As EVs become more competitive in India, the maths of switching from petrol to electric is getting easier to calculate. For buyers considering models such as the VinFast VF 6 and VF 7, ownership incentives, free charging and ICE-to-EV switching support can help bring the breakeven point forward.

VinFast makes the switch to EV easier with lower running costs, free charging until March 31, 2029, and attractive ownership benefit

Imagine you have owned the same petrol SUV for five years. It has been reliable, familiar and easy to live with, but fuel prices are eating into your wallet, the next service bill is coming up and the odometer is climbing. You start looking at what to buy next, and an electric SUV catches your attention. Its price is a little higher than the petrol equivalent, but every trip to the fuel station could disappear.

The question is whether those savings will ever break even with the higher purchase price.

The answer can be surprisingly specific. A driver covering 20,000 kilometres a year and charging mostly at home could recover the extra cost of an EV in only a few years. Someone driving 8,000 kilometres a year, especially without access to home charging, could take most of a decade. The difference comes down to a handful of numbers: annual mileage, energy cost, purchase price, taxes and how long the car is kept.

The odometer is where the EV starts earning its keep
The easiest place to start is the cost of moving the car one kilometre. Take petrol at around INR 102 a litre in Delhi. If an SUV manages 13-14 km per litre, its fuel cost comes to roughly INR 7.3-7.8 per kilometre.

With an EV, assuming the vehicle travels around 6-7 km per kWh and using household electricity rates ranging from about INR 3/kWh in Delhi to INR 8.98/kWh in Maharashtra, the raw energy cost can range from roughly INR 0.4 to INR 1.5 per kilometre, depending on the local tariff and household consumption. In practice, because an EV can push a household into higher electricity slabs, a more useful working estimate is around INR 0.9-1.3 per kilometre for home charging.

That means the home-charging advantage is roughly INR 6-7 per kilometre in the example above. Let’s use INR 6/km as a conservative estimate of the savings to make the calculation simple.

Now add a representative INR 4 lakh upfront premium for the EV. If the EV saves INR 6 for every kilometre driven, the calculation is INR 4,00,000 ÷ INR 6, which equals about 66,700 kilometres. That is the point at which fuel savings alone have recovered the initial price difference, with every additional kilometre adding to the savings.

A driver covering 8,000 km a year would need roughly 66,700 ÷ 8,000 = 8.3 years to get there. At 12,000 km a year, it takes about 5.6 years; at 15,000 km, around 4.4 years; and at 20,000 km, about 3.3 years.

Of course, that’s for home charging. With public charging, the gap between EV and ICE is smaller, but the EV still has an energy-cost advantage. At INR 15-25 per kWh, the same 6-7 km of driving costs roughly INR 2.1-4.2 per kilometre, before accounting for charging losses. That is still below the INR 7.3-7.8/km fuel cost of the petrol SUV.

Maintenance can bring that breakeven point forward. Petrol and diesel cars typically require around INR 7,000-10,000 a year in scheduled servicing, while comparable EVs can be around INR 2,000-4,000. That creates a potential annual saving of roughly INR 5,000-8,000 before other ownership costs are considered. EV owners can face higher insurance premiums and potentially faster tyre wear, however, so those costs should be included rather than treating all maintenance savings as pure profit.

Taxes can also materially change the calculation. In states offering substantial road-tax exemptions for EVs, part of the upfront price gap can disappear before the car even leaves the showroom. For a representative INR 20 lakh vehicle, an ICE road-tax bill of 8-15% would amount to roughly INR 1.6-3 lakh, although the actual amount varies by state and vehicle.

That’s a lot of numbers to chew through, but if you have to take one thing away from it, it’s this: the more a car is driven, the more opportunities an EV has to recover its initial premium. There is no single mileage at which every petrol owner should trade in for an EV. Instead, the calculation becomes increasingly favourable as three things happen together: annual mileage rises, charging costs fall and the ownership period gets longer.

VinFast is trying to make that transition easier
The financial calculation is only part of the decision. Someone moving from a petrol car to an EV is also changing how they refuel, maintain and think about the vehicle.

VinFast is attempting to reduce some of those barriers in India with a combination of product specifications, warranty coverage and ownership incentives.

Its B-SUV VF 6 offers up to 468 km of MIDC range and can charge from 10% to 70% in about 25 minutes, while the VF 7, its C-SUV, offers more performance and space, with up to 438 km of MIDC range and charging from 10% to 70% in about 24 minutes. The VF 6 comes with a 7-year/160,000 km vehicle warranty and a 10-year/200,000 km battery warranty, while the VF 7 offers a 10-year/200,000 km warranty for both the vehicle and battery.

The company is also offering measures aimed directly at the transition from ICE ownership. Its current programme includes free maintenance for three years or 36,000 km, free charging at V-Green charging stations until March 31, 2029, and cash support for customers who sell an existing ICE vehicle and purchase a VinFast EV. These incentives change the breakeven calculation because they reduce the effective cost of moving into an EV. 

For the petrol-car owner standing in a showroom and wondering whether this is finally the moment to go electric, the answer starts with the odometer rather than the badge. Look at how many kilometres you expect to add each year, calculate what each of those kilometres costs in petrol or electricity, and then ask how many of them you can power at home.

About VinFast
VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses. 

VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Learn more at: vinfastauto.in

TREVOC Group has opened the sample apartment and sales gallery at TREVOC Royal Residences, marking an important milestone in the development’s progress. The opening provides existing customers, channel partners, investors and prospective buyers with an opportunity to experience the project’s design, layouts and specifications in person, moving beyond architectural renders and brochures to a more tangible understanding of the residences.
 

TREVOC Group unveils the sample apartment and sales gallery at TREVOC Royal Residences, showcasing its premium design and specifications
 

The sample apartment has been designed to demonstrate the material palette, interior finishes, spatial planning and technology provisions planned for the residences. The specifications include Italian marble flooring in the living and dining areas and master bedroom, with wooden flooring in the other bedrooms. The equipped modular kitchen with built-in appliances, premium sanitaryware and CP fittings from Villeroy & Boch, Kohler or equivalent brands, and Legrand smart-home provisions form part of the interior offering.
 

Other features include fresh-air treatment systems designed to support indoor air quality, VRV/VRF air conditioning and premium aluminium sliding doors with double-glazed glass. The main entrance features a veneer-finished door with Dorset hardware, a smart lock with face recognition and a video door phone. The residences also incorporate provisions such as automated curtains in the living and dining areas and master bedroom, an SOS switch for emergencies, and balconies featuring glass railings and wood-look flooring. Wrap-around balconies and the project’s skydeck further contribute to its spatial design.
 

The sales gallery complements the sample apartment by presenting the broader vision of TREVOC Royal Residences, including its amenities, specifications and overall planning. Together, the two spaces allow visitors to assess the relationship between the project’s design intent and its execution, while gaining a clearer understanding of the development beyond visual representations.
 

The opening also comes as TREVOC works towards completing the development ahead of its originally planned schedule, while maintaining the agreed scope, specifications and quality requirements. The sample apartment offers a tangible reference point for the project’s intended finishes and detailing as construction progresses.
 

Commenting on the development, Gurpal Singh Chawla, Managing Director, TREVOC Group, said, “The opening of the sample apartment and sales gallery is an important step in the journey of TREVOC Royal Residences. It gives our buyers, investors and channel partners the opportunity to experience the planning, materials and detailing first-hand and understand how the vision for the project is taking shape. For us, this milestone is closely linked to transparency and execution, allowing people to assess the spaces and specifications in person as we continue working towards the project’s completion.”
 

Sehaj Chawla, Managing Director, TREVOC Group, added, “With the sample apartment now open, visitors can experience these elements first-hand and gain a clearer understanding of the thought behind TREVOC Royal Residences. We believe this kind of transparency is important in building confidence, as it allows buyers to evaluate the design, specifications and overall living experience for themselves.”
 

With the opening of the sample apartment and sales gallery, TREVOC Royal Residences enters a new stage of engagement with buyers and stakeholders, offering a more direct view of the design, specifications and execution taking shape at the project.

Bata India, India’s most trusted footwear brand, has unveiled their new campaign ‘Comfort, but make it festive’ with Rakul Preet Singh for the festive period. The 360-degree campaign brings comfort to the center of occasion dressing through an ad film, digital engagement and on-ground experiences, alongside festive footwear that reflects the brand’s evolving, contemporary design direction.

Rakul Preet Singh at the Bata store in Vegas Mall, Dwarka, New Delhi

The campaign finds a relatable connection in Rakul’s own experience. Having spoken about stepping away from heels while recovering from a back injury, the actor brings a personal perspective to making comfort a priority in footwear choices. Her preference for flats connects with the campaign’s central thought: comfort is an essential part of feeling dressed and ready for every celebration.

Rakul Preet Singh said, “Bata’s festive collection brings a fresh, contemporary feel to the comfort I’ve always associated with the brand. The detailing makes the flats feel special, and the extra cushioning matters to me now that I’m more mindful of my footwear choices. It’s exciting to see how Bata is evolving and bringing in styles that are of the moment. That’s what celebrating festivals means to me: feeling dressed for the occasion and completely at ease.”

Extending the campaign beyond digital engagement, Bata India partnered with Vegas Mall, Delhi, to host a special Dandiya Night on 18th October, bringing ‘Comfort, but make it festive’ to life through an on-ground consumer experience. The event witnessed over 6,000 footsteps, reflecting strong participation and adding to the festive spirit of the celebration. By taking the campaign directly to consumers, Bata created an opportunity to connect its message of combining style with comfort to the energy of festive celebrations, reinforcing the role of comfortable footwear in enjoying every moment of the season.

Commenting on the campaign, Jasleen Kaur, Head of Marketing, Bata India said, “Our festive campaign builds on a simple consumer insight: people want to feel dressed for the occasion and comfortable enough to enjoy it. With ‘Comfort, but make it festive’, we bring that thought to life through contemporary designs that combine festive style with comfort. Rakul’s personal experience and her approach to footwear make her a relatable voice for this message. Through the campaign and our consumer experiences, we invite people to discover how Bata is evolving its styles while keeping comfort at the heart of the brand.”

The campaign extends beyond the film through a social media contest inviting consumers to tag a friend who would pick comfy flats over heels, for a chance to win exclusive Bata hampers.  The festive collection is available across Bata stores, the Bata app and leading e-commerce platforms. Across every occasion, Bata’s message remains simple: comfort comes first, and it can look festive too.

Link to the film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_wOkkX8mw

About Bata India

For close to a century, Bata India has been a symbol of trust and quality for Indian consumers, serving over 250,000 customers every day. Throughout this journey, Bata has continuously evolved to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of its customers to become the largest footwear retailer and manufacturer in the country. Its expansive retail network consists of 2,000+ stores, supported by thousands of Multi Brand Outlets and a robust omni-channel presence across D2C and marketplaces.

Bata India sells close to 50 million pairs annually. Bata India is on a mission to make global trends and premium fashion accessible to all consumers through its extensive retail network. It is redefining the intersection of fashion and comfort through brands including Bata Red Label, Bata Comfit, Power, NorthStar, Floatz, Bubblegummers and Hush Puppies among others.

SILAII, India’s first sculptural home decor brand, gifted cars to four employees at a special ceremony held at Santhosh Hall, VGP Resort, Chennai, on Saturday. The initiative celebrates the contributions of team members who have been part of the brand’s journey since its early days.

Sathiya Narayanan, Production Head, Nishanth, Research & Development Head, Arun Titan, Founder & CEO, Sowmya, Co-Founder & CFO, Ragul Kishan, Chief Production Officer, Midhun Mohan, Marketing Head

The recipients – Ragul Kishan – Chief Production Officer, Midhun Mohan – Marketing Head, Nishanth – Research & Development Head, and Sathiya Narayanan – Production Head – have consistently demonstrated commitment and gone beyond their responsibilities. In a special touch, each recipient’s family was invited to choose the car, making the occasion a milestone for the entire family.

A Thought That Became a Meaningful Gesture

The idea originated at a family function attended by SILAII CEO and Founder Arun Titan, where he noticed a long-serving team member arriving on a two-wheeler with his entire family after a long journey. The sight prompted him to reflect on how the people who helped build SILAII could share in the comfort and security he enjoyed in his own life.

The initiative was kept under wraps until the employees were invited to a dinner, where each received a personal letter revealing the surprise. Their families were subsequently invited to select their preferred cars, turning the announcement into a shared celebration.

Speaking on the occasion, Arun Titan, CEO and Founder, SILAII, said, “I go back home safely in my car every day, and I wanted the people who have built SILAII with me to enjoy the same comfort and safety with their families. This initiative is a way of expressing our gratitude to them and sharing the success we have built together.”

“At SILAII, we believe India has immense artistic talent, but what is needed is an ecosystem that enables artists and craftspeople to build sustainable livelihoods. Today, we have a team of over 250 people, with nearly 80% of our factory workforce comprising women, many from rural communities who have found their first formal employment and an opportunity to develop their artistic skills with us. Our vision is to make art accessible while creating meaningful careers for the people behind it. We hope to take this forward by establishing an arts college that will enable more young people to pursue art as a respected and viable profession. We want our people to grow alongside SILAII, creating opportunities that extend beyond the workplace and benefit their families as well,” he added.

About SILAII

Founded in 2019 by Arun Titan, SILAII is India’s first sculptural home decor brand and one of India’s finest sculpture brands, driven by the vision of making art accessible to everyone. Rooted in craftsmanship, culture and storytelling, the brand creates finely detailed, IP-certified handcrafted sculptures ranging from 5 inches to 50 feet — from devotional sculptures, levitating sculptures and car dashboard god idols to temple replica sculptures, leaders and icons bust sculptures, official movie merchandise, and customised sculptures for corporate gifting.

With more than 2,00,000 products sold and a presence in over 50 countries, SILAII’s portfolio spans home decor, bespoke creations, corporate gifting and large-scale public sculpture installation, including more than 50 government projects. Among its landmark creations is the 30-foot Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s state animal, installed in front of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. Its latest endeavour, SILAII Artscape, extends the brand’s vision to designing landscapes through art.

SILAII operates its flagship sculpture store in Adyar, Chennai, along with a store in R.S. Puram, Coimbatore, and a massive sculpture store in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

For more information, visit www.silaii.com.

Omaxe The Resort marked the Navratri season with a vibrant Dandiya Night alongside the unveiling of its sample flat in Sector 7, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, on October 16, 2026. The gathering drew approximately 500 guests for an evening of cultural performances and live entertainment while introducing potential buyers to the property’s living spaces.

Omaxe The Resort unveils its sample flat amid vibrant Dandiya Night celebrations in Lucknow

At its core, setting the tone for the festivities, artists from Gujarat presented traditional Garba performances, bringing cultural authenticity to the occasion. Meanwhile, Bollywood dance troupes captivated the audience with energetic choreography, and live band acts enriched the programme with contemporary musical entertainment. Together, these performances created a zestful blend of folk heritage and modern celebrations, offering families and visitors an engaging way to celebrate Navratri.

Moreover, complementing the cultural line-up along with the sample flat unveiling provided interested buyers with a closer look at the home interiors. Attendees could view the layouts and visualise the possibilities of future living, gaining first-hand insight into the property’s design. In this way, the presentation connected the festive atmosphere with the practical considerations of discovering a potential residence.

Commenting on the initiative, Mohit Goel, Managing Director, Omaxe Group, said, “Festivals bring people together through shared traditions and create opportunities to strengthen community bonds. At Omaxe, we believe that a home is closely connected to the experiences and relationships that shape everyday life. By bringing a Dandiya celebration together with the unveiling of our sample flat, we sought to create an occasion where guests could enjoy the cultural festivities while viewing our living spaces. We remain focused on building meaningful relationships with prospective residents and helping them envision their future homes.”

Further, the event brought together everyone in a shared festive setting. Beyond the immediate festivities, integrating traditional performances with a property presentation added a lifestyle dimension to the occasion. This approach linked cultural expression with home discovery while offering prospective residents a more engaging way to view the project.

Through initiatives that combine community involvement with property-related activities, Omaxe The Resort continues to create opportunities for interested buyers to connect with its development. By bringing together the vibrancy of Navratri and the aspirations associated with finding a future home, the Dandiya Night linked festive traditions with the experience of discovering a new address.

About Omaxe

Established in 1987, Omaxe remains one of India’s leading and most trusted real estate development companies. Omaxe Limited is listed on both the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. and BSE Ltd. since 2007.Omaxe Group delivered approximately 140.17 million sq. ft. of real estate across 31 cities in 8 states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. Its diverse portfolio spanned residential, commercial, and integrated township projects. With over three decades of experience, Omaxe has consistently focused on delivering high-quality developments that cater to the evolving needs of urban India. Omaxe played a key role in transforming urban landscapes with iconic projects like Omaxe New Chandigarh Township, World Street in Faridabad, Omaxe Chowk in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, and Royal Residency in Ludhiana. Omaxe is also developing The Omaxe State in Dwarka, a cutting-edge mixed-use destination featuring retail, hospitality, sports, and entertainment.

With a robust land bank, innovative designs, and a vision for creating vibrant communities, Omaxe gained the trust of millions of customers and investors. Omaxe continued to set benchmarks in the real estate industry, solidifying its position as a leader in shaping the future of urban India.

Sony India today announced the launch of BRAVIA 9II, the newest addition to its premium BRAVIA television lineup and the Sony’s flagship True RGB television for 2026. Building on the success of the recently launched BRAVIA 7II, which introduced Sony’s next-generation True RGB display technology to Indian consumers, the BRAVIA 9II brings Sony’s most advanced picture and sound innovations together to deliver the ultimate cinematic viewing experience at home.

BRAVIA 9II True RGB – The Future of Colour is here

Both the models are powered by Sony’s proprietary RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro, which precisely controls independently driven red, green, and blue light sources, enabling the new BRAVIA True RGB TV models achieve the largest colour volume ever in Sony’s home TV history, delivering the accurate colour reproduction from wider viewing angle, in bright home environment.

Flagship Launch of BRAVIA 9II: The most advanced expression of True RGB technology
At the heart of BRAVIA 9II is Sony’s revolutionary True RGB technology, representing the brand’s most advanced implementation of RGB display innovation to date. Unlike conventional LED televisions, True RGB independently controls red, green and blue LEDs through RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro™, enabling significantly wider colour volume, enhanced brightness, deeper blacks and remarkably lifelike picture quality. 

 
Working together with Advanced AI Cognitive Processor XR™, Sony’s advanced RGB architecture intelligently analyses every scene in real time to optimise colour, contrast and brightness while faithfully preserving the creator’s original intent. 

Purpose-built for premium large-screen entertainment, the BRAVIA 9II features newly developed LED controllers that deliver Sony’s highest level of backlight control. Combined with RGB Triluminos Max™, Luminance Booster Pro™ and Smooth Colour Gradation, the television produces purer primary light before it reaches the panel, reproducing richer colours, smoother tonal transitions and more accurate hues, even at higher brightness levels for exceptional viewing in bright living room environments. 

The BRAVIA 9II comes with exclusives features that further elevates the viewing experience with Immersive Black Screen Pro, a newly engineered glare-free, low-reflection screen treatment that delivers deeper blacks while revealing fine details in darker scenes.

 
Complementing the exceptional sound quality is Acoustic Multi-Audio+™ with Sound Positioning Tweeters and Up-Firing Beam Tweeters, delivering precisely positioned sound that matches on-screen action.

A Unified Cinematic Experience Across BRAVIA 9II and BRAVIA 7II

• First True RGB LED BRAVIA TVs: the BRAVIA 9II and BRAVIA 7II, each using independently driven red, green, and blue LEDs for precise colour reproduction in bright living room environments.

• True RGB Televisions offers Dolby Vision®, Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X®, and IMAX® Enhanced. The result is a viewing experience that maintains creator-intended colour, depth, and detail under real world conditions.

• Powered by XR Contrast Booster, BRAVIA 9II and BRAVIA 7II achieves exceptional peak brightness while maintaining deep, detailed blacks for enhanced depth and realism.

• Unprecedented Colour Volume: Independent control of RGB LEDs achieves the largest colour volume in Sony’s home TV history, delivering high colour gamut, contrast, depth, and beautiful gradation. Powered by Sony’s RGB Backlight Master Drive Pro which drives each LED with high precision, improving brightness, reducing blooming, and producing purer colour than conventional Mini LED displays.

• Wide Viewing Angles: Independent RGB LED driving and the X-Wide Angle Pro ensure beautiful images and consistent colours from wide viewing angle.

• Large Screen for Immersive Experience: The True RGB series BRAVIA 9II & BRAVIA 7II both offers most immersive size options for large format cinematic viewing and also maintaining ease of installation and integration.

• Elevated Audio Experience: Full range speakers⁽ⁱ⁾ deliver a solid sound while enhancing dialogue clarity with Voice Zoom 3™, powered by AI. Also, our evolved 3D Surround Upscaling expands stereo to wider 3D surround.

• Harmonic Presence: The flagship design integrates effortlessly into any space, featuring a wave textured bezel and a Mirage stand⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ that creates a floating, cable free look, allowing the screen to serve as décor even when not in use.

• My Cinema, optimising picture and sound for film first viewing

• Ambient Optimization, automatically adapts picture and audio to room condition and viewing position

• “Studio Calibrated” modes for platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, and SONY PICTURES CORE (availability varies by region)

Discover effortless entertainment with Google TV and Gemini

Powered by Google TV, The True RGB televisions bring together movies, TV shows, apps and games into a personalized entertainment experience. Gemini for Google TV will be introduced via a future over-the-air update, enabling more natural AI-powered interactions.

Experience studio-quality entertainment with Sony Pictures Core

Enjoy blockbuster movies, including IMAX® Enhanced titles, with Sony Pictures Core. Powered by Pure Stream™, users can experience near 4K UHD Blu-ray quality and receive 10 movie credits valid for 24 months.

Premium design with everyday convenience

Featuring an Immersive Frame and Mirage Stand, BRAVIA 9II and BRAVIA 7II blend seamlessly into modern living spaces with concealed cable management. The Inclusive Premium Remote offers USB Type-C charging, backlit buttons and Find My Remote for added accessibility and convenience.

Price and Availability

Sony’s True RGB television portfolio now spans screen sizes from 55-inch (140 cm) to 85-Inch (215 cm) offering consumers a wider choice of premium televisions across different home entertainment needs.

The True RGB Televisions, www.sony.co.in/bravia/products/bravia-9m2 and BRAVIA 7II available across Sony retail stores (Sony Centre and Sony Exclusive), ShopatSC.com, leading electronic outlets and major e-commerce platforms across India.

About Sony India Pvt. Ltd.

Sony India Private Limited (Sony India), a private limited company with its ultimate holding company as Sony Group Corporation, Japan, has established itself as a premium brand in various product categories including television, digital imaging, personal audio, home entertainment, gaming, car audio, and professional solutions. The company places a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction and maintains high standards in sales and services. Sony also prioritizes environmental sustainability, aiming to achieve a zero environmental footprint throughout the lifecycle of its products and business activities to contribute to a healthier and enriched life for all of humanity and future generations.

(i) Varies depending on the inch size. Or *except for BRAVIA 7II 50-inch/55-inch

(ii) The stand design varies depending on the inch size. Or *except for BRAVIA 9II 115-inch/ BRAVIA 7II 98 -inch

The Mysuru Dasara Drone Show has entered the Guinness World Record books again. On the night of October 18, 3,473 drones rose above the Torchlight Parade Ground in Bannimantap to form a giant dancing peacock, India’s national bird, setting a Guinness World Record for the biggest aerial display of a bird made by multirotors/drones. Organised by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) and performed by IIT Delhi-incubated BotLab Dynamics, the record-setting Mysuru Dasara Drone Show capped a spectacular Dasara festival weekend that Karnataka is still talking about.
 

BotLab Dynamics’ giant peacock formation created with 3,473 drones, set a Guinness World Record at the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show 2026 in Bannimantap
 

Click here to see the clip of this Guinness World Record drone show formation!
 

The Mysore Dasara Drone Shows also recorded a 154% spike in footfall from 2025. The drone shows have become a much-anticipated attraction during Mysuru Dasara, drawing families, tourists and drone-show enthusiasts. BotLab Dynamics have been performing these Mysore drone shows since 2022 every year. This is their fifth consecutive year performing the Mysuru Drone Shows. Now it has become a must-see night-time attraction of Mysuru Dasara 2026 for families, tourists and drone show lovers alike.
 

Torchlight Parade Ground at Bannimantap drew exceptionally large crowds during the first two evenings of the Mysuru Dasara Drone Shows. Attendance went above 40,000 against a formal seated capacity of 33,500, while more than 20,000 people gathered outside the venue to catch the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show. Many watched from home terraces, balconies and restaurants across the city, turning rooftops and dining tables into front-row seats for the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show. “Large-scale drone shows can be visible from distances of over 10 km under suitable viewing conditions,” said Neha Verma, Marketing and Comms Lead at BotLab Dynamics.
 

For many locals, the Mysore Dasara Drone Shows have grown from a new attraction into an annual ritual, planned as carefully as a visit to the palace illuminations or the Chamundi Hills temple. Audiences described the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show in their own words:
 

“We come as a family every year. The drone show has become as much a part of our Dasara celebrations as the illuminated palace,” said Raghuvendra, a Mysuru resident who attended with three generations of the family. “My daughter kept asking if the peacock was real. I have never seen a Dasara crowd this quiet and this amazed,” said a visitor from Bengaluru. “From our restaurant balcony the whole drone show was visible in the sky,” said Vinod, restaurant owner, Mysuru.
 

The first night’s Mysuru Dasara Drone Show had already gone viral, with videos shared widely across social media and messaging groups. The news of the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show setting a Guinness World Record with the spectacular peacock formation is now spreading even faster, making the Mysore Dasara Drone Shows one of the most talked-about moments in India right now.
 

CESC lights up Mysuru every Dasara, with a 146-km illuminated road network this year, and has made the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show its newest night-time highlight. Returning to Mysuru Dasara for the fifth consecutive year, BotLab Dynamics has expanded the scale of its drone shows with each edition: 250 drones in 2022 & 2023, 1,500 drones in 2024, a 3,000-drone fleet and a Guinness World Record tiger formed by 2,983 drones in 2025, and now a 3,473-drone peacock in 2026.
 

The 2026 line-up also included a welcome to the Chief Minister with a Dasara greeting in Kannada, a spiralling galaxy, a soldier raising the national flag, a butterfly, a roaring lion, the Karnataka map with welfare-scheme symbols, Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra, Lord Shiva, Nandi, the Ambari elephant and Goddess Chamundeshwari.
 

“This record belongs to the people of Mysore. We have seen the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show become a family tradition in five years, and a Guinness World Record is proof of what happens when a festival and technology grow together,” said Aayush Bector, Head of Business, BotLab Dynamics. “Record-setting moments like this are why immersive entertainment and experiential marketing are moving to the sky, because few experiences bring thousands of people together like a shared moment of wonder.”
 

“When we see a massive crowd inside the ground and thousands more on terraces and balconies waiting, we know our Mysuru Dasara Drone Show has connected with the people,” said Dr Sarita Ahlawat, Founder and MD, BotLab Dynamics. “Forming a world record with our national bird with Indian-made drones for the people of Karnataka is a moment we will always be proud of, and we thank CESC for their trust.”
 

The Mysuru Dasara Drone Show is part of a bigger festive story. BotLab Dynamics is currently executing one of the biggest drone show campaigns in Punjab and recently lit up Eden Gardens in Kolkata with a 3,000-drone Durga Puja show on Mahalaya, followed by another Durga Puja Drone Show in Digha. Together, these productions show how Drone Shows in India are changing the way festivals are celebrated, from Dasara in the south to Durga Puja in the east. With more than 700 shows, a fleet of over 10,000 drones and now eight Guinness World Records, BotLab Dynamics is among the leading names in drone light shows and Drone Shows in India.
 

There is still time to watch. The Mysore Dasara Drone Shows continue on October 20 and 21, 2026, at 7 pm at the Torchlight Parade Ground, Bannimantap, Mysuru, as part of Mysuru Dasara 2026 and the Nada Habba celebrations.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, launched the MAHE Corporate Cricket Championship (CCC) 2026 at its Bengaluru Campus on Saturday. Bringing together teams from leading organisations across sectors, the 27-match T20 tournament places industry-academia engagement at its centre, giving corporate professionals and the university community a shared platform to build connections, exchange perspectives and explore opportunities for collaboration through sport. 

Mr. Avinash V. unveiled the trophy and Dr. Anand V, unveiled the jerseys in the presence of Dr. S. K. Rao, Dr. M. Veeraraghavan,, Dr. R. Prabhu, Dr. Harish Kumar and captains

Chief guest and cricketer Mr. Avinash Vaidya unveiled the championship trophy and Dr. Anand Venugopal, COO, MAHE, unveiled the team jerseys in the presence of Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE Bengaluru, Dr. Raghavendra Prabhu, Additional Registrar, MAHE Bengaluru Campus, Dr. Harish Kumar S., Director-Corporate Relations, corporate leaders and captains of the participating teams. 

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Avinash Vaidya said, “Cricket builds teamwork, discipline, leadership and the ability to perform under pressure, qualities that are equally important in the workplace. By bringing corporate teams together through this championship, MAHE has created a meaningful platform that goes beyond competition to strengthen professional relationships, encourage collaboration and build lasting connections through sport.”

Dr. Sharath K. Rao said, “Institutions and industries grow when they engage with each other consistently and work towards shared goals. The MAHE CCC provides a platform for the corporate community and the university to come together in a spirit of teamwork and collaboration. We hope this engagement will strengthen our existing relationships and lead to meaningful, long-term associations.”

Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Veeraraghavan said, “Corporate leaders across sectors bring different experiences, perspectives and approaches to solving real-world challenges. The CCC creates an informal setting for these perspectives to come together, allowing conversations and ideas to develop beyond conventional boardrooms. For MAHE Bengaluru, the value of this initiative lies in creating a vibrant space where the university and the corporate community can exchange ideas and discover areas of shared interest.”

The championship features teams from prominent organisations across technology, healthcare, consulting and financial services. Participating organisations include ARM, Bosch, Carelon, EY, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, JPMorganChase, KPMG, LinkedIn, Manipal Hospitals, Microland, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, Salesforce, Thomson Reuters and Unisys.

The championship will follow the T20 white-ball format, with weekend matches scheduled at the MAHE Bengaluru Campus. The teams are divided into four pools, with each team playing three league matches. The tournament will feature 27 matches, including two semi-finals and the final.

The concluding phase will be held at MIT Sports Park, MAHE Manipal. The semi-finals are scheduled for December 5, followed by the final under lights on December 6.

Team and individual performances will be recognised throughout the championship. Awards will be presented to the winner and runner-up, along with honours for Man of the Match in each fixture, Man of the Series, Best Batsman and Best Bowler.

Through the championship, MAHE aims to bring competitive sport and corporate-academic engagement together. The initiative gives corporate professionals, team representatives and the university community an opportunity to build relationships and explore common interests beyond conventional institutional settings.

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.