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Marwari Catalysts Group Enters Affordable IVF with Elara IVF under its VSM

Marwari Catalysts Group, under its Venture Studio Model, has entered the affordable IVF space in India with the launch of Elara IVF – a fertility centre committed to affordable, accessible focused in tier2-3 cities. This marks the fourth healthcare start-up in MCats Group’s portfolio, alongside Sarathi Healthcare, Nuskha Kitchen, and One Dose.
 

Marwari Catalysts enters affordable IVF with Elara IVF under its Venture Studio model
 

Elara IVF, Founder and COO, Dr Renu Sharma, is known for providing affordable IVF and ICSI treatments with a strong focus on transparency and patient education. This reflects a shared vision – to make quality fertility care more accessible to couples across India.
 

Sushil Sharma, Founder & CEO of Marwari Catalysts Group, said, “The global fertility market is a massive opportunity, yet affordability continues to be the biggest barrier. We are solving this challenge by ensuring high-quality IVF care reaches families not just in metros but in smaller cities. We will also attract global medical tourism for IVF. Marwari Catalysts Group has always been seen as the brand ambassador for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities of India, and therefore we have started our pilot in Jodhpur and Ajmer.”
 

Dr Renu Sharma, stated, “Having worked with multiple IVF centres (Zivia, Apex, EHCC, CK Birla Hospital), I realized there is a massive opportunity and significant gap – especially in smaller cities where access to affordable IVF is limited, with the right business model. We aim to build India’s largest affordable IVF chain. We have already launched centres in Jodhpur (Dr Nimisha Balara) and Ajmer (Dr Mahiraj Gaur), and within the coming year, we are targeting 20+ centres across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in next 12 months.”
 

Dr. Seema Chaudhary, Founder & Managing Director, Seema Finchem Industry (Mumbai) and Advisory Board Member at Elara IVF, said, “Elara IVF offers an industrial level of discipline, efficiency, standardization and transparency into fertility care. This approach is exactly what India needs to make IVF truly affordable and rapidly scalable across small cities ensuring that high quality reproductive care becomes accessible to families everywhere.”
 

Gajendra Singh, Director of Elara IVF, added, “With Marwari Catalysts Group’s support, we aim to expand our reach and continue making fertility care simpler and more affordable for everyone who needs it.”
 

As India’s healthcare sector continues to prioritize access and affordability, this initiative underscores Marwari Catalysts Group’s growing commitment to supporting meaningful innovation for Bharat.
 

About Marwari Catalysts
Marwari Catalysts Group (MCats) is one of India’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem player (Accelerator and Venture Studio), with mentors with skin in the game supporting 100+ early-stage ventures across 20+ cities backed by SEBI-approved CAT-I AIF. MCats provide capital, mentorship, and global market access to founders. Its portfolio has already created 5,000+ jobs while driving inclusion through 35% women-led startups and successfully done 11+ exits. We are headquartered in Jodhpur with its regional offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Jaipur.

Repo Rate Slashed to 5.25 percent; Softer Rate Cycle Reignites Demand Across Real Estate Sector

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unanimously cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to 5.25 percent. This marks the fourth rate reduction in 2025, totalling a cumulative 125 bps cut since the start of the year. This decisive move comes against a backdrop of easing inflation, stable growth, and an eagerness to boost liquidity and credit flow. For homebuyers, particularly those looking at affordable, mid-income, or even premium housing across NCR and other urban corridors, this signals a fresh wave of affordability. As banks adjust lending rates, borrowers with floating-rate home loans may soon see lower EMIs, reviving demand and giving impetus to property purchases. The softer interest rate environment is thus set to underpin stronger housing demand through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, a period likely to see many “fence-sitters” finally turning into homeowners.

 

Repo Rate Slashed to 5.25 percent; Reignites Demand Across Real Estate Sector

 

Real-estate developers welcomed the decision, noting that it could accelerate demand, convert cautious buyers into committed ones, and provide the needed boost to both residential and commercial launches in the coming year.

 

Sandeep Chhillar, Founder and Chairman, Landmark Group, says, “The RBI bringing the repo rate down by 25 basis points marks a strong pro-growth signal and undoubtedly benefits the real estate sector. With home loan rates likely to fall further, affordability will improve, especially for first-time homebuyers. This move is expected to reignite demand, sustain buyer interest, and create a favourable environment for continued growth across the housing market.

 

Umang Jindal, CEO, Homeland Group, says, “The 25 bps rate cut is a welcome breather for the industry, especially at a time when growth is spreading beyond metros. In Tier-II cities, we’re seeing families upgrade to better homes and businesses look for organised commercial spaces. This reduction nudges both trends forward. It lowers borrowing costs, improves sentiment, and makes it easier for developers like us to fast-track mixed-use neighbourhoods where people can live, work, and shop within the same ecosystem. As we head into 2026, Tier-II markets are set to witness stronger absorption, better retail activity, and sustained demand for quality residential projects driven by aspiration and improved affordability.”

 

Sehaj Chawla, Managing Director, TREVOC Group, says, “The cumulative softening of rates — with the latest 25 bps cut bringing the effective lending environment to 5.25 percent from 6.50 percent last year — marks a total reduction of 1.25 percent, which is a major boost for homebuyers. Lower borrowing costs directly translate into higher purchasing power and faster decision-making. Supported by stable inflation and strong GDP momentum, this move sets the stage for accelerated growth across the real estate sector.”

 

Harinder Singh Hora, Founder Chairman, Reach Group, says, “Retail thrives on consumer confidence, and the RBI’s move to bring the repo rate down to 5.25 percent is exactly the sentiment boost the sector needed. For developers, this signals a stronger investment climate, easier access to capital, and faster decision-making from brands planning expansion. We anticipate higher leasing activity across high-streets, malls and experience-led retail centres in Gurugram, as occupiers move quickly to secure prime spaces before the new year. By 2026, this policy shift will contribute significantly to a more vibrant, liquid, and future-ready retail ecosystem across NCR, benefiting both developers and brands.”

 

Shyamrup Roy Choudhury, Founder and Managing Director, Aura World, says, The 25 bps rate cut is a highly encouraging development for the luxury housing segment, where sentiment and confidence play a far larger role than affordability. Affluent buyers tracking macro trends will view this as a strong green signal to advance large-ticket purchases. Further, the reduced rate will strengthen liquidity for developers building high-spec, design-led communities. As we look toward 2026, luxury housing will continue gaining momentum, powered by wealth creation, asset diversification, and India’s rising global economic position.

 

Ankit Kansal, MD, 360 Realtors, says, “The recent decision by RBI to lower the Repo Rate is a welcome step, as it will enable reduction in home loan rates and make property more affordable in numerous urban corridors such as MMR, NCR, Bangalore, Pune and Chandigarh. The inflation rates are benign, and the economy appears to be on a strong footing marked by healthy agrarian output, a rise in rural demand and strong corporate savings. In such a situation, it is seemingly a prudent move to lower the REPO rate and infuse liquidity in the market.”

 

Ashwani Kumar, Pyramid Infratech, says, “The 25 bps cut, especially after two consecutive status-quo policy announcements, signals a renewed push toward affordability and market confidence. For Gurugram’s end-user-driven corridors, this will encourage families who were delaying decisions due to rate uncertainties. As we enter the year-end buying cycle and prepare for 2026, this move is set to enhance absorption across well-connected micro-markets and support long-term stability in premium housing.”

 

Azad Ahmad Lone, President, Business Development and Operations, Biigtech, says, “The RBI’s 25 bps repo rate cut couldn’t have come at a better time for NCR’s commercial sector. Cities like Noida-Greater Noida are becoming India’s most credible alternative to traditional commercial hubs, due to strong connectivity, a deep talent pool, and highly competitive rentals. We’re seeing GCCs and global MNCs actively exploring sizeable office mandates here. This rate reduction will only make capital deployment smoother for new Grade A offices, high-street clusters, and integrated work–retail spaces. Moving toward 2026, we expect sharper pre-commitments, longer leases, and a robust pipeline of institutionally backed commercial assets“.

 

As the market absorbs the implications of the RBI’s 25 bps rate cut, the momentum clearly tilts toward a more active and confident real estate cycle. Lower EMIs, improved liquidity, and a sentiment boost across buyer segments position the sector for a healthier close to 2025.

Insights Into the Country's Casual Gaming Boom

Casual gaming in India has evolved from a fringe digital pastime into one of the country’s most predictable, high-frequency consumer behaviours. Over the past three years, the market has undergone a structural shift driven by deeper smartphone penetration, a surge in Bharat-led adoption, the rise of free-to-play ecosystems, and growing demand for short, interactive entertainment.

 

Today, India is home to an estimated 550–600 million casual gamers, making it one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing gaming ecosystems. Analysts project that by 2030, this category could become an USD 8–10 billion opportunity, redefining how India spends its digital time.

 

Across leading platforms, 2–6 minute “micro sessions” dominate gameplay, accounting for roughly 70–75% of all sessions as users squeeze in games between daily tasks. This behaviour mirrors India’s larger short-form content consumption trend, where mobile-led, snackable engagement has become default for Gen Z and beyond.

 

Short, timed formats in games such as Ludo, cricket mini-games, word puzzles, and arcade titles work because they deliver quick emotional payoffs without demanding prolonged focus. For product teams, this makes tight game loops, fast matchmaking, and low-friction re-entry non-negotiable design priorities.

 

Nostalgia as a Growth Engine

Traditional board games—Ludo, Carrom, Snakes & Ladders, and Tambola—now account for more than half of all casual gaming time.  Gaming platform like Zupee Ludo alone has surpassed 60 million downloads in India. For millions of players, these titles are digital extensions of childhood memories and family traditions.

 

Nostalgia also acts as a powerful retention engine: culturally rooted games show 20–25% higher long-term retention than modern casual formats, as users return for the comfort, familiarity, and social bragging rights they evoke. Platforms with deep classic catalogues and fresh twists on Ludo or Carrom continue to post strong repeat engagement. Despite global influences, India’s gaming preferences remain deeply anchored in cultural familiarity.

 

Bharat-Led Expansion and Price Sensitivity

Falling smartphone prices (average ASP now USD 210) and some of the world’s cheapest mobile data have made gaming truly mass-market. Tier-2, Tier-3, and rural regions contribute nearly 70% of new user additions, underscoring Bharat’s central role in driving growth.

 

Indian gamers are intensely price-sensitive: over 90% prefer free-to-play titles, cementing the F2P model as the default standard. Monetisation, therefore, depends on scale, optional in-app spends, and—in some segments—competitive or skill-based layers rather than upfront purchases.

 

Rise of Skill-Led Formats

Engagement with skill-based casual formats—where outcomes rely on timing, strategy, and decision-making is growing rapidly, at 30–40% annually across the broader gaming market. Timed battles, quick duels, and competitive puzzles offer players a sense of “controlled challenge,” balancing accessibility with agency.

 

Gaming as a Social Ritual

Casual gaming has also become a weekly social ritual. Surveys reveal that more than half of Indian gamers play with friends or family at least once a week, often gathering in digital Ludo or Carrom rooms. Voice chats, private lobbies, and family groups have turned these games into social spaces, becoming part of weekend or festival routines—well beyond the lure of monetary rewards.

 

Designed for Bharat Hardware

A large share of Indian smartphones still fall in the 3–4 GB RAM category with limited storage, making lightweight, sub-100 MB titles the dominant choice. Games that run smoothly on patchy networks and older devices consistently outperform heavy builds. Optimisation, therefore, is not just good tech hygiene it’s a growth strategy.

 

Peak Playtime Patterns

India’s playtime curve is unique. Beyond the typical 8–11 pm prime-time spike, there is a noticeable 2–5 pm surge, driven by office-goers, students, gig workers, and homemakers using short breaks for quick sessions. For marketers and product teams, these twin peaks create powerful time windows for notifications, tournaments, topical content drops, and high-impact advertising.

 

A Self-Contained Mobile Ecosystem

Estimates suggest India now has 500–550 million gamers and is on track to surpass 700 million by the end of the decade, with mobile casual titles at the core of this growth. Analysts expect the wider gaming and interactive media market to triple to USD 7–8 billion by FY30, with casual play as a leading contributor.

 

Unlike Western markets, where casual gaming often funnels players into console or mid-core experiences, India’s gaming ecosystem is self-contained, mobile-first, and culturally grounded. Apps such as Ludo King and other free-to-play titles have soared by designing for low-spec hardware and Bharat’s gameplay preferences.

ASBL Hosts NRI Realty Meet in Middle East, Offering Guidance on Hyderabad Real Estate & What To Consider Before Buying A Home

ASBL, India’s fastest-growing real estate developer headquartered in Hyderabad, recently concluded its NRI Realty Meet in the Middle East as part of its landmark multi-city global outreach series. The initiative was held across Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, representing ASBL’s formal entry into the Gulf market and a significant step towards building a stronger international investor base among the global Indian community.
 

ASBL Hosts NRI Realty Meet in Middle East, Offering Guidance on Hyderabad Real Estate & What To Consider Before Buying A Home
 

With the Middle East being one of the most important regions for Indian real estate investments, ASBL’s presence in the region reflects a long-term commitment to deepening relationships with NRI investors and serving them through direct engagement. This meet is driven by growing overseas demand for Future city Hyderabad, particularly from professionals seeking stable, high-growth investment opportunities backed by strong infrastructure and regulatory confidence.

 

Hyderabad has consistently ranked as India’s No.1 city for quality of living by mercer, strengthening investor confidence among global NRIs. Hyderabad’s real estate momentum is strongly backed by large-scale infrastructure development including the 340-km Regional Ring Road (RRR), the 392-km Outer Ring Rail along the RRR corridor, and the Strategic Road Development Program (SRDP), which has completed 36 out of 42 major mobility projects across the city. The Financial District alone has emerged as India’s fastest-growing employment hub, with global companies leasing over 10 million sq. ft. and creating more than 1,00,000 new jobs. This combination of infra expansion and tech-driven job creation continues to solidify Hyderabad as one of India’s most resilient property markets.

 

What sets this Middle East expansion apart is the direct involvement of ASBL Founder & CEO, Ajitesh Korupolu, who personally led the interactions across all cities. While most developers rely on channel-driven overseas outreach, ASBL’s leadership-led initiative enabled NRIs to engage directly with the company’s top management, reinforcing trust, transparency, and long-term relationship-building. This approach reflects ASBL’s philosophy of placing customers at the centre of its growth strategy, even beyond Indian shores.

 

The Middle East NRI Realty Meet was designed to address the key challenges NRIs face when investing in India, including evolving market dynamics, limited access to real-time data, and uncertainty around long-term value. Through direct dialogue and data-backed insights, ASBL enabled participants to gain a clearer understanding of Hyderabad real estate landscape, pricing trends, infrastructure-driven growth, rental yields, upcoming projects in Hyderabad, and long-term investment potential.

 

During these sessions, Ajitesh Korupolu highlighted Hyderabad’s continued emergence as one of India’s most resilient real estate markets, supported by sustained demand from the global tech workforce, large-scale infrastructure development, and the ongoing expansion of the Financial District and western growth corridor. He also shared insights into the steady rise in NRI investments across premium residential micro-markets, driven by employment growth, improved urban planning, and strong regulatory frameworks.

 

Ajitesh Korupolu, Founder & CEO, ASBL, said, “The Middle East is home to one of the strongest and most influential NRI investor communities. Our intent is not just to showcase projects, but to empower global Indian buyers with transparent, data-backed insights so they can make confident, long-term investment decisions back home. Hyderabad continues to offer exceptional fundamentals for real estate investment, and we aim to build lasting relationships with NRIs who are looking to stay meaningfully connected with India’s growth story.”

 

Through this Middle East expansion, ASBL is reaffirming its commitment to transparent communication, unbiased market education, and customer-first engagement. By giving overseas buyers direct access to leadership and authentic market intelligence, the company is redefining how Indian real estate brands engage with global investors. The initiative reflects ASBL’s larger vision to evolve into a globally connected real estate brand that empowers NRIs to make informed, confident, and future-ready investment decisions in India.

The Not-so-Secret Pillar Behind VinFast's Rise and Rise Again

In Vietnam, VinFast’s ascent to the top of the automotive market has been one of the country’s most remarkable industrial stories. A brand that began its journey only a few years ago now leads the market with record-breaking momentum. In October 2025 alone, VinFast delivered 20,380 EVs, tripling Toyota and lifting its ten-month tally to 124,264 vehicles, a feat that analysts described as unprecedented in Vietnamese automotive history.

 

VinFast introduced industry-leading warranties, up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometers

 

This rise has been rooted in three core pillars.

 

The first is high-quality vehicles, anchored in engineering discipline and global safety benchmarks. The second is inclusive pricing, a value-driven approach that pairs generous equipment levels with accessible pricing to make EV ownership realistic for more households without positioning itself as the cheapest option. And the third, now widely seen as VinFast’s differentiator, is exceptional aftersales policies, a system of customer care that has redefined what Vietnamese buyers expect from an automaker.

 

These three pillars did not simply help VinFast grow fast. They created a new standard for trust, transparency, and long-term support. And as VinFast moves into India, it is this same formula, especially the customer-first ethos, that is beginning to take shape again.

 

How VinFast reshaped TCO and aftersales expectations

For many Vietnamese consumers, an EV initially looked like a gamble. Would maintenance be complicated, would parts be available, and who would help if something went wrong on the road. And convincing Vietnamese drivers to switch from ICE to EV was never only about technology. It required changing long-held assumptions about maintenance, longevity, and the cost of ownership. VinFast’s strategy was simple: make the EV experience not only competitive with ICE, but clearly superior in the areas that matter most.

 

The first step was security. VinFast introduced industry-leading warranties, up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometers for the VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9, and 7 years or 160,000 kilometers for the VF 3, VF 5, and VF 6. These policies stretch two to three times longer than many petrol competitors and became a defining signal of confidence from the manufacturer.

 

But the decisive shift came through total cost of ownership, or put more simply, the everyday economics. Vietnamese drivers quickly discovered that EV maintenance costs were not just lower, but dramatically lower. For example, one owner reported that scheduled service for a VF 6 at 36,000 kilometers costs roughly 80 to 90 percent less than equivalent ICE vehicles. One comparison shared by a community fanpage noted that an ICE rival’s 20,000 kilometer service cost was nearly 14 times higher than that of a VinFast VF 6.

 

Energy savings amplified the difference. With VinFast offering free public charging at V-Green stations in Vietnam until June 2027, owners effectively eliminated their largest recurring cost. For many families, this amounted to a 100 percent reduction in energy spending, often equivalent to USD 700 to 900 per year, as one driver pointed out.

 

As of today, VinFast has built more than 300 service centers nationwide, forming one of Vietnam’s most extensive automotive support networks. Combined with 150,000 charging ports, this infrastructure removed anxieties about where to charge or maintain an EV and made electrification feel practical rather than experimental.

 

Yet physical infrastructure was only part of the equation. What truly strengthened public trust was how the company behaved when customers needed help the most. In real-world situations, both at the individual level and during broader disruptions, VinFast demonstrated a willingness to go beyond standard procedure.

Indo-French CSR Excellence Celebrated at IFCCI's 7th Annual CSR Conclave & Awards

The 7th edition of the CSR Conclave and Awards, organised by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI), was held on 2nd December at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, in the presence of Mr Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India. The event celebrated the most impactful CSR initiatives executed by French and Indian companies and awarded the top projects across six distinct categories, highlighting the significant role played by IFCCI in promoting corporate engagement in the field of CSR, and connecting NGOs and CSR stakeholders.

 

Indo-French CSR Excellence Celebrated at IFCCI’s 7th Annual CSR Conclave & Awards

 

The annual CSR Conclave brought together over 120 CEOs, policymakers, CSR and Sustainability leaders, CSR foundations and NGOs from the Indo-French business community to share best practices while recognising the efforts of the most significant CSR projects.

 

The theme of the Conclave this year, “Local Frameworks, Global Goals, Digital Pathways”, reflects the growing convergence between India’s pioneering CSR framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, creating opportunities to align domestic priorities with global sustainability imperatives. The discussions explored how the future of CSR lies in collaboration rather than competition, while reimagining CSR through the lenses of inclusive growth and global responsibility.

 

On this occasion, Mr Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India, remarked “The annual CSR Conclave and Awards – a flagship forum for the CSR ecosystem between India and France – is an important pillar of our bilateral engagement. Today’s event illustrates that CSR is a driver of responsible corporate leadership, social equity, sustainability, employee engagement and innovation. I congratulate all the companies and IFCCI members who submitted impactful and well-executed CSR projects across the award categories, and applaud the winners for their exemplary initiatives and encourage all participants to continue striving for deeper, scalable and more sustainable impact. I would like to reaffirm France’s long-term commitment to supporting India and the French business community in advancing inclusive and sustainable development.”

 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Yohann Samuel. Regional Director – South, IFCCI expressed, “IFCCI is proud to celebrate the remarkable journey of its CSR Department, which in a span of 2 and a half years, is currently supporting 102 high-impact projects across 11 states, reaching over 1,45,000 beneficiaries in India, including nearly 29,000 direct beneficiaries. Through collaborative partnerships, IFCCI continues to strengthen CSR efforts by uniting member companies and delivering end-to-end project management that drives inclusive socio-economic development. The IFCCI CSR Conclave and Awards embody this commitment, bringing together leaders from French and Indian companies to inspire meaningful and scalable change.”

 

The event also featured a fireside chat moderated by Ms Lise Breuil, Country Director, French Development Agency (India), on “Domestic Roots, Global Goals: Aligning India’s CSR with the SDGs” with Ms Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to India; Ms Anna Roy, Programme Director, NITI Aayog, and Dr Nidhi Pundhir, SVP Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation as panelists.

 

Other speakers at the event were:

  • Mr Anurag Pratap, CSR Leader, Capgemini India & Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee

  • Ms Priyam Dhamankar, Legal and Compliance Director, Company Secretary, Servier India & Vice Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee

  • Dr Kavita Chaudhari, Deputy Director – CSR & ESG, Sanofi & Vice Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee

  • Ms Manisha Dubey, Head of IDEMIA India Foundation & VP Marketing Communications & Brand, IDEMIA

  • Ms Anuradha Suvarna, Chief Sustainability Officer, L’Oréal India

  • Mr Huzefa Salim, Executive Director, Dassault Systèmes Foundation

  • Ms Chhavi Bajpai, Director, STMicroelectronics Foundation India

  • Dr Ketan Deshpande, Founder & Chairman, FUEL (Friends Union for Energising Lives)

  • Ms Manasi Diwan. Vice President, Impact Practice, CSRBOX Group and

  • Mr Adarsh Trivedi, Assistant Vice President, Government & Technology, CSRBOX Group

 

Winners – IFCCI CSR Conclave and Awards 2025

Education & Skilling – EDF power solutions India Pvt. Ltd. (Project: Shaping Young Minds with Brighter Lives) and Capgemini Technology Services India Limited (Project: Youth Employability through Digital Academies)

 

Environment & Climate – Khushiyaan Foundation (Project: Trash to Treasure)

 

Healthcare and Wellbeing – Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (Project Name: Home Away from Home) and Pernod Ricard India Foundation (Project: UDAAN)

 

Inclusive Growth and Empowerment – Sonepar India Pvt. Ltd. (Project: GBV Prevention for Women with Intellectual Disabilities through Sports) and Agarwal Packers and Movers Ltd. (Project: APML Nidra Daan Kendra – Restoring Sleep, Saving Lives)

 

CSR Project of the Year – STMicroelectronics Foundation India (Project: Digital Unify)

 

Jury Special – Alliance Française de Delhi (Project: Alliance Grand Ball – French as a life changer)

 

Jury members – IFCCI CSR Conclave & Awards 2025

  • Ms Payal S.Kanwar, Director General, IFCCI

  • Mr Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Niti Aayog Atal Innovation Mission, Govt. of India

  • Mr Nicolas de Labrusse, Political Counsellor, Embassy of France in India

  • Dr Nidhi Pundhir, SVP Global CSR, HCLTech & Director, HCLFoundation

  • Dr Kavita Chaudhari, Deputy Director – CSR & ESG, Sanofi & Vice Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee

  • Ms Sukhman Randhawa, Partnership and Development Finance Lead, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, United Nations India

  • Mr Shailesh Tyagi, Partner, Sustainability & Climate Leader, Deloitte South Asia

 

About IFCCI

Established in 1977, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) is part of a global network of 124 French Chambers (CCIFI) across 94 countries, representing over 37,000 companies. One of India’s most active bilateral chambers, IFCCI promotes trade and investment between India and France through a network of 800 member companies and over 7,000 business leaders. Headquartered in Mumbai, IFCCI has offices in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad.

Celebrating a Quarter Century of Care: IFFCO-TOKIO's Journey of Trust Continues

One of India’s leading general insurance companies IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company Limited (IFFCO-TOKIO GIC) is celebrating its 25th year (Silver Jubilee) of its foundation. Over this momentous journey, the company has been working with an objective of ‘Spreading Happiness’ (‘Muskurate Raho’) in the lives of its customers with customized policies and one of the best claim settlement rates in India.

 

https://www.newsvoir.com/images/article/image1/34025_Iffco_image.jpeg

IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company Limited is celebrating its Silver Jubilee of foundation


Established as a joint venture between IFFCO and Japan’s Tokio Marine Group and receiving license from IRDAI in 2000, IFFCO-TOKIO’s journey has been epitome of unwavering trust and dedication to making insurance accessible to every individual, household, and business.


With a modest beginning 25 years ago, the company now caters about 86+ Lakh policies through 1000+ offices and 35,000 agents, strengthened by decades of trust.


Taking inspiration from various initiatives of IRDAI, IFFCO-TOKIO has brought out affordable insurance solutions for under-covered communities. To serve this purpose, company has tied up with a number of cooperatives to distribute micro insurance for package policies, health, and motor policies.


Reminiscing on IFFCO-TOKIO GIC’s memorable journey and future ahead, Mr. Subrata Mondal, Managing Director & CEO said, “While at the beginning we were guided by the principal of affordable insurance, the vision has got enlarged to align with people’s aspirations and robust economy, while committed towards IRDAI’s “Insurance for All by 2047”. Having laid out strong technological foundation with trust, innovation and resilience at core, IFFCO-TOKIO is now entering into transformational next leg of growth with an aim of building one of the best customer-focussed, innovative and socially responsible insurance company in India.”


Mr. Mondal further stated that company’s expansion both in terms of customers and employees exemplifies its inclusive growth. While encouraging female participation, company provides ample opportunities to rise the ladder, highlighting commitment to gender diversity and equality. Additionally, insurer has provided training to over 5,000 women agents fostering financial inclusion and community trust.


The Company has been at the forefront of social welfare through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. IFFCO-TOKIO’s CSR initiatives are designed to empower rural youth, especially female, through education and skill development, improving healthcare in underserved areas, and promoting sustainable practices for a greener future.


Over its 25-year journey, IFFCO-TOKIO has been honoured with numerous awards and recognitions across business excellence, innovation, and customer service. These include the ‘Tokio Marine Group Award 2025’ for exceptional achievement in transforming the Motor Own Damage (OD) Claims operations in Tokyo, and the ‘India’s Top General Insurance Company Award 2025’ by Entrepreneur Outlook Magazine. The company also received the ‘Best DevOps Culture (General Insurance)’ and ‘Best Incident Response Strategy for Application Security – General Insurance’ awards from Quantic India at the 8th Edition India DevOps Show 2025.


Further, IFFCO-TOKIO earned the prestigious title of ‘Asia’s Best General Insurance Company – 2025’ at the Asia Excellence Awards 2025 by Insights Success Media, as well as the ‘Top Healthcare Insurance Company’ award at the 16th Elets Healthcare Innovation Summit. It was also recognised with the ‘Best Customer Service Insurance Company Award’ at the India Insurance Summit & Awards 2025 by Synnax Group, and the ‘Non-Life Insurance Award’ for Excellence in Operational Efficiencies using Emerging Technology at the IBEX India BFSI Technology Awards held at the Jio World Convention Centre, among several others.

Estonia Accelerates Trade Outreach to India with High-Impact F&B Delegation Visit

Estonia’s exports to India are witnessing a steady and promising rise, reflecting deepening trade engagement and growing confidence among Estonian businesses in the Indian market. This momentum is further reinforced by a marked increase in interest across industry bodies and business fraternities toward India as a priority growth destination. A significant milestone in this trajectory was the successful visit of an Estonian Food & Beverage (F&B) sector delegation to India in the first week of December, which yielded strong commercial leads, valuable buyer interactions, and a clearer, on-ground understanding of India’s dynamic and rapidly evolving consumer market.

 

Estonia Ambassador to India – H.E. Ms. Marje Luup with Estonian Company Saku Brewery and Indian counterpart HS Oberoi Spirits

 

One of the delegates – Saku Brewery’s Export Manager, Margus Masing, the company’s collaboration with India began through the strong support of KredEx, the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), and the Estonian Embassy in India.

 

I would like to extend special thanks to the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, KredEx, and Ambassador Marje Luup, who place great value on the success of Estonia’s food and beverage industry and strongly support the promotion of domestic exports. Thanks to their efforts, the cooperation between Saku Brewery and HS Oberoi Spirits became a reality,” said Masing.

 

He highlighted that the partnership with HS Oberoi Spirits has progressed very successfully. “Our collaboration with HS Oberoi Spirits has been excellent — the first container of Saku products arrived in India in July, and another order is already awaiting shipment. At the moment, Saku products are available in the Delhi region, but HS Oberoi Spirits is strongly committed to building our brands across India. Our shared goal is to expand into additional cities and regions. India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets, and we are delighted that Saku products are now available there, with local consumers appreciating our packaging, distinctive flavours, and high quality,” explained Margus Masing.

 

As per Indian counterpart, HS Oberoi Spirits – the role of Estonia Trade Office and equal zeal from Estonian F&B companies brought Estonia’s historic Saku Brewery to India through its partnership with HS Oberoi Spirits. The collaboration stands as a strong early example of the value that shared heritage, craftsmanship, and open trade can create between the two nations. HS Oberoi Spirits is a strategic import and distribution partner committed to building long-term, value-driven collaborations between global beverage brands and the Indian market.

 

Hardarshan Singh Oberoi, Founder, HS Oberoi Spirits, said, “We are delighted to support this growing relationship between India and Estonia. Partnerships like these celebrate craftsmanship, culture, and shared ambition — and we look forward to building many more meaningful stories together.”

 

Manveer Singh Oberoi, Founder, HS Oberoi Spirits, said, “Indian consumers today value authenticity and thoughtful product narratives. Collaborating with Estonia allows us to bring distinctive global experiences to India’s evolving premium beverage landscape.”

 

Further joint initiatives and category-building programs are expected to be explored in the coming months as both countries work toward expanding commercial and cultural engagement.

From a Vision to a Trusted Name – The Inspiring Journey of Property Master and Its Leadership Duo

From a Vision to a Trusted Name – The Inspiring Journey of Property Master and Its Leadership DuoIn 2009, when Faridabad’s real estate was buzzing with possibilities, homebuyers and investors still longed for guidance they could genuinely trust. It was in this moment of opportunity that two driven entrepreneurs, Paras Rai and Goldi Arora, came together with a shared vision to redefine how people experienced property decisions. They believed the market deserved more clarity, more honesty, and a more professional approach, and they set out to deliver exactly that. From a modest office with big dreams, they built Property Master on the simple but powerful idea that real estate should feel transparent, reassuring, and human. Over the years, this vision has expanded beyond Faridabad to Mohali and Gurugram, helping clients across multiple regions navigate real estate with confidence.

 

From a Vision to a Trusted Name – The Inspiring Journey of Property Master and Its Leadership Duo


Founders’ Complementary Strengths
What truly fuelled Property Master’s rise was the complementary strength that Paras Rai and Goldi Arora brought into their partnership. Goldi, a graduate of MJP Rohilkhand University, stepped into real estate with a natural flair for people, communication, and business development. Over the years, he built an impressive network of satisfied clients and some of the biggest sellers in Greater Faridabad through his honest dealings, strong relationships, and instinctive marketing expertise. As Managing Director, he led from the front—developing new services, strengthening client connections, expanding the company’s reach, and nurturing a 50-member marketing team with tireless dedication.

Complementing him perfectly was Paras, a Delhi University commerce graduate with a diploma in IT who brought a structured, analytical approach to real estate advisory. Paras quickly earned a name as a transparent, detail-oriented professional whose financial acumen helped investors make informed, profitable decisions. His deep involvement in portfolio management, asset planning, and investor education steadily grew the company’s investor base and reinforced Property Master’s reputation for credibility. Beyond business, both founders share a strong commitment to social welfare and community upliftment. Together, Goldi and Paras form a formidable leadership duo—one driven by people and strategy, the other by finance and precision—shaping Property Master into a brand built on trust, expertise, and purpose.

Building Property Master as a Trusted Brand
From the early days of shared ambition, Property Master steadily grew into one of the most trusted real estate advisory brands across Faridabad and Mohali, driven not by scale alone but by the ethics, diligence, and transparency that defined its founders. What began as a two-member venture soon evolved into a 100+ strong team, each individual aligned with the company’s customer-first philosophy and commitment to doing right by every buyer and investor. Over the years, Property Master expanded its reach, representing more than 150 projects and building strong collaborations with leading developers across the region. Its services grew with the needs of its clients, spanning buying, selling, leasing, registration support, investment consultation, and complete documentation handholding. Through every step, the goal remained simple and unwavering: to make real estate decisions clearer, easier, and more trustworthy for everyone who walked through their doors.

Ethos That Builds Property Master
At the heart of this growth lies an ethos that has remained unchanged since day one—integrity above all else. Property Master earned its reputation not through grand promises but through honest conversations, ethical dealings, and the assurance that every recommendation came from a place of responsibility. This sincerity became its strongest differentiator, inspiring long-term relationships with clients who returned again and again, often bringing friends and family through referrals. Each repeat customer became a testament to the trust the brand had built. By upholding professionalism and offering clear, transparent advisory at every step, Property Master set new benchmarks in Faridabad and Mohali’s real estate ecosystem, proving that when a business is grounded in values, trust naturally follows.

Leadership With Purpose
What strengthens Property Master’s identity even further is the leadership with purpose. Both Goldi Arora and Paras Rai have always believed that success holds true meaning only when it contributes to the larger good. Goldi has long been involved in social welfare initiatives, dedicating time and resources to uplift weaker sections of society through hands-on community work. Paras, too, has consistently supported charitable causes, contributing generously to initiatives focused on education, healthcare, and social well-being. Their shared commitment to giving back reflects a leadership ethos rooted in humility, responsibility, and purpose beyond profit, shaping Property Master not just as a respected brand but as a values-driven organisation that stands for more than business.

Scaling the Vision
Building on their strong values and human-centric leadership, Property Master steadily evolved into a go-to real estate advisory not only in Faridabad but also in Mohali and Gurugram, serving homebuyers and investors seeking clarity, confidence, and trustworthy guidance. Its success lies in a combination of transparent processes, expert advisory, deep market knowledge, and a relentless customer-first approach, complemented by robust partnerships with leading developers. In Gurugram, the company has established a strong presence in key micromarkets, including SPR, New Gurgaon, Golf Course Road, Golf Course Extension Road, and Sohna Road, providing both residential and investment solutions. At the helm, Paras and Goldi continue to balance each other perfectly; Paras brings financial insight and investor-focused strategy, and Goldi steers marketing, business development, and relationship-building. Together, their complementary strengths ensure that every client experience is not only professional and profitable but also reassuring and seamless, making Property Master a name synonymous with trust across multiple regions.

Looking Ahead
Property Master remains committed to its mission of simplifying real estate decisions for every buyer and investor, ensuring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind at every step. The company envisions expanding its services, embracing technology to enhance client experiences, and deepening its reach across Faridabad and beyond. Guided by the same values and leadership that shaped its journey, Property Master aims not just to advise but to become a trusted partner in every property journey, helping clients navigate the complexities of real estate with expertise, integrity, and a human touch.

CloudThat Just Set a Global First with Three Consecutive AWS Awards in the Same Category

CloudThat is excited to announce it is a recipient of a 2025 Geography and Global AWS Partner Award, recognizing leaders around the globe that are playing key roles in helping their customers drive innovation and build solutions on Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

 

CloudThat Just Set a Global First with Three Consecutive AWS Awards in the Same Category


CloudThat has been named the winner of the AWS Training Partner of the Year – APJ, marking an extraordinary third consecutive win after securing the title in 2023 and 2024. This award recognizes exceptional leadership in delivering high-impact AWS training, enabling cloud adoption at scale, and accelerating customer success across the Asia Pacific and Japan region.


Announced during the Partner Awards Gala at AWS re:Invent 2025, the Geographic and Global AWS Partner Awards honor AWS Partners that have demonstrated specialization, innovation, and deep collaboration throughout the year. These awards highlight partners whose business models continue to evolve and thrive on AWS as they support customers across industries.


As an Advanced Tier AWS Training Partner, CloudThat continued to expand its impact in 2025 by delivering advanced AWS training programs in cloud solutions and architecture, Gen AI, AI/ML, cloud security, DevOps, data engineering, and next-generation technologies. Building on last year’s success—where it was recognized for empowering more than 850,000 learners globally—CloudThat further broadened access to AWS Skill Builder in developing and high-growth markets, helping enterprises and professionals build future-ready cloud capabilities. CloudThat’s training is scalable, lab-intensive, and certification-driven, with tried-and-tested proprietary training solutions that have remained a benchmark for excellence in the tech education ecosystem.


We were the first to start AWS training in India back in 2012, and we knew back then that we were contributing to the beginning of a cloud revolution,” remarked Bhavesh Goswami, CEO & Founder of CloudThat,Thirteen years later, having enabled more than 8.5 Lakh learners in cloud and AI, it’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized by AWS as Partner of the Year for APJ—now for the third consecutive time!”


“We are deeply grateful to AWS for this honour and to every CloudThat team member whose dedication made this achievement possible,” Bhavesh added. “Accolades like these energize us, push us to raise the bar, and reaffirm our commitment to shaping the next generation of cloud and AI talent. Onwards and upwards!”


Rujika Sajeev, Group HR Specialist (L&D) at ieng Group, congratulated CloudThat on their latest win, “This is a remarkable achievement that reflects outstanding dedication, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional AWS learning experiences. CloudThat’s efforts have consistently set new benchmarks in the training landscape, and this recognition is a well-deserved testament to the quality and impact of their work.” 


Jude S, Sr. Director (HR) at Movate, also shared his congratulations, stating, “This outstanding achievement is a testament to the organization’s relentless commitment to innovation and excellence. CloudThat continues to set industry benchmarks and inspire others through its consistent pursuit of quality.”


The Geography and Global AWS Partner Awards included a self-nomination process across several award categories, awarded at both the geographic and global levels. All AWS Partners were invited to participate and submit a nomination. Award submissions were reviewed by a third-party, Canalys, and selected with special emphasis placed on customer success use cases.


In addition, several data-driven award categories were evaluated using metrics that measured AWS Partners’ performance over the past year. Canalys audited these datasets to ensure all measurements were accurate and objective. Finalists represented the top three ranked AWS Partners across each category.


The AWS Partner Network (APN) is a global program focused on helping partners innovate, accelerate their cloud journeys, and fully leverage the breadth and depth of AWS services.


About CloudThat
Established in 2012, CloudThat is an award-winning provider of tech training and consulting services, and the first Indian company to deliver both under one roof. As a leader in digital transformation and tech talent enablement, CloudThat equips organizations and professionals with cutting-edge skills in cloud, GenAI, Data, AI/ML, DevOps, IoT, and modern emerging technologies.


Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, with offices in the UK, USA, and Bangladesh, CloudThat has served clients across 30+ countries, trained 850,000+ professionals, and delivered 500+ consulting projects for 250+ organizations. CloudThat is an AWS Advanced Tier Training Partner, and a Premier Tier Service Partner. Cloudthat also provides training services in partnership with Microsoft, NVIDIA, Google Cloud Platform and Oracle. With 13 prestigious global awards in the past 8 years, including the AWS Training Partner of the Year (APJ) awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the Microsoft Training Services Partner of the Year 2024, CloudThat continues to lead with innovation and commitment to building a future-ready digital workforce.