“Accelerating India’s Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance” by renowned Indian economist Karthik Muralidharan has won the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2025, for its rigorous and accessible blueprint to unlock India’s next phase of growth through stronger state capacity and effective public service delivery. This landmark work systematically examines India’s governance challenges, especially in education, health, social protection, and jobs and sets out evidence-based, state-level reform strategies to ensure that growth translates into widespread improvements in citizens’ lives.​​

Ranjit Shah, Arindam Bhattacharya, Aparajith Ramnath, Shailesh Haribhakti, UK Sinha, Karthik Muralidharan, Anupam Gupta, C K Venkataraman, Imran Jafar, Gopal Jain (L-R)

Karthik Muralidharan currently serves as the Tata Chancellor’s Professor of Economics at the University of California, San Diego, and holds a PhD from Harvard University. Drawing on over two decades of research, policy engagement, and field experience, Muralidharan combines academic depth with practical insight to demonstrate how better-designed institutions, smarter public spending, and stronger state capacity can dramatically improve development outcomes. The book stands out for translating complex economic and governance ideas into an actionable roadmap for policymakers, practitioners, and citizens interested in a more inclusive and effective Indian state.​

The award was conferred at Gaja Talks 2025, a gathering of entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and thinkers that shines a spotlight on ideas shaping India’s future. The evening featured a panel with the shortlisted authors, who discussed issues ranging from institutional reform and federalism to leadership, innovation, and India’s evolving economic landscape​.

Gopal Jain, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Gaja Capital, said, “This year’s winning book combines intellectual rigour with practical vision to show how India can convert its vast potential into tangible outcomes for every citizen, by investing in a stronger, more capable state. In shining a light on governance and state capacity, it aligns closely with the Prize’s mission to celebrate ideas that shape India’s business and development story, and that inspire the next generation of leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.”​​

Manish Sabharwal, Chairman of the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize Jury, commented, “Accelerating India’s Development is more than a book on economics or policy; it is a practical guide to making the Indian state work better for its people. The jury was particularly impressed by how the author balances ambition with feasibility, offering reform pathways that are grounded in evidence, sensitive to political economy, and focused on execution, not just intent.”​​

The 2025 jury brought together leaders from business, investing, public policy, economics, and governance, continuing the tradition of a multidisciplinary panel that evaluates books for originality, depth of research, clarity of argument, and real-world impact. The Prize, now in its seventh edition, has emerged as a benchmark recognition for authors who illuminate India’s entrepreneurial journeys, institutional evolution, and broader economic and social transformation.​​

About the winning author and book
A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Cambridge, Karthik Muralidharan spent a decade as a consultant at the World Bank before transitioning to academia. His research spans development, public, and labour economics, with a focus on enhancing the effectiveness of public spending in the social sector. In addition to advising research institutions around the world, in 2019, Muralidharan founded the Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS), an organisation dedicated to improving lives by helping state governments in India deliver stronger development outcomes. 

“Accelerating India’s Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance” offers a comprehensive analysis of why India’s development is constrained not by a lack of ambition or resources, but by weak state capacity and uneven service delivery. Muralidharan argues that sustained progress requires a strategic focus on strengthening the core functions of the state—personnel management, data systems, accountability, fiscal federalism, and program design—rather than simply expanding spending or creating new schemes.​

The book proposes politically feasible and practically implementable reforms to improve outcomes in areas such as education, health, social protection, and jobs, with a strong emphasis on state-level innovation and decentralisation. Written in a clear and engaging style, it brings rigorous ideas into the mainstream and serves as a valuable guide for anyone interested in understanding India’s economic trajectory.

ARCH College of Design & Business marked an impactful presence at the 25th Global CII Design Summit & Exposition 2025, Bengaluru. The summit, themed “Design for the 4Ps: People, Planet, Purpose, Profitability,” brought together global leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and educators to reimagine the role of design in building a sustainable and future-ready world.
 

Archana Surana & Prof. Pradyumna Vyas sign the Cumulus-CII MoU
 

Founder & Director Ms. Archana Surana participated as a speaker, sharing insights on sustainability, evolving design education, and India’s growing influence in the global design landscape. Reflecting on India’s philosophy of responsible innovation, she stated, “Sustainability is a mindset rooted in India’s tradition of community, inclusivity, and shared growth. When businesses focus on impact and uplift everyone together, it becomes a way of life.”
 

A major highlight of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Cumulus Association, the world’s largest global network of design and arts institutions. The MoU aims to strengthen international cooperation in design education, research College, mobility, and industry engagement. It will enable joint research College, knowledge exchange, global faculty–student mobility, and collaborative academic initiatives between design institutions and innovation ecosystems worldwide.
 

As Executive Board Member (2025-2028) and former Vice President of the Cumulus Association (2022-2025), Ms. Surana played a pivotal role in facilitating this partnership, reinforcing India’s position in global design dialogue. The MoU was signed by Prof. Pradyumna Vyas, President, World Design Organization & Senior Advisor, CII, and Ms. Archana Surana, representing Cumulus Association. Gratitude was extended to Prof. Lorenzo Imbesi, President, Cumulus, and Ms. Eija Salmi, Secretary General, for their support in advancing this collaboration.
 

The summit was also attended by ARCH College staff members and students, offering them rich exposure to industry practices, expert conversations, and professional networks. The event also featured the CII Design Excellence Awards and industry visits, highlighting India’s rapidly evolving innovation capabilities and the growing synergy between academia and industry.
 

A distinguished leader in the global design community, Archana Surana’s journey combines institution-building with a commitment to shaping responsible creative futures. As Founder & Director of ARCH College, she has led 25 years of innovative design education.
 

Established in 2000 in Jaipur – India’s UNESCO Creative City – ARCH College of Design & Business is a pioneering institution committed to nurturing responsible, future-ready design professionals. The college integrates experiential learning, industry partnerships, cultural engagement, and interdisciplinary exploration to develop creative thinkers equipped for the global creative economy.
 

ARCH College offers internationally benchmarked BTEC qualifications with Pearson (UK) and B. Des programmes in Digital Design, Graphic & Communication Design, Interior & Product Design, Fashion & Textiles, and Jewellery Design, along with postgraduate pathways including Masters in Design & Entrepreneurship. Read more at www.archedu.org.
 

With its mission-driven approach and expanding global partnerships, ARCH College continues to contribute meaningfully to design education, creative industries, and India’s innovation ecosystem – empowering learners to design purposeful, sustainable, and impactful futures.

Terre des hommes (Tdh) India, a child rights organisation that has deepened its understanding of how climate change affects children by actively listening to young people in the Sundarbans region and in Jharkhand, organised Children and Climate 2025 on 11th December 2025, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Insights from these communities helped Tdh recognise the direct link between environmental stress and the fulfilment of children’s rights. The event convened donors, researchers, practitioners, youth speakers, and policymakers for an in-depth dialogue on how climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most urgent child-rights challenges of our time.

Children and Climate 2025 conference organised by Terre des hommes (India)

In India, the impact of climate change is accelerating, with over 85% of districts exposed to recurring extreme climate events such as heatwaves, floods, and cyclones. These shocks directly affect children’s nutrition, education, protection, mental health, and long-term development.

At the Children and Climate conference, participants explored these intersections through an integrated, child-sensitive lens. Discussions focused on designing climate programmes that strengthen social protection systems, embed child-sensitive health responses, and support families facing climate-induced migration. Manavi Bhardwaj from India Climate Collaborative, Sarbjit Singh Sahota from UNICEF India, Harini Kannan from J-Pal, Pragya Vats from IPE Global, and Dr. Sudeshna Chatterjee from WRI were some of the panelists. The event also amplified community voices, highlighting how local experiences must inform larger climate-resilience frameworks.

The conference structure drew from the project cycle management approach, enabling a step-by-step examination of how child-centred climate interventions should be planned, financed, implemented, and evaluated. Panel discussions and breakout sessions encouraged funders, practitioners, and researchers to collectively identify gaps, share evidence, propose innovative financing models, and understand the practical challenges of mainstreaming climate considerations into existing child-focused programmes.

Speaking at the event, Anindit Roy Chowdhury, Multi-country Director (India & Nepal), Terre des hommes, said, “Children are not merely victims of the climate crisis, they are essential actors in shaping resilient and inclusive futures. Yet the systems meant to support them still respond in fragments. Climate risks intersect with health, protection, and migration in a child’s life, and our solutions must reflect that. Through this convening, we aim to strengthen the collective resolve to design truly integrated programmes that prioritise children’s rights, safety, and well-being”.

Children and Climate 2025 reinforced the need for multi-sectoral partnerships and sustained cooperation across development, climate, and social systems. Tdh India reaffirmed its commitment to advancing integrated solutions that safeguard children in India’s most climate-vulnerable contexts, and to collaborating with stakeholders to shape a more inclusive, resilient future for every child.

About Terre des hommes (Tdh) India

Terre des hommes (Tdh) India is a leading child-rights organisation working to strengthen health, protection and resilience systems for vulnerable children, youth and communities across high-risk geographies. With a deep focus on digital innovation, climate-resilient child protection, safe mobility and maternal and child health, Tdh collaborates closely with government departments, frontline workers, and community institutions to drive long-term structural change. Since 2016, Tdh India has reached more than 500,000 children, families, and community members, advancing safer childhoods, stronger systems, and equitable access to care and opportunity.

• Digital mentorship program is aimed at early stage founders to handhold them in navigating product, compliance and market challenges

• The program will create an indexed library of recurring founder challenges and practical responses across payments, lending, wealthtech, insurtech, regtech and embedded finance.

• Program commences in Jan 2026

• The IFTA platform also concluded its fintech awards initiative with Sahi winning Fintech Startup of the Year and Pine Labs winning Excellence in Payments award

• 3rd edition of Fintech Olympiad registered participation from 70,000 students from over 4000 colleges pan India

The India FinTech Forum concluded the 10th edition of the India FinTech Awards (IFTA) on 10 December 2025 at Aurika, Mumbai. Supported by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Clearing Corporation Limited (ICCL), this year’s event brought together policymakers, financial institutions, technology firms, and investors for discussions on regulatory priorities, digital infrastructure, and sector trends.

Celebrating IFTA’s 10th milestone as the longest running fintech event bringing top industry leaders together and honoring excellence, talent, and fintech innovation

Sougata Basu, Founder, CashRich, said, “As an Executive Committee Member of India FinTech Forum and the Founder of Fintech Olympiad, I am proud that the India FinTech Awards (IFTA) has become the only fintech event in India to achieve a continuous 10-year journey. This milestone reflects the trust of our fintech community and the growing strength of the ecosystem. With 70000+ participants, the Fintech Olympiad has become a uniquely impactful initiative that builds financial literacy and digital fluency for India. Together, these efforts show how India is shaping the future of finance.”

The multi-track event featured keynote addresses from Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Managing Director, State Bank of India; Mr. Vishal Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, Bandhan AMC Limited; Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, National Stock Exchange of India (NSE); and Ms. Vaisshali Babu, Managing Director and CEO, ICCL. Their remarks covered developments in banking, capital markets, asset management, and market infrastructure, with a shared focus on stability, governance, and the role of technology in strengthening financial systems.

The India FinTech Forum announced the launch of Mentor Chronicles Fintech Edition at IFTA 2025, introducing a structured digital mentorship series aimed at early-stage founders navigating product, compliance, and market challenges. The initiative responds to a tougher operating environment marked by higher customer acquisition costs, longer compliance cycles and intensified investor scrutiny. The programme collects and curates real founder questions, which are then addressed in focused conversations with experienced operators, investors and sector specialists. Positioned as a long-term knowledge resource, Mentor Chronicles will create an indexed library of recurring founder challenges and practical responses across payments, lending, wealthtech, insurtech, regtech and embedded finance.

Beginning January 2026, selected founders will participate, with organisers with an objective of not just funding access but sharper decision-making, better product prioritisation and improved regulatory preparedness. The Forum noted that as the fintech sector enters a phase of consolidation and compliance-driven growth, accessible and experience-led guidance has become a critical gap the programme aims to fill.

The Forum received over 1,500 applications for IFTA 2025. Shortlisted firms showcased solutions in payments, lending, compliance, insurance, and wealth management, with a jury assessing them for relevance, impact, and scalability.

The event also featured the Fintech Olympiad, aimed at strengthening financial and digital literacy among students. Organisers reported rising participation and noted that early exposure to payments, savings, risk, and digital finance is increasingly important as the sector grows. 70,000 students from across the country registered for the Fintech Olympiad from 4000+ colleges. Around 120 students were shortlisted over 10 online and 21 Regional Rounds for the National Finals held in Mumbai at IFTA.

IFTA 2025 also announced winners of the year across categories.

Winners at IFTA 2025:

1. Fintech Startup of the Year: Sahi

2. Fintech Rising Stars: Riskcovry, SaveIN, OnFinance AI, Navanc Data Sciences

3. Fintech Scaleup of the Year: Timble Technologies

4. Most Innovative Fintech Product: Fam

5. Best Innovation in Digital Lending: GetVantage

6. Best International Fintech in India: Valocity

7. Best Fintech Initiative For Social Impact: Spice Money

8. Excellence in Payments: Pine Labs

9. Best Use of AI in Fintech: GreyLabs AI

10. Best Innovation in RegTech: CAMS

11. Best Innovation in WealthTech: Aspero

12. Excellence in InsurTech: Perfios

13. Best Technology Company for Fintech Solutions: Falcon

14. Best Initiative for Financial Literacy: PayNearby

The winners of the National Finals of the Fintech Olympiad 2025 were announced during IFTA.

Students Category:

1. Winner: Tejas Sayli, JBIMS Mumbai

2. 1st Runner up: Dhruv Garg, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

3. 2nd Runner up: Dhruv Patel, Tolani Motwane Institute of Management Studies

Professionals Category:

1. Winner: Rohan Khanna, Director, Barclays

2. 1st Runner up: Madhur Tike, Data Analyst, Morningstar

3. 2nd Runner up: Shashank Rakesh, Regional Manager, BriskPe

About India FinTech Forum:

The India FinTech Forum, a nonprofit platform fostering collaboration among over 4,500 companies and 37,000 individuals, remains dedicated to making India a global fintech leader. Since its founding in 2016, the Forum’s flagship event, IFTA, has spotlighted groundbreaking ideas, bringing together fintech startups, investors, and thought leaders. The Forum launched the Fintech Olympiad, a national initiative for digital and financial literacy in 2023.

More details at: www.indiafintech.com and www.fintecholympiad.org. 

Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading packaged drinking water company, organized a Mega Cleanliness Drive in partnership with the Katalytic Charter Educational Foundation (KCEF). The activity was held across three charter schools and brought together total approximate 125 participants, students, teachers, volunteers, Bisleri representatives, and collected around 560 kg of waste across a stretch of 11 kms. The drive is part of the ongoing collaboration between Bisleri and KCEF to encourage students to build simple, everyday habits around waste management and recycling.
 

Bisleri International and Katalytic Charter Educational Foundation came together to conduct a Mega Cleanliness Drive
 

The event was attended by Mrs. Chimi Donka, Chief Education Officer, Gangtok District, Mr. Anugrah E Rai, Joint Director, School Education, Education Department, Mr. Tshering Yangchen Joint Director, IT, Education Department, Mr. N. B Chettri, Assistant Director, SE, Education Department and Ms. Choeki CEO of  Katalytic Charter Educational Foundation, Community members were also present and encouraged students to look after the environment around them.
 

The day began with a short opening ceremony, followed by the distribution of cleanup kits. Volunteers then spent two hours collecting and sorting waste from selected areas. Students were provided with gloves, masks, trash bags, and safety kits. The event included a small discussion on plastic waste management, and a photo session with students, followed by distribution of certificates to all the participants for their involvement.
 

Speaking about the activity, Mr. K. Ganesh, Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd, said, “At Bisleri, we try to involve young people and communities in simple actions that build long-term habits. This drive with KCEF is another step in that direction. We want students to feel confident about taking small but meaningful steps for the environment.”
 

Commenting on the initiative, Mrs. Chimi Donka, Chief Education Officer, Gangtok District said, “I am delighted to see students taking such an active role in promoting cleanliness and environmental awareness. Initiatives like this not only instils a sense of responsibility among young minds but also inspire our communities to embrace sustainable practices. I commend Bisleri International and KCEF for their continued efforts in nurturing a cleaner and greener Sikkim.”
 

The collaboration reflects Bisleri’s wider work on responsible plastic use, recycling, and community participation. Together with KCEF, the company aims to nurture a sense of shared responsibility and encourage young people in Sikkim to lead by example.

About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.

With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd. has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country’s largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 114 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water.
 

Bisleri International has a strong presence with 128 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Rev, Bisleri Spyci Jeera, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform – Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep.
 

The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation and sustainability.

For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com.

OTTplay has designated 12th December as “Rajinikanth Day” going forward. Marking the Superstar’s 75th birthday, the platform today unveiled a special full-page tribute in Hindustan Times, headlined “12/12 Happy Rajinikanth Day” to commemorate the birthday of cinema’s biggest phenomenon.

A full-page tribute in Hindustan Times marks the 75th birthday of Indian cinema’s biggest phenomenon

As India’s living treasure, a presence that has lit up single screens, living rooms and hearts for five decades, turns 75, the tribute had to be fitting. The creative is a powerful salute to a cultural icon whose influence cuts across languages, regions and generations. It’s not only a hat tip to his unmatched stardom but also to generations of fans who have grown up whistling at his entries, copying his style and finding courage in his larger-than-life onscreen avatars.

The print tribute is the centrepiece of a wider OTTplay campaign across digital and social platforms, inviting fans across India to celebrate Thalaivar’s milestone by streaming his most iconic performances. At the heart of the celebration is OTTplay, India’s leading OTT aggregation platform, which brings together content from more than 30 streaming platforms under a single subscription, powered by an AI-led discovery engine. Fans can explore Rajinikanth’s legacy across classics and contemporary blockbusters, including Baashha, Muthu, Kabali, Petta,and more available across partner platforms such as SunNXT, JioHotstar, Z5, and more.

Speaking on the occasion, Avinash Mudaliar, CEO, OTTplay, said, “Rajinikanth is not just a superstar. He is a feeling, a memory and a part of growing up for millions of Indians. On his 75th birthday, this tribute is our way of saying a collective thank you to the man who still unites families, generations and geographies like no one else. Through OTTplay, we want every fan, from the ones who first saw him on grainy prints to today’s streaming natives, to discover, revisit and celebrate his cinematic journey.”

The birthday tribute reflects OTTplay’s mission to make great stories easier to discover, rewatch and celebrate, bringing fandom, legacy and everyday viewing together on one platform. With this campaign, OTTplay invites audiences to honour Rajinikanth not only with nostalgia, but by rediscovering the films that made him a cultural force whose appeal continues to endure.

About OTTplay

OTTplay is India’s leading OTT aggregator that leverages AI-driven recommendations to personalise content discovery. Through its partnerships with 30+ leading OTT platforms, OTTplay delivers a curated, seamless, one-stop entertainment experience across languages, genres, and platforms.