather than place blame, the students propose enhancements to the existing system to make public transport more respectful and responsive.

The recommendations for a safer, inclusive ride include Gender sensitivity training for RTC staff, QR-code-based complaint systems in buses and terminals, Improved lighting and clean toilets at key bus stops, Women-only buses during peak hours, and Bystander training to empower fellow commuters and Collaborative policing with plainclothes and uniformed staff

The research, instead of just highlighting problems, came out with a lot of suggestions, initiatives and ideas. Some of their suggestions include running a campaign to foster Respect. To complement operational changes, the team also recommends public-facing campaigns:

#MySafeSeat: Real experiences from women commuters

• Ride With Respect: Visual messaging across buses and bus stands
• SHE Can Travel: Testimonies from women who benefit from safety upgrades
• Bus Buddy Program: Student or senior volunteers ride alongside during peak hours
• Know Your Rights Cards: Helpline info in every bus

The study was conducted by students Divya Bengani, Mishika Chirag Kotecha, Drishti Jain, Syed Osman Ali, and Sayam Jain, under the guidance of Dr. Sahera Fatima and Dr. Naga Lakshmi Kundeti, Assistant Professors at EThames.

“Respect is the ticket every commuter should carry,” the students insist. No one is safe unless everyone is safe, they add.

V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, Vice Chairman & MD of TGSRTC, welcomed the insights and said, “TGSRTC is fully committed to strengthening women’s safety and dignity. We appreciate the EThames study, and many of its suggestions are already being addressed — from increasing bus frequency to crew training, safety helplines, CCTV, bus tracking apps, and collaboration with SHE Teams. Continuous improvement remains our priority.”

Shikha Goel, IPS, Director General, Women Safety Wing (SHE Teams & Bharosa), added: “Every woman deserves to travel freely and fearlessly. This study offers a roadmap to help achieve that, reinforcing our mission to make public spaces safer and more inclusive.”

Several countries offer innovative solutions worth emulating, the students suggest. France allows women to request on-demand night stops closer to home. Brazil’s real-time reporting apps link directly to transit police. Japan and Colombia offer women-only compartments or buses during peak hours. Sweden uses gender-disaggregated data to design safer routes and better-lit stops. Singapore combines AI-driven surveillance with strict law enforcement. These strategies show that behavioral change, design innovation, and tech integration can go hand-in-hand.

Several Indian states have adopted safety initiatives like Pink Buses (Delhi), women-only seats (Bengaluru), and compartments (Mumbai); these remain isolated efforts, not national norms. SHE Teams and free rides for women by SCSC in IT Corridors of Cyberabad are commendable, but systemic challenges like overcrowding, undertrained staff, and limited awareness still prevail.

Let’s together contribute and build a pleasant public transport experience for all.

New Delhi, 17^th July 2025 — Garg Holidays Pvt. Ltd., a trusted name in B2B travel solutions, recently hosted an exclusive Familiarisation (FAM) trip in Goa to spotlight the region’s most premium hotels, resorts, and private villas. The curated multi-day experience was designed to provide leading travel agents from across India with first-hand exposure to Goa’s evolving luxury hospitality landscape—enhancing their product knowledge and enabling more personalized recommendations for their clientele.

The participating agents explored a diverse portfolio of high-end properties including Storii by ITC, JW Marriott, Vagator, Mandrem Beach Resort by Radisson, The Astor, Tisya – Vilasa, Vagator, Taj Holiday Village, Candolim, Ginger Goa, Candolim, and Tisya – Oryaan, Siolim. The itinerary combined immersive site inspections with hosted stays, curated dining experiences, cultural touchpoints, and beachside networking opportunities.

“Collaborations like this help elevate the narrative around Goa as a destination that blends heritage with high-end comfort,” said Arpit Bhola, Hotel Manager, Storii by ITC. “It was refreshing to host agents who are genuinely invested in delivering curated luxury experiences.”

Pramod Kumar Patra, Director of Sales and Marketing, JW Marriott, Vagator, shared, “With the rise in boutique travel and bespoke stays, it’s essential that our trade partners experience properties firsthand. This initiative by Garg Holidays aligns perfectly with the need for authentic agent immersion.”

Adding to this, Mr. Miguel Rebello, General Manager, Mandrem Beach Resort by Radisson, said, “It was insightful to interact with travel sellers from diverse regions of India. Their perspectives help us understand evolving customer preferences—it’s a two-way learning that we truly value.”

Throughout the program, participating agents experienced Goa not only as a leisure destination but also as a high-potential market for luxury, wedding, wellness, and boutique experiential travel. The initiative fostered stronger connections between hotel partners and the travel trade community, with a strong emphasis on product knowledge, service differentiation, and client customization.

“We strongly believe that seeing is selling,” said Amit Garg, Managing Director, Garg Holidays Pvt. Ltd. “Our Goa FAM trip was about empowering agents to move beyond standard packages and confidently offer curated, high-value travel experiences to their clients.”

With over 25 years of industry expertise, Garg Holidays has established itself as one of India’s leading B2B hotel consolidators, offering real-time inventory, exclusive rates, and a robust digital booking platform through Tytlees. The Goa FAM trip is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to support travel agents with hands-on destination knowledge and exposure to premium hospitality partners.

Mumbai, July 17 2025: RackBank® India’s leading provider of premium, carbon-neutral datacenter infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI services, announced the rollout of their army veteran recruitment program – Mission for Intelligence, Technology, Resilience & AI (M.I.T.R.A). The program aims to offer a meaningful second career for ex-service members in India by channeling their operational expertise and leadership values into India’s rapidly expanding data center and AI ecosystem.

As part of the M.I.T.R.A program, RackBank® will actively recruit and integrate veterans who have served across a wide range of roles within the armed forces. This includes individuals with backgrounds as IT Specialists, Strategic Operations Coordinators, Logistics Commanders, and Cybersecurity Analysts. These roles are highly valued for their discipline, technical expertise, and strategic thinking, all of which align closely with the needs of India’s rapidly growing data center and AI sectors.

Veterans are being considered for a wide range of roles that align with their skills and experience, including: Datacentre Operations Managers, Cybersecurity Analysts, AI Infrastructure Support Specialists, Network and Surveillance Command Specialists, Logistics and Operations Coordinators & Compliance and Risk Officers, particularly those with a defense background. These opportunities include a mix of full-time and contractual positions, tailored to both the functional requirements of the organization and the preferences of the veterans. Contractual roles will typically be offered for a period of 12 to 18 months, with the potential for transition into full-time positions based on individual performance and alignment with organizational needs.

Speaking on the initiative, Narendra Sen, Founder & CEO, RackBank® said, “The M.I.T.R.A. initiative is inspired by the need for disciplined, mission-ready professionals in critical infrastructure domains such as AI, cybersecurity, and data centers. It reflects our belief that nation-building extends beyond business. Veterans bring strategic thinking under pressure, operational discipline, leadership, a security-first mindset, and technical expertise in communications and intelligence systems. These qualities are deeply aligned with our core values of integrity, resilience, and nation-first innovation. Through this program, we aim to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure while providing meaningful opportunities for those who have served the nation to contribute to its technological future.”

Adding to this, Anand Dhruv, Head of Human Resources at  RackBank®, shared, “M.I.T.R.A is not just a hiring initiative, it’s a commitment to inclusive growth. Veterans have already demonstrated excellence in service of the nation; now, we’re proud to offer a platform where their skills and leadership can continue to shine. We’ve designed a structured onboarding pathway, including a specialized Tech Readiness Bootcamp, to ensure a smooth transition from service to civilian tech roles. As we scale, we see veterans playing a pivotal role in shaping RackBank’s culture of accountability, precision, and innovation.”