– by Anil Pharande, Chairman – Pharande Spaces

For most Indians, buying a home is the biggest investment they’ll ever make, so it makes sense to get the best options they can afford. Branded builders offer aspirational premium through high-quality homes and locations, but the idea of premium features is itself changing quickly. Wellness has become a top priority since COVID-19, which was the worst healthcare crisis in history.

Wellness – The New Luxury

Luxury homes have always been known for their high-end features. But before COVID-19, “luxury” in real estate shifted from snob value to family health and well-being. ‘Real’ wellness goes beyond just adding features – it needs to be built into the basic design of a housing project.

As a rule, people who buy homes in cities now expect garden spaces, gyms in clubhouses, and jogging tracks. These kinds of features have slowly made their way into mid-range homes as well, but they are at their most evolved in luxury integrated townships and gated communities.

Wellness is now a highly established requirement for luxury project design. Branded developers quickly saw that this trend is not just a passing fad but here to stay and started adding the right features into their projects. It makes strong business sense, as the wellness features in a housing or office building make it more appealing to buyers, tenants, and investors.

Gyms, yoga and meditation rooms, roof gardens, and innovative design tweaks to boost natural light availability and air flow are some of the most popular wellness features today. As we take this to the luxury level, new requirements emerge – HNIs now expect homes with art studios, hobby rooms, yoga studios, meditation rooms, spas, indoor air filtration systems, and landscaped Zen gardens and tennis courts within the project.

Golf courses within the project are another very popular wellness-oriented feature. Golf boosts health by providing physical activity that boosts cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, and also helps with weight management. It has been proven to improve mental wellness because it lowers anxiety and stress, promoting mindfulness and focus. It also fosters social connections, decreasing feelings of isolation and boosting self-esteem. Indian cities with housing projects featuring golf courses include Gurugram, Bengaluru, Pune, the MMR – specifically Panvel and Navi Mumbai, Noida and Greater Noida, Chennai, and Delhi NCR.

Luxury wellness projects also need official stamps of approval like the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s LEED certification programme, which looks at and rates a building’s ‘green’ features and how much the wellness features in a development actually boost inhabitants’ health and overall wellbeing.

Affordable Health Strategies for Indian Homebuyers

So far, so good. We have discussed wellness as a single ‘feature’, multiple features, or more accurately, as a theme. Obviously, wellness features come at an added cost, since they require more reserved common space which cannot be exploited commercially by building more marketable housing units. Also, specific facilities that need to be equipped and maintained.

Roughly, depending on the market positioning of the project, wellness features and facilities can add a premium of anywhere between 10% and 25% to the final price of a home there, raise monthly maintenance charges, and may also involve club memberships. The added cost is enough to deter a large chunk of health-conscious but budget-strapped homebuyers in India.

So, what can such buyers do to ensure that their new home supports their family’s health?

10 Affordable Tips for Homebuyers Who Care About Their Health

1. Prioritize natural light and airflow in your housing choice

Pick a home with lots of windows and cross-ventilation, even if it isn’t in high-end wellness developments. Natural light helps you sleep better and feel better, and good airflow cuts down on indoor air pollution, and both are free. Put mirrors across from windows to spread light more evenly. Also, try to pick a unit that doesn’t face a main road to avoid as much air and noise pollution as possible.

2. Buy plants that clean the air inside

Instead of costly air filtration systems, buy spider plants, snake plants, and similar varieties of houseplants that clean and increase the amount of oxygen in the air while simultaneously enlivening the room. They are cheap, easy to take care of, and good for your health without costing a lot.

3. Set up a space in your home to work out and meditate

Designate and equip a corner with simple things like yoga mats, exercise bands, and dumbbells. This puts paid to pricey gym memberships or club fees and lets you follow a fitness regimen at your pace and in the privacy of your own home. Use the same space as a meditation nook and use it for that purpose each morning before the rest of the family rises.

4. Turn the kitchen into a healthier place

Place nutritious foods at eye level, hide unhealthy snacks out of sight and easy reach, and stock up on pulses, brown rice, frozen vegetables, fresh fruits, stevia and healthy cooking oil to turn your kitchen into a place that supports instead of wrecks your family’s health. Spruce up your culinary skills and learn how to steam, bake and poach foods and make your peace with staying away from deep-fried goodies and sugary diabetes bombs.

5. Make affordable wellness-oriented interior decor tweaks

Choose inexpensive but comfortable chairs, paint your walls with calming colours; and deck them up with inspiring art to turn your entire home into a visually peaceful, destressing space.

6. Use water filters strategically

You don’t need a whole-house water filtration system. Affordable water filters in the kitchen and on showerheads ensure that the water you drink, cook with, and bathe in is safe without being expensive. Clean water is important for all aspects of health.

7. Declutter relentlessly

Physical clutter is incredibly stress-inducing, but we tend to fill our living spaces with needless and often obsolete and even harmful junk. Give away or sell stuff you don’t need – when we open up our living spaces this way, our minds follow suit and the spirit can breathe again. The Japanese call decluttering “danshari” – letting go of unnecessary items that crowd our lives. Regular decluttering costs nothing – in fact, it benefits others who may need what we don’t – and does wonders for our emotional wellbeing.

8. Optimize your sleep environment

Spend a little bit more on a good mattress and some comfortable bedding, use blackout curtains, and play sleep music over your Alexa to help you drift off and stay asleep longer. You don’t need fancy bedroom furniture to have a good night’s sleep; the basics will do.

9. Make regular family health check-ups mandatory

Preventive healthcare doesn’t need fancy buildings or features. Regular health exams, immunisations, and family health talks are much cheaper than treating illnesses, and fit easily into daily life.

10. Use local community wellness resources

If possible, choose a home close to a park, garden or public jogging track instead of paying for expensive premium club memberships. Join local health programes, yoga classes and laughter clubs in parks, and similar resources.

Your best bet for finding a home that supports your family’s overall wellbeing lies in integrated townships. Homes in such projects do cost a bit more, but most of the wellness facilities and features that one finds in luxury developments are available there. Because integrated townships have large populations, the cost of these facilities is spread over many more owners and therefore cost less thanks to the economies of scale.

Finally, even a low saturation of wellness amenities in a housing project is better than none at all. If your budget allows it, choose a project which has some green open space and a jogging track or path. The marginal extra cost is well worth it, both from a wellness and eventual resale perspective.

About the author:

Anil Pharande is Chairman of Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience.

Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre Curates ‘The Weekend Trinity’ for an Experiential Culinary Line-Up

Gurugram, 08th November, 2025:  Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre has launched a new weekend dining series titled The Weekend Trinity, offering guests a rotating line-up of themed culinary experiences across Friday (Indian Project), Saturday (BBQ House) and Sunday (Brunch Tayles). The initiative aims to turn weekends into a blend of flavour, ambience, and leisure for both city residents and hotel guests. The series opens every Friday evening with The Indian Project – Kashmiri Edition, a buffet that visits the depth of Kashmiri cuisine through signature dishes such as Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Gushtaba, and Dum Aloo. Diners are welcomed with a complimentary 30ml pour of single malt, setting a relaxed tone for the evening.

Saturdays bring BBQ House to Tayles, where live grills , lively music and open-air seating at the alfresco define the mood. The evening features an array of barbecued meats and accompaniments, complemented by whiskey trails curated to pair with the smoky flavours of the grills.

Sundays take on a more leisurely pace with the Brunch at Tayles, now extended onto the lawns to welcome winters and the festive season. The brunch includes live music performances, fun activities and tiny tots area, encouraging families to linger through the afternoon in an informal, festive setting.

Speaking about the concept, Harkaran Singh Sethi, General Manager of Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre said the idea behind The Weekend Trinity was to “reimagine weekends not as fixed meals, but as evolving experiences each evening carrying its own character and rhythm.” The Weekend Trinity runs through the weekends at Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre, Sector 63, Gurugram. Prices start at ₹3000++ per person for Fridays, ₹3500++ for Saturdays, and  3800++ for Sunday brunch.

Bengaluru, November 8, 2025: VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VST), India’s leading farm equipment manufacturer, announced its financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2025, showcasing continued growth momentum and operational resilience.

Quarter ended September 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025-26):

· Revenue from Operations: ₹315.15 crore as against ₹283.43 crore in Q2 FY2024-25 – an increase of 11.2% YoY.

· Operational EBIDTA: ₹41.16 crore as against ₹37.79 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

· Net Profit: ₹25.43 crore as against ₹44.93 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The decline in net profit is primarily due to lower fair value gains on investments. Excluding fair value gain/(loss), the net profit for the quarter would be ₹27.70 crore as compared to ₹24.35 crore.

Half Year ended September 30, 2025 (H1 FY2025-26):

· Revenue from Operations: ₹597.60 crore as against ₹474.02 crore in H1 FY2024-25 – up by a strong growth of 26.1% YoY.

· Operational EBIDTA: ₹78.66 crore as against ₹51.17 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

· Net Profit: ₹69.99 crore as against ₹67.78 crore last year. The net profit was impacted by lower fair value gains during H1 FY26. Excluding fair value gains/losses), the net profit for H1 FY26 would be ₹48.47 crore compared to ₹28.20 crore in H1 FY25.

VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VST) is India’s leading farm equipment manufacturer. VST was established in the year 1967 by the VST Group of companies. With a legacy of more than 55 years, VST continues to drive farm mechanization and empowerment of Indian farmers. The organization is the largest Indian manufacturer of Tillers, and 4WD Compact Tractors, and amongst the leading producers of the other category of Tractors, Engines, Transmission, Power Reaper, and Precision Components. VST also exports products to European, Asian, and African markets. For more details, please visit https://www.vsttractors.com/

Educate Girls Wins Magsaysay Award, Honoured 55,000 Volunteers for Transforming Education for Millions of Girls in India

Manila (Philippines), 8th November, 2025: Educate Girls, the first Indian organisation to receive the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, has dedicated Asia’s highest honour to the thousands of field coordinators, volunteers, and local youth mentors who tirelessly work to ensure that every girl in India has the opportunity to return to education and reclaim her future.

Founded in 2007, Educate Girls has spent nearly two decades breaking cycles of poverty and illiteracy, working in four States Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar across more than 30,000 villages. With the support of over 55,000 community-based volunteers since its inception, the organisation has brought back to school more than 2 million girls and supported over 2.4 million children through its remedial learning program.

While accepting the award in Manila, Safeena Husain, Founder of Educate Girls, said, “This award is for our girls, who inspire us with their courage, grit, and resilience. Girls who manage household responsibilities and study late into the night to build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their country. Through this recognition, we honour the parents, teachers, community members, and 55,000 Team Balika volunteers who stand alongside our girls every day. Their dedication shows that when communities come together to educate girls, every girl has opportunity, choice, voice, and agency.”

Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO of Educate Girls, said, “This award is a reminder of the incredible power of people coming together communities, governments, local partners, staff, Team Balika volunteers, philanthropists, and other supporters united by one purpose to educate girls. It honours our collective efforts, innovative programs, and the government’s impactful initiatives. More importantly, it fuels our ambition for the next milestone: 10X10 reaching 10 million learners by 2035. Millions of girls around the world are still waiting for their chance to learn, and we are determined not to let them wait any longer.”

In awarding Educate Girls, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation recognised the organisation’s “commitment to addressing cultural stereotyping through the education of girls and young women, liberating them from the bondage of illiteracy, and infusing them with skills, courage, and agency to achieve their full human potential.”

Abdur Rahman, who joined Educate Girls in 2010 as the first employee at the Mumbai headquarters, travelled to Manila to attend the official ceremony. He reflected, “It has been an incredible journey for me and for the organisation. I’ve witnessed its growth just as I’ve seen millions of girls grow alongside us. I still remember walking from village to village in Pali, Rajasthan, meeting families door-to-door, and using a loudspeaker for Bhopu Prachar to mobilise young volunteers. Those volunteers became Team Balika—the backbone of our movement to shift mindsets and break barriers so every girl gets a fair chance. From those humble beginnings in a small village to standing on a global stage feels incredible.”

Balu Gawande, the office assistant who took his first international flight for the award ceremony, said, “As a parent of two girls, this mission is very close to my heart. It’s a proud moment to be part of the Educate Girls team receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award and contributing to a movement that empowers countless girls across India.”

Educate Girls thanked Air India for sponsoring tickets for the first-time flyers — learners and volunteers — to travel to Manila for the award ceremony.

Mumbai, November 8, 2025 — Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, announced it has completed its acquisition of Sana, a leading AI company building the next generation of enterprise knowledge tools. The addition of Sana will make Workday the new front door for work – bringing a company’s most critical applications and insights into Workday’s platform, enabling employees to start and complete their day in Workday — without needing to switch contexts.

“By bringing Sana’s leading enterprise knowledge and learning to Workday, we’re creating a single, intelligent interface that connects the systems, data, and actions employees rely on — becoming the new front door for work,” said Gerrit Kazmier, president, product and technology, Workday. “We’re unlocking a new era of productivity, focus, and flow across our customers’ organizations with a complete AI solution for the next-generation enterprise.”

“Sana exists to build the UI for AI and bring superintelligence to work,” said Joel Hellermark, CEO, Sana. “Joining Workday means we can drastically accelerate our vision and together create a seamless way for organizations to access knowledge, automate repetitive work, and learn with agentic AI.”

The New Front Door for Work: An AI-Native Employee Experience

With Sana’s leading enterprise knowledge and Workday’s unique data and context around people and money – as well as a rich ecosystem of builders and partners – Workday is establishing a horizontal intelligence layer across the enterprise. This layer will unify data and workflows from across applications and platforms, providing a consistent, AI-powered experience where knowledge, data, and actions converge. The work experience will become more personalized and proactive, intelligently anticipating employee needs based on their role, team, and project.

Launching next year, this transformative experience will become the home base for work and empower employees with AI agents that provide access to tailored information, anticipate needs before they arise, and take action across a company’s most critical systems.

Unlocking a New Era of Enterprise AI and Learning

Sana Agents extends enterprise AI beyond basic search and chat. Users can use the platform’s no-code agent builder to create AI agents grounded in organizational data that accelerate work by automating repetitive workflows, analysing data, and acting proactively on their behalf.

Sana Learn brings learning management, analytics, content generation, and personalised tutoring into an end-to-end AI-native learning platform. Sana Learn will complement Workday Learning’s robust learning system of record, governance, and compliance capabilities. Together, Sana Learn and Workday Learning provide a holistic, enterprise-grade learning suite designed for an AI-first world.

Digitally Inspired Media Wins Integrated Mandate for OM SYSTEM (formerly Olympus Cameras) After Multi-Agency Pitch

Bangalore, 07th November, 2025: GlobalFoundries (GF) India successfully hosted the latest edition of its flagship technical conference, GF India TeknIka 2025, on November 6, 2025. At the heart of this year’s conference was GF’s proprietary India Foundry Connect Program, designed to accelerate the journey from design to manufacturing for India’s fabless semiconductor startups.

Building on the momentum from last year’s launch, the Foundry Connect Program continues to provide startups with access to GF’s advanced Product Design Kits (PDKs), GlobalShuttle™ Multi Project Wafer (MPW) fabrication, IP libraries, and engineering expertise. The program aligns closely with India’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, enabling eligible companies to fast-track their silicon innovations toward commercial manufacturing.

“GF’s decade-long presence in India reflects our deep commitment to the country’s semiconductor growth story. Through the Foundry Connect Program, we are enabling local startups and OEMs with scalable, reliable manufacturing tailored to their needs—from PDKs, IPs, shuttle for test chips to tapeout. Since its launch in 2024, the program has seen consistent growth in customer engagement. With government initiatives like the DLI scheme, GF will help companies move from design to silicon, empowering India’s fabless semiconductor ecosystem and driving faster product realization.” said Jitendra Chaddah (JC), MD & India Country Head, GF India.

GF India collaborates with IESA and SEMI India for TeknIka

To amplify the impact of TeknIka 2025, GF India has partnered with IESA and SEMI India, India’s premier industry body representing the semiconductor, electronics, and design ecosystem. Through this collaboration, GF India will engage IESA and SEMI India’s extensive network of fabless startups, academia, and industry stakeholders, inviting them to the conference to know more about GF technologies and benefit from the Foundry Connect Program.

“IESA and SEMI India have been at the forefront of uniting the semiconductor ecosystem from startups and academia to global leaders to foster meaningful collaboration and drive innovation with real-world impact,” said Ashok Chandak, President, IESA and SEMI India.

“We are delighted to collaborate with GlobalFoundries India for TeknIka 2025 and the India Foundry Connect Program, which directly complements India’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) initiative and IESA’s Start Up Mitra Initiative. This partnership will accelerate the journey from design to silicon, strengthen the fabless startup ecosystem, and further India’s vision of becoming a global semiconductor design and manufacturing hub.” he added.

GF India TeknIka 2025 serves as a platform to showcase GF’s technology roadmap, foster collaboration with academia and customers, and strengthen ties with policy makers and industry bodies. The conference aims to catalyze innovation and build a robust local semiconductor ecosystem in India.

Surya Roshni Elevates Parul Phadke as Head of Marketing & Advertising for Lighting & Consumer Durables; Steering Next Phase of Growth

India, India, 07th November, 2025: Surya Roshni, one of the most trusted and respected brands in Lighting, Fans, Home Appliances, Steel, and PVC pipes, proudly announces the elevation of Parul Phadke as the new Head of Marketing & Advertising for its Lighting & Consumer Durables business. Parul brings a dynamic vision rooted in her dual postgraduate degrees in Marketing, along with the MBA and a recent certification in Digital Marketing from MICA, to strengthen Surya Roshni’s brand leadership across India.

Parul Phadke, a highly skilled marketing professional with extensive experience in brand management, corporate communication, public relations, and event management, has been with Surya Roshni as AGM – Marketing Communication prior to this promotion. In her new role, she will lead the marketing and advertising functions, focusing on innovative campaigns that resonate with Surya Roshni’s diverse customer base and strengthen its market leadership

In addition to her core marketing responsibilities, Ms. Phadke has been instrumental in leading Surya Roshni’s digital marketing transformation, building a robust online presence through data-driven insights, social media strategy, and digital advertising. Her integrated approach to traditional and digital media has significantly amplified the brand’s engagement and visibility among diverse consumer segments.

This elevation reflects Surya Roshni’s continued focus on strategic leadership and innovation as it embarks on its next phase of growth.

India Champions a Borderless Digital Trade Future at 2nd Asia-Pacific E-commerce Policy Summit

New Delhi, 07th November, 2025: The 2nd Asia-Pacific E-commerce Policy Summit concluded in New Delhi yesterday, focusing on shaping the region’s digital trade and e-commerce agenda. Organised by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), with support from the Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, the two-day summit brought together policymakers, business leaders, and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen collaboration for inclusive, paperless, and sustainable cross-border commerce. MSL, Amazon and the Express Industry Council of India joined as Knowledge Partners.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, the Summit has emerged as a premier platform for advancing policy dialogue on digital trade, paperless commerce, and MSME integration into global value chains, reinforcing India’s role in fostering inclusive and technology-driven growth across the region.

Dr. Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, in his keynote address, said, “E-commerce must become a two-way street, connecting India’s villages to global markets. Its true power lies in enabling livelihoods, empowering women, and ensuring inclusion through interoperability and innovation. Democratizing FinTech and data governance will be key to building an equitable digital trade ecosystem.”

He also highlighted that policy should make it easier for MSMEs to start exporting through innovative models such as allowing intermediaries to hold inventories on behalf of MSMEs for exports

Ms. Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh, Additional Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in her special address, stated, “E-commerce platforms have become vital gateways to sustainable livelihoods. By removing layers of intermediaries and geographical barriers, digital marketplaces empower sellers to reach customers directly, set competitive prices, and retain a greater share of income.”

Dr. Shekhar Aiyar, Director & CE, ICRIER, in his welcome address, stated, “The Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit is a timely opportunity to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to shape the future of digital trade in our region. As the APAC economy continues to drive global growth, our focus must be on making this progress inclusive, empowering women, MSMEs, and marginalised communities to participate fully in digital and cross-border trade. I look forward to two days of meaningful dialogue that will help build a more resilient and digitally empowered trade ecosystem.”

Mr. Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, ICRIER, during his address said, “As India advances toward its vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, trade, technology, and skills will shape the next phase of our growth story. The Asia-Pacific region must work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17, which calls for stronger partnerships across nations. The Second Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit is an opportunity to build these partnerships, foster trust in digital trade, and create pathways for inclusive growth. With India emerging as one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets, collaboration across governments and businesses will be key to driving innovation, enabling MSMEs, and empowering women to participate fully in global trade.”

The Summit included participation from senior policymakers and representatives from the region like H.E. Mrs. Chea Ratha (Secretary, Royal Government of Cambodia) and H.E. Mr. Nicholas McCaffrey (Charge De Affairs, Australian High Commission, India) and Dr. Yann Duval (Chief, Trade Policy and Facilitation Section, UNESCAP) and thought leaders across the region who discussed strategies to boost cross-border e-commerce, enhance digital inclusion, and strengthen resilient trade networks. The discussions focused on deepening cooperation between public and private sectors to drive MSME participation and align the region’s digital economy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). MSME representatives also shared how platforms like Amazon through Global Selling program are enabling Indian entrepreneurs and small business to cater to international customers through the use of technology.

Two landmark publications were launched during the summit:

• ICRIER–RIS Joint Study Report, ‘India and the Framework Agreement on Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA): State of Play and Way Forward’, authored by Dr. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), Dr. Prabir De is Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Mr Tahseen Ahmad Khan, Member, Advisory Committee, UNNExT and
• Preview of Amazon Global Selling’s Exports Digest 2025, spotlighting the rapidly growing contribution of Indian MSMEs to global e-commerce exports.

Mr. Srinidhi Kalvapudi, Head of India Global Selling, Amazon India, said: “India’s export strengths and manufacturing hubs—from established clusters in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to emerging centers in smaller towns—are helping Indian brands and MSMEs reach customers worldwide. Between 2015 and 2025, Amazon has enabled over $20 billion in cumulative e-commerce exports from India, and we’re now aiming for $80 billion by 2030. Global demand for ‘Made in India’ products is growing fast across categories like health and personal care, home décor, apparel, and toys. At the Asia-Pacific E-commerce Policy Summit, we’re collaborating with policymakers and industry leaders to strengthen India’s export ecosystem by simplifying global selling and expanding reach beyond metros.” 

Over two days, the Summit featured seven thematic sessions and high-level policy dialogues, addressing the most critical dimensions of the region’s digital trade transformation:

• High-Level Policy Dialogue on “Digital Empowerment of Women: Connecting Them to Regional and Global Value Chains” hosted by UNESCAP, featuring ministers and senior officials from Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• Panel on Enabling Seller Growth in APAC’s E-commerce Ecosystem, exploring logistics innovation, digital literacy, and MSME access to cross-border markets, with participation from Amazon, the Australian High Commission, Cambodia and India’s Ministry of Textiles.
• Panel on Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Technology and Trade, focusing on AI, blockchain, and digital infrastructure financing, with experts from the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and the Korea Trade Network (KTNET).
• Panel on Cross-Border Paperless Trade featuring the release of the ICRIER–RIS CPTA Report, outlining frameworks for seamless regional trade integration.
• Plenary on Collaborating for Growth: Enabling Women Empowerment, highlighting inclusive frameworks for women entrepreneurs across APAC.
• Panel on Building Consumer Trust Through Secure Cross-Border Payments led by experts from India, South Korea and Thailand and UN.
• Panel on AI Regulation and Its Impact on Digital Trade featuring voices from Amazon, the World Bank, and Northeastern University, USA.

Dignitaries from more than 12 countries, including Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, participated in the Summit alongside senior Indian government representatives from the Ministry of Textiles, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and NITI Aayog.

The Summit was designed to promote actionable cooperation between governments, international organisations, and industry stakeholders to accelerate digital trade integration in Asia-Pacific. It also sought to create frameworks that make trade more efficient, transparent, and inclusive positioning India as a key bridge for digital connectivity across the region.

Singer Songwriter, Aditya Rikhari’s ‘Sahiba’ Becomes Longest-Running Non-Film Trending on Spotify Charts 2025

Mumbai, 07th November, 2025: Independent singer-songwriter Aditya Rikhari’s soulful track ‘Sahiba’ has made history by becoming the longest-running non-film song trending on Spotify India charts. Released in 2023, the song’s rise to the top has been steady and organic, fueled entirely by listeners’ love and word-of-mouth, staying unbeaten for over 11 weeks in 2025 alone.

In an environment where attention spans are short and trends often move fast, Sahiba stands out for its staying power. Listeners continue to return to the track for its understated production, intimate lyricism, and the emotional clarity that has become synonymous with Aditya’s songwriting. The song’s rise reflects a broader shift in audience preference toward independent voices crafting unfiltered, relatable narratives.

Aditya, who began sharing his music from his home studio, has now emerged as one of the most streamed independent artists in the Indian pop landscape. His evolution has been further recognized with his recent role as the youngest mentor on Amazon MX Player’s IPOPSTAR, where he is guiding emerging talent navigating a rapidly evolving music ecosystem. His presence on the show signals a generational transition, artists shaping culture not only through their music, but also through mentorship and community-building.

The sustained success of Sahiba underscores a significant moment for India’s independent music movement, demonstrating how digital platforms continue to redefine discovery and reshape the trajectory of non-film artists. For many listeners, the track is not simply a song, but a shared emotional experience, one that has grown organically, without high-budget campaigns or film tie-ins.

As independent music continues to influence mainstream listening habits, Sahiba serves as a case study in how authenticity and emotional resonance can transcend conventional release cycles, and how audiences today are willing to champion work that feels personal and thoughtfully crafted.