India’s consumer startup story is no longer just about marketplaces and software. A new wave of women-led brands is quietly reshaping the way products are designed, marketed, and experienced by women consumers. These ventures are grounded in lived realities, not assumptions. VAGINE™ (thevaginestory.com), a personal care and lifestyle brand from India, exemplifies this shift with its fragrant offerings and recent expansion into feminine hygiene.
 

Virendra Sharma and Amisha Priyadarshi, co-founders of VAGINE | THE VAGINE STORY, a women-led personal care brand spanning perfumes and feminine hygiene

A Growing Market with Room for New Voices

India’s beauty and personal care market is already substantial and growing. Valued at over USD 31 billion in 2025 and projected to reach nearly USD 49 billion by 2033, the sector is expanding as consumers embrace premium, personalised, and culturally relevant products. Increasing disposable incomes and digital access are fuelling this growth. (IMARC Group¹)
 

In parallel, the women’s fragrances segment mirrors global trends. The worldwide market for women’s fragrances was estimated at USD 43.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to approach USD 69.2 billion by 2031, driven by rising grooming awareness and disposable income. (Markets & Data²).
 

Equally noteworthy is the rising demand for feminine hygiene products. India’s feminine hygiene market was valued close to USD 960 million in 2024 and is forecast to grow to nearly USD 3.8 billion by 2033, reflecting strong growth at a CAGR of nearly 15 percent. (IMARC Group³) This surge is linked to broader awareness campaigns, improving access, and evolving consumer preferences.
 

These figures show the structural opportunity brands like VAGINE are tapping into, and why innovation matters in both expressive and essential categories.
 

Designing with Purpose

Where many consumer brands start with trend-chasing, VAGINE’s founding philosophy is rooted in women’s lived experience. Its co-founder Amisha Priyadarshi often speaks about femininity not in superficial terms, but as a dynamic source of identity and empowerment. The brand’s zodiac-inspired perfume range for women embraces this perspective, suggesting that fragrance can be an expression of personality, not just a beauty accessory.
 

This approach resonates with a growing base of consumers who see personal care as an extension of self, not a commodity. By drawing inspiration from elemental traits and astrological individuality, the brand is positioned as a voice in the larger conversation about identity and self-expression.
 

Stepping into Feminine Hygiene

VAGINE’s expansion into sanitary pads reflects a broader evolution among women-led consumer ventures that move beyond aesthetic categories into essential wellness. The sanitary pad market in India, while rapidly growing, still carries cultural stigma and accessibility challenges in many regions. A product that balances comfort, quality, awareness, and accessibility can help deepen category penetration and encourage more open conversations about menstrual health.
 

This blend of beauty and biology is not accidental. It underscores a simple insight: women do not separate their expressive choices from everyday needs, and brands that acknowledge that complexity are likely to resonate more deeply. (thevaginelife.com).
 

Policy Shifts Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Institutional backing has also played a role in enabling ventures like VAGINE to scale. The brand is recognised under Startup India and the Start-in-UP programme, and has received funding support from the Uttar Pradesh government’s Start in UP scheme, which includes incentives for women-led startups. Such support helps reduce early-stage barriers and underscores evolving policy focus on women’s entrepreneurship in consumer goods.
 

The Bigger Picture

India’s consumer market is expanding on multiple fronts, but the rise of women-led, women-focused brands marks a particularly meaningful shift. These companies are not just participating in growth segments; they are redefining them with products that reflect authentic female experience and choice.
 

In a market where scale often overshadows nuance, brands like VAGINE remind us that relevance and resonance, grounded in real-world insight, are equally important drivers of long-term success.
 

The Founders: Shaping a Brand Through Women’s Lived Experience

Co-founded by Virendra Sharma and Amisha Priyadarshi, VAGINE’s vision is strongly shaped by its female co-founder, Amisha, a legal professional turned entrepreneur. Her perspective brings legal clarity, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of women’s lived experiences. The brand’s storytelling, product philosophy, and positioning are guided by empathy rather than assumptions, ensuring relevance in a market where conscious consumers increasingly value authenticity over trend-led narratives.

VAGINE (VAGINÉ)
 

SOLSTICEA ELIXIR PRIVATE LIMITED

Market data sources:

1: Market & Data | Global Women’s Fragrances Market Assessment, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F | July 2024

2: IMARC Group | India Beauty and Personal Care Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Product, Distribution Channel, and Region, 2026-2034 | Report ID SR112026A4210

3: IMARC Group | India Feminine Hygiene Products Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Product Type, Distribution Channel, and Region, 2025-2033 | Report ID: SR112026A21410

Bisleri International’s premium beverage category, Bisleri Vedica, returns as the Hydration Partner for Lollapalooza India 2026, marking its fourth consecutive year of association with the festival since its inaugural edition. At large scale live events, access to drinking water is fundamental to the overall fan experience, making hydration central to the festival planning. Through this long-term partnership, Bisleri Vedica continues to integrate hydration seamlessly into the cultural fabric of the festival, where music, movement, and shared moments come together.

Bisleri Vedica Rejoins Lollapalooza India 2026

Led by Bisleri Vedica, the on-ground presence will feature Vedica branded water selling carts positioned across key festival zones, along with the brand’s signature helium balloon activation, handed out free of cost and designed to move with festivalgoers throughout the day, giving consumers an immersive experience. Supporting this, Bisleri will ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water through free hydration stations, while under #LollaForChange, Bisleri Bottles for Change will drive sustainability efforts with recycled benches, plastic collection points, and on-ground recycling support, reinforcing responsible consumption and waste management across the venue.

Bisleri Vedica Rejoins Lollapalooza India 2026

Commenting on the association, Samradha Tibrewala, Head – Partnerships and Revenue, BookMyShow, said, “From our very first edition, free and easy access to drinking water has been non-negotiable for us at Lollapalooza India. As the festival has grown in scale and intensity, ensuring hydration at every touchpoint has remained central to how we design the fan experience. Long-standing partners like Bisleri make this possible, helping us deliver hydration at scale, responsibly and seamlessly, year after year.”

Commenting on the association, Tushar Malhotra, Director of Sales and Marketing, Bisleri International, said, “Lollapalooza India is a high energy cultural space where hydration plays a critical role in enabling the overall experience. Over the years, our roles have remained clearly defined. Bisleri ensures hydration at scale, Bottles for Change enables responsible plastic management, and Bisleri Vedica brings a premium, culture-led presence that audiences recognize and engage with. Together, we focus on making hydration an integral part of the festival experience.”

Now in its fourth year, the Bisleri Vedica and Lollapalooza India partnership reflects a sustained, culture first collaboration that brings together premium engagement, access at scale, and sustainability in a way that feels natural and relevant to today’s festival audiences.

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 neighbouring countries. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri Mineral 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 Pop, Rev, Limonata and Spyci Jeera. 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.

As India’s startup ecosystem continues to scale rapidly, founders are increasingly navigating a complex risk landscape spanning cyber threats, regulatory scrutiny, people-related challenges, and operational disruptions. While innovation and growth remain the primary focus, a single unforeseen incident can significantly impact business continuity, reputation, and investor confidence if risks are not planned for early.

(L-R) Mr. Sunny Bhardwaj – National Head Broking, ICICI Lombard, Mr. Amit Jain – CEO & Co-Founder, Girnar Soft & Mr. Sanjeev Mantri – MD & CEO, ICICI Lombard

Recognising this gap, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, India’s leading private general insurer hosted ‘Startup Shield – The Risk Readiness’, a focused awareness initiative designed to help Indian start-ups identify, assess, and mitigate key business risks through structured risk planning and appropriate insurance solutions.

The exclusive event brought together over 100 participants, including startup founders, private equity and venture capital investors, CXOs, industry experts, and risk professionals, for interactive discussions on building resilient and future-ready businesses. The initiative aimed to move the conversation beyond risk avoidance, encouraging founders to adopt a proactive approach to risk preparedness as they scale.

The event saw participation from prominent voices across the start-up ecosystem, including representing the investor and broader ecosystem perspective. The presence of founders and investors at different stages of the startup lifecycle enriched discussions around practical risk planning and long-term business resilience.

Startup Shield focused on risk preparedness across different growth stages, highlighting how early planning can strengthen governance, improve operational resilience, and enhance investor confidence. Sessions addressed emerging and critical risk areas such as cyber and data security, employee health and wellness, professional indemnity, directors and officers (D&O) liability, asset protection, and business interruption.

Experts from ICICI Lombard shared real-world case studies demonstrating how timely insurance coverage and structured risk management have helped startups recover from unexpected disruptions, manage legal and financial exposures, and continue their growth journeys with minimal impact on operations.

The discussions also underscored how risk readiness is increasingly becoming a key consideration during investor due diligence, enterprise partnerships, and board-level decision-making, positioning it as a growth enabler rather than a compliance exercise.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Sandeep Goradia – Chief Corporate, International & Bancassurance, ICICI Lombard, said, “India today is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over 1.8 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups driving innovation, employment, and global competitiveness. As Indian startups build ambitious, high-growth businesses, their exposure to unforeseen risks is also rising. Through Startup Shield, we aim to shift the conversation from reacting to risk to anticipating it — helping founders protect their people, strengthen their businesses, and build lasting stakeholder trust. In doing so, we aspire to become their long-term risk partners, enabling them to scale with resilience, responsibility, and sustainable profitability.”

Through Starup Shield, ICICI Lombard reinforced its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable business growth in India. The initiative forms part of the company’s broader efforts to engage with the startup ecosystem and enable founders to build resilient businesses that are prepared not just to grow, but to withstand uncertainty.

About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited

ICICI Lombard is the leading private general insurance company in the country. The Company offers a comprehensive and well-diversified range of products through multiple distribution channels, including motor, health, crop, fire, personal accident, marine, engineering, and liability insurance. With a legacy of over 2 decades, ICICI Lombard is committed to customer centricity with its brand philosophy of ‘Nibhaye Vaade’. The company has issued over 37.6 million policies, over 3.2 million claims processed and has a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of ₹ 282.58 billion for the year ended March 31, 2025. ICICI Lombard has 328 branches and 15,123 employees, as on March 31, 2025.

ICICI Lombard has been a pioneer in the industry, being the first large-scale insurance company in India to migrate its entire core systems to the cloud. With a strong focus on being digitally-led and agile, the company has introduced multiple AI-powered insurance solutions. The company’s flagship insurance and wellness app, IL TakeCare, which has received over 18.4 million downloads, also offers the industry’s first Face Scan feature. The company has won several prestigious awards- including the Insurance Asia, ICC Emerging Asia Insurance, ET BFSI Exceller, ET Corporate Excellence, Golden Peacock, FICCI Insurance, Assocham, Stevie Asia Pacific, and National CSR in recognition of its various initiatives.

For more details log on to www.icicilombard.com.

Tata ClassEdge Limited (TCE), a trusted partner in building future-ready academic ecosystems for schools across India, announces a strategic association with Etome Works Limited (Etome), an organisation specializing in building experience-led technology spaces to enable effective integration of educational technology (EdTech) at scale. As part of this collaboration, TCE will take a strategic equity stake in Etome, underscoring a shared commitment to bridging the gap between digital learning solutions and their effective integration into classroom practice.

Sitting from L-R – Ms. Neha Joson, MD, Etome, Mr. Joson Thomas, Director, Etome, Mr. KRS Jamwal, ED, TIL, and Chairman, TCE and Mr. Tarun Bhojwani, CEO, TCE

As digital transformation accelerates across the education sector, institutions increasingly seek trusted avenues to explore and evaluate solutions best suited to their needs. This collaboration aims to address that demand by establishing EdTech Experience Centres as physical hubs, enabling school leaders to explore solutions firsthand and build readiness for meaningful technology integration. The centres will also play a key role in teacher capacity building by offering structured training and skilling to enhance instructional effectiveness and support seamless digitalisation in schools.

Speaking on the strategic intent of this alliance, Mr. K.R.S. Jamwal, Executive Director, Tata Industries Limited (TIL), and Chairman, TCE, said, “I am pleased to see the progress in Tata ClassEdge toward its goal to contribute and participate materially in all the key elements of the pre-K to K-12 ecosystem. This collaboration adds the key element of phygital experience centres to this ecosystem. As edtech leads the evolution of K-12 education, such centres will play an important role in showcasing best practices tools, techniques and devices for schools and teachers across the country.”

Reimagining EdTech Discovery

While digital adoption in schools is growing, the ability to physically interact with technology hardware and software content solutions remains a gap in the market. This association addresses that need by launching a nationwide network of Experience Centres as dedicated spaces where schools can discover, experience, and evaluate EdTech solutions in a hands-on environment.

Sharing his views on the association, Mr. Joson Thomas, Director, Etome, said, “Collaborating with Tata ClassEdge is a defining moment for us. These experience centres will not just be about displaying products; they will be vibrant spaces for engagement. With TCE’s support, we are confident in our ability to create a trusted distribution network that brings the best of EdTech to institutions across the country.”

Advancing School Readiness for Digital Transformation

With digital transformation reshaping classroom practices, schools require more than just access to technology, they need guidance, exposure, and structured support.

Together, these initiative positions the alliance to elevate how schools discover and adopt technology. Adding further, Mr. Tarun Bhojwani, CEO, TCE, said, “Schools today are navigating a rapidly expanding EdTech landscape. Our centres will help them move from uncertainty to informed decision-making by offering a trusted, academically guided environment to experience and evaluate solutions. Our goal is to ensure every school adopts technology that truly serves its teaching and learning needs.”

With this direction established, the leadership team shared their perspective on what this initiative will enable for schools. 

• EdTech Experience Centres: Establishing experience centres which will serve as academic discovery zones where educators can meaningfully engage with, understand and evaluate pedagogy-driven classroom solutions.

• Teacher Capacity Building: Leveraging these centres to conduct high-quality teacher training, skill-building sessions, and pedagogical workshops that strengthen technology integration and future-facing classroom practices.

• Curated Learning Solutions Ecosystem: Developing a thoughtfully curated, multi-brand network that ensures schools have access to trusted and high-quality educational technologies aligned to learning outcomes.

• Advisory and Implementation Excellence: Ensuring that the experience centres deliver strong guidance, institution readiness support, and smooth on-ground implementation to schools with consistent quality.

Commenting on the operational vision, Ms. Neha Joson, Managing Director, Etome, added, “Our focus is on creating an environment where technology feels accessible and helpful rather than overwhelming. We look forward to welcoming educators to these centres and helping them find the right tools to enhance their classrooms.”

About the Organizations

Tata ClassEdge Limited (TCE), a subsidiary of Tata Industries Limited, is dedicated to transforming K–12 education through innovative digital and academic solutions. The company ensures seamless adoption of its academic solutions, making the transition to digital teaching and learning effortless for schools. Backed by the Tata Group’s enduring commitment to education, the company’s innovations in pedagogy, technology, and content deliver engaging, meaningful, and impactful learning experiences for students nationwide.

Etome Works Limited: Etome Works Ltd, formerly Resolute, is a pioneering EdTech company with over a decade of experience in EdTech and digitalization. Through Etomosphere, India’s first EdTech Experience Centre and multi brand marketplace, the company helps educational institutions and organizations discover and adopt the right solutions. Etome Works also introduces education-focused technologies such as the Etome eNote, a digital alternative for paper in campuses, the eBoard, an eye-friendly display designed for healthier classrooms and many more innovative technologies.

Knee pain caused by arthritis often creeps into daily life so gradually that many people adjust to discomfort without realising how much it limits them. For a 64-year-old retired bank professional, this pain slowly turned everyday activities – short walks, standing for a few minutes, or stepping out to nearby shops – into tiring and painful tasks. Medications and physiotherapy offered temporary relief, but the discomfort kept returning, affecting both mobility and confidence.
 

Dr Arun V, Consultant – Orthopaedic and Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement Surgeon at Sai Multispeciality Hospital, Chengalpattu
 

After a detailed clinical assessment and imaging, total knee replacement was advised as the most effective long-term solution. Like many patients, he had understandable concerns – fear of surgical pain, muscle damage, and a long recovery period. To address these worries, a minimally invasive sub-vastus total knee replacement was planned, a modern muscle-preserving technique designed to support faster and smoother recovery.
 

Unlike conventional approaches where the thigh muscle is split to access the knee joint, the sub-vastus technique allows surgeons to reach the joint without cutting the quadriceps muscle. As explained by Dr Arun V, Consultant – Orthopaedic and Minimally invasive joint replacement surgeon at Sai Multispeciality Hospital, Chengalpattu, the surgery is performed through a smaller incision, with careful handling of surrounding soft tissues. By preserving the muscle structure, this approach reduces surgical trauma and helps maintain natural knee movement after surgery.
 

The impact on recovery was noticeable almost immediately. The patient was able to stand and begin assisted walking on the first day after surgery. Pain was well managed, and gentle knee movements were encouraged early. By the fifth day, he was walking independently without support and comfortably managing stairs and basic daily activities.
 

Recovery continued steadily. Within 10 to 14 days, he resumed routine household tasks, including prolonged standing, sitting, and indoor walking. By the third week, he had returned to regular outdoor walks, regaining confidence and independence.
 

Throughout rehabilitation, swelling remained minimal and physiotherapy was well tolerated due to preserved muscle strength. The smaller incision resulted in minimal scarring, and follow-up assessments showed improving knee movement, stability, and overall function.
 

At review, the patient reported significant pain relief and a marked improvement in quality of life. What is often perceived as a major surgery became a more patient-friendly experience – without compromising accuracy, implant alignment, or long-term outcomes.
 

For patients with advanced knee arthritis, minimally invasive sub-vastus knee replacement offers clear advantages: earlier mobilisation, reduced discomfort, faster functional recovery, and a quicker return to everyday life. By combining surgical precision with muscle preservation, this technique represents a modern and thoughtful approach to knee replacement – focused not just on fixing the joint, but on restoring movement, confidence, and independence.

The 10th edition of the NSG Calendar, created by trailblazing visual storytellers Pravin Talan & Rupali Talan, was released online yesterday by the Director General, National Security Guard, and has already begun circulating rapidly across WhatsApp groups and digital platforms nationwide-once again fast approaching viral status, as with previous editions. 

Epic NSG Action Calendar 2026

In a world cluttered by AI-generated imagery, this calendar stands apart-because nothing replaces raw action and real grit. Link to download more images of the calendar 

Pravin Talan & Rupali Talan – creators of the NSG Calendar

What began in 2016 as a deeply personal tribute has, over a decade, evolved into one of India’s most recognisable and trend-setting visual properties, with a strong cult following, particularly among the youth. The NSG Calendar has consistently redefined how India’s elite counter-terror force is visually represented-combining authenticity, cinematic intensity, and operational realism. 

The project was shaped by the lived experience of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks-when counter-terror operations unfolded in the heart of the city, not at distant borders-leaving a lasting imprint on a generation that witnessed courage in real time. 

The 2026 edition features 16 carefully curated images, each documenting a distinct operational capability of the National Security Guard. Together, the images present a rare, comprehensive visual overview of the force’s multi-domain readiness-ranging from heliborne aerial insertions, high-rise vertical assaults, metro and mass-transit interventions, to women commandos in frontline combat roles, K9-led building interventions, precision bomb disposal operations, and sniper overwatch. 

The calendar also highlights the NSG’s expanding maritime and inland waterway counter hijack capabilities, including combat diving operations, sea-based rapid response, and vessel intervention scenarios, alongside post-assault clearance operations and close-protection evacuations using ballistic shield formations-each image reflecting discipline, preparedness, and the ability to operate decisively across land, air, and water. 

Released annually in mid-January, the NSG Calendar aligns organically with the Republic Day period-when national focus turns toward the armed forces and internal security institutions that safeguard the Republic. 

Speaking on the evolution of the force, the Director General, NSG, noted that since its establishment in 1984, the organisation has evolved into a technologically advanced and highly adaptive counter-terror unit, integrating personnel from the Army, Police, and CAPFs, while continuously enhancing its capabilities to address emerging threat environments, including inland water operations. 

“This calendar was never about spectacle,” said Pravin Talan. “It began as a tribute-born from lived experience-and grew into a responsibility. If imagery shapes perception, then India’s elite forces deserve to be seen with the same honesty, intensity, and respect with which they operate every day.” 

Conceived as a tribute rather than a commercial exercise, the calendar emerged from a simple belief: in a digital age where imagery shapes perception, India’s elite forces deserve representation that reflects their true capability and resolve. 

Over nearly two decades, the award-winning duo has created calendars, cinematic short documentaries, and coffee table books documenting a wide cross-section of India’s defence and CAPF ecosystem, including organisations such as CRPF, CoBRA, CISF, and multiple State Police forces. Their work has been featured globally and recognised with numerous awards. 

Beyond defence-focused visual storytelling, Pravin Talan and Rupali Talan continue to expand into cinematic films, documentaries, and new-age vertical storytelling. Their recent vertical series Naina: The Hunt, currently streaming on Amazon MX Player (MX Fatafat), has drawn attention for setting new benchmarks in high-intensity digital-first storytelling. Rupali Talan is also set to launch her podcast Magic Moments with Rupali, featuring candid conversations with leading actors and sportspersons including Jaideep Ahlawat, Kavita Kaushik, and Sangram Singh. 

As the 10th edition of the NSG Calendar travels rapidly across screens and conversations nationwide, it stands as a milestone—a decade-long visual commitment to honouring India’s elite forces through authentic access, cinematic discipline, and unwavering respect. 
 

Blog: pravintalan.blogspot.com/2026/01/from-tribute-to-icon-nsg-calendar-2026.html?m=1

Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai has successfully treated a middle-aged couple who sustained serious injuries after a nine-seater aircraft crash-landed near Rourkela in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on January 10, 2026. After ten days of comprehensive trauma care, the couple, Mr. Sunil Agarwal and Mrs. Sabita Agarwal were discharged yesterday and returned to Bhubaneswar to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary with family; a milestone made possible through timely, coordinated medical intervention.

(C) Mr Sunil Agarwal with wife Mrs Sabita Agarwal being discharged from Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai, on Jan 21st 2025

The aircraft had six people on board, including four passengers and two crew members; of these, two passengers, husband and wife, both 49-yrs-old, suffered multiple, complex and were initially rushed to a local trauma centre for emergency management following the crash in Rourkela. The injuries in aircraft-related trauma may be complex, multi-layered, and often not immediately apparent; hence, the condition of the couple was closely monitored.

The medical team in Rourkela consulted with Dr Sachin Bhonsle, Senior Consultant – Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Surgery at Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai. After careful analysis of their scans and clinical status, decision to stabilize the patients locally before transferring them to Mumbai was made. Once their vitals stabilized, the couple was airlifted to Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai, in an air ambulance on January 11, 2026. The family chose Fortis Hospital Mulund for its expertise in comprehensive trauma care and for the credibility it holds in managing complex cases through a multidisciplinary approach.

Upon arrival at Fortis Hospital Mulund on January 11, 2026, the couple was assessed by the trauma team led by Dr Sachin Bhonsle. While Sabita was in immediate need of surgical intervention for her right femur fracture, along with her associated pelvic and spine injuries, her husband, Sunil, needed urgent reconstruction of the right knee. This coordinated management strategy also involved Spine Care, where Dr Vikas Gupte, Senior Consultant – Spine Surgery, addressed the spine-related trauma; proving critical to the patient’s recovery.

Sharing their experience, Mr. Sunil Agarwal and Mrs. Sabita Agarwal said, “When the crash happened we were unsure if we would survive. When we reached Fortis Mulund, the medical team immediately took control; within 30 minutes the pain was managed and we felt reassured. What we experienced was not just advanced and well-equipped medical care, but compassion from the entire team of doctors, nurses, administrative staff and support staff that helped us overcome the immense physical and mental trauma.”

In the days that followed surgery, both patients showed slow but consistent improvement. Their recovery was supported by structured pain management, intensive physiotherapy, specialised nursing care, nutritional support, and trauma counselling. Care teams monitored their progress closely, ensuring rehabilitation to moved forward safely and without complications.

While speaking on the outcome, Dr Vishal Beri, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai, said, “The couple was under our care for 10 days, in which they received comprehensive trauma care, rehabilitation and supportive care. Today they are stable and ready to go back home to Bhubaneswar. What is most significant is that the couple gets a chance to celebrate their 28th anniversary today, at home, with their family and friends.”

Both patients are now stable and recovering well, although they are not entirely mobile at this point. They have been given clearance for transfer and shall receive further follow-up treatment near their hometown of Bhubaneswar.

About Fortis Healthcare Limited

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics, and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates 33 healthcare facilities (including JVs and O&M facilities) across 11 states. The Company’s network comprises over 5,700 operational beds (including O&M beds) and 400 diagnostics labs.

A four-member faculty cohort from SRM University–AP recently concluded an academic visit to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), USA, gaining valuable insights into global best practices in artificial intelligence (AI), interdisciplinary research, and student-centric pedagogy.

Dr M Naveen Kumar, Dr Sunil Chinnadurai, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Dr Ashu Abdul, Dr Saleti Sumalatha (left to right) addressing the media

The first cohort comprised Dr Saleti Sumalatha, Dr M Naveen Kumar, Dr Ashu Abdul, Assistant Professors, Department of Computer Science and Engineering along with Dr Sunil Chinnadurai, Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering. Together, they represented the domains of computer science, robotics, and AI-driven research.

SRM AP faculty cohort along with University leadership

During their visit, the faculty engaged closely with CMU researchers and academicians to understand how AI is seamlessly integrated into academic programmes, research initiatives, and industry collaborations. Key areas of focus included AI applications in quantum computing, language models, robotics, and interdisciplinary projects addressing real-world and societal challenges.

Speaking about the visit, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SRM AP, said, “Our engagement with Carnegie Mellon University offered valuable global perspectives on integrating AI into higher education. Faculty members play a crucial role in systematically embedding artificial intelligence across the curriculum, research initiatives, and institutional strategy. Such international exposure enables us to benchmark our practices and further strengthen SRM AP’s vision of research-led education.”

He also noted that the faculty members were actively involved in research discussions and academic collaborations, which will contribute significantly to meeting global academic and research standards at SRM AP.

Reflecting on collaborative learning practices, Dr M Naveen Kumar observed, “The emphasis on peer programming, Think–Pair–Share models, and collaborative problem-solving creates an environment where students actively participate in learning, enhancing critical thinking and adaptability.”

Sharing her observations on pedagogy and student engagement, Dr Saleti Sumalatha said, “Carnegie Mellon University follows a deeply student-centric approach to teaching. Methods such as reflection-based learning, critique-based activities, design sprints, pair and mob programming, inquiry-driven discussions, and indirect assessment help students build strong conceptual understanding.”

She added that implementing several of these approaches in her own database courses resulted in a 100 per cent student success rate.

Highlighting CMU’s research ecosystem, Dr Ashu Abdul noted that the university places strong emphasis on societal impact and industry relevance. Students across academic levels are actively involved in addressing real-world industry challenges. He cited insights shared by Professors at CMU who collaborated with Meta, on projects such as compact AI-based language models for speech for language-impaired children, smart eyewear for individuals with memory loss and dementia, and other futuristic innovations.

“Beyond publishing research papers, CMU prioritises building market-ready prototypes and refining them through user feedback and market research. This application-driven approach plays a key role in producing industry-ready graduates,” he added.

Commenting on advanced research infrastructure, Dr Sunil Chinnadurai said, “The visit provided valuable exposure to cutting-edge work in robotics and AI, particularly hyperspectral robotic vision. This has significant applications in assistive robotics and automation.” He further noted that the interactions led to the initiation of a collaborative research project involving undergraduate students from SRM AP, offering them hands-on, industry-relevant experience.

Faculty also interacted with Dr Raj Reddy, widely regarded as the Father of AI in India, who shared insights on strengthening AI laboratories and aligning academic research with industry needs at SRM AP. The faculty plan to disseminate these learnings through a Faculty Development Programme to ensure broader institutional impact. The second Cohort has already departed for CMU.

The outcomes of the visit are expected to strengthen AI integration, research capacity, and innovative teaching practices at SRM University–AP, reinforcing its commitment to globally relevant education and interdisciplinary research.

CarePal Money, the lending marketplace arm of the CarePal Group, has appointed Sahil Lakshmanan as its Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Sahil Lakshmanan

Sahil has been a core member of the CarePal Group leadership team since October 2023 and has played a pivotal role in building CarePal Money’s healthcare lending marketplace.

As Chief Business Officer, he led the creation of India’s multi-lender healthcare lending marketplace, expanded the company’s presence to 100+ hospitals, and launched innovative healthcare financing solutions including 0% EMI loans, reimbursement financing, and instant discharge products. Under his leadership, CarePal Money also crossed an annualised loan disbursement run rate of Rs. 100 crore within its first two years of operations.

With over 15 years of experience in financial services, Sahil brings deep expertise in lending, partnerships, and platform-scale execution. In his new role, he will focus on operational excellence, sustainable growth, and strengthening CarePal Money’s role in the Group’s integrated healthcare financing ecosystem.

Speaking on the appointment, Piyush Jain, Khushboo Jain and Vikas Kaul, the Co-Founders of CarePal Group said, “Sahil has been instrumental in shaping CarePal Money from the ground up – from building India’s first integrated healthcare lending marketplace to earning the trust of hospitals and lending partners nationwide. His deep understanding of healthcare financing, coupled with strong execution capabilities, makes him the right leader to take CarePal Money into its next phase of growth.”

“CarePal Money was created to reduce the financial stress families face at the time of medical need,” said Sahil Lakshmanan. “As CEO, my priority is to scale this platform responsibly, strengthen our partnerships with hospitals and lenders, and continue building products that make healthcare more accessible and affordable.”

CarePal Money is part of the CarePal Group, which also includes Impact Guru (medical crowdfunding) and CarePal Secure (healthcare protection solutions), together serving patients, hospitals, and healthcare partners across India.

About CarePal Money

CarePal Money aims to create a marketplace providing healthcare loans at affordable prices to patients. The brand’s vision is to enable access to affordable healthcare loans through collaborations with leading lending institutions across the country. Patients with partner hospitals will be the key beneficiaries.