For a long time, the riskiest part of buying a used car was that you were mostly buying on gut feel. You trusted the seller, or the dealer, or a relative who knew engines. The Gears of Growth 2025 report shows that trust is now being outsourced to a process. Over 1.7 lakh Indians looked up pre-delivery inspection in 2025, enough for the report to call PDI mainstream.
 

The report puts it inside a larger change it describes plainly: search behaviour has moved beyond features and price, toward inspections and trust signals. Buyers are no longer only asking what a car costs or what features it has. They want to know how they get the quality checked professionally.
 

What is a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) for a used car?

For a used-car buyer, a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) is a structured assessment of the vehicle before completing the purchase or taking delivery. A trained evaluator goes over the car against a fixed checklist, covering the body, engine, transmission, electricals, tyres, brakes and paperwork, and produces a documented assessment of the car’s condition at the time of inspection. . On a platform like Cars24, the inspection is done before the car is even listed. Separately, if you are buying from a dealer or a private seller, you can book a PDI on that specific car and have an expert inspect it for you. The point is simple – a PDI replaces a stranger’s word with a documented assessment.
 

This is why the search interest is telling. A used car buyer looking up PDI is a buyer who has decided that personal assurance is not enough on a purchase of this size. That is a real change in behaviour, and the report ties it to the same forces reshaping the rest of the market: certified inspections, transparent pricing and digital discovery giving people confidence they did not have a few years ago.
 

Why did buyers stop trusting the parking-lot check?

Two things pushed inspection into the mainstream. The first is money. As new car prices climb, more first-time buyers are spending a serious share of their savings on a used car, and a bigger cheque makes people careful. The second is that the internet gave them somewhere to take that caution. The report finds that family and peer recommendations still matter, but buyers now verify them through reviews, videos and experts rather than taking them at face value.
 

Video does much of that verification. The report singles out YouTube as the platform playing the credibility role, shaping decisions through detailed reviews and ownership content. Someone can now watch an expert tear down the exact model they are considering, learn what tends to go wrong with it, and then go looking for an inspection that checks those specific things. Research and inspection have become one continuous habit.
 

What can a PDI catch, and what can it not?

This is where honesty matters, because an inspection is a powerful tool but not a magic one. A thorough PDI can identify many of the common mechanical, cosmetic and documentation issues that buyers may otherwise miss. It will not promise you a car that never breaks down.
 

Pre-delivery inspection (PDI)

The 1.7 lakh research figure is from the Cars24 x Team BHP Gears of Growth 2025 Report. The inspection scope above is general guidance for buyers.
 

A PDI sharply lowers the odds of an unpleasant surprise, and it gives you a documented condition report you can hold the seller to. It does not remove risk entirely, which is why a written warranty or return window still matters alongside it. A buyer who understands both halves of that is far harder to mislead than one who treats the inspection stamp as the end of the conversation.
 

How much does a PDI cost, and can you book one on any car?

If you are one of those 1.7 lakh buyers, the practical question is where to get a PDI done. Cars24 runs a pre-delivery inspection service for exactly this: an expert comes to the car you are considering, whether it is with a dealer or a private seller, runs a 300 point mechanical, electrical and legal check, and gives you a digital condition report before you pay.
 

Because no inspection can promise a car will never fail, CarTruth backs its report with a Rs. 50,000 Moneyback Promise, so the risk of a missed fault does not sit entirely on the buyer. That is the difference between an inspection you read as advice and one you can actually rely on: the report, plus something standing behind it.
 

What this means for how India buys used cars

The 1.7 lakh figure is small next to the size of the market, and that is the point. It is early. Inspection research is where colour preference or fuel choice was a few years ago, a habit forming in the more informed corner of the market and spreading outward. The direction is not in doubt. Every year more buyers arrive expecting to verify a car before they trust it, and the sellers and platforms that make verification easy are the ones those buyers will choose.
 

The parking-lot uncle is not out of a job. He has just been joined by a checklist, a condition report and a YouTube playlist, and between them they have made the Indian used car buyer a good deal harder to fool.

• ​Delivers CRI >90 for accurate, true-to-life colour rendering

• Backed by EyeComfort Technology, engineered to reduce flicker for enhanced visual comfort

• Available in 12W LED Lamp, 25 & 30W batten, & two desk lamps (Skyy & Orbit) designed for everyday home and study lighting needs

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today announced the launch of the Philips FocusGlow range – a lighting solution built for the hours people spend reading, studying and working under artificial light. FocusGlow pairs high colour accuracy with reduced-flicker performance, giving everyday spaces a more comfortable, dependable source of light.

Introducing the Philips FocusGlow range, engineered with EyeComfort Technology and CRI >90 for true-to-life colour accuracy, reduced flicker, and everyday visual comfort

As more consumers spend longer hours at home reading, studying or working under artificial light, the demand for lighting that reduces eye strain without sacrificing brightness or colour quality continues to grow. The Philips FocusGlow range is designed to meet this need, offering a dependable lighting solution for households seeking comfort-led, everyday illumination.

Commenting on the launch, C Arun Kumar, Head of Consumer Business, Signify Greater India said, “At Signify, we design every product around how people actually experience light in their daily lives. With Philips FocusGlow, we’re bringing together accurate colour rendering and meaningful eye comfort, so that whether someone is reading, studying or working at their desk, the light around them supports their eyes instead of straining them.”

True colour, where it matters most

FocusGlow’s CRI >90 (Colour Rendering Index) keeps colours looking natural with less strain on the eyes a real advantage for reading, studying and any close-up work where getting eye comfort actually matters.

Comfort built for long hours

The lamp runs on Signify’s EyeComfort Technology, engineered to reduce flicker during extended use. That makes it a practical pick for students, professionals and households looking to cut down on visual fatigue over long stretches of near work.

The Philips FocusGlow range is available in a 12W LED Lamp, 25 & 30W Batten & two desk lamps (Skyy & Orbit), sized for general home and study lighting. With the launch of the Philips FocusGlow 12W LED Lamp, Signify reinforces its commitment to designing lighting solutions that prioritise everyday wellness, supporting consumers in creating healthier, more comfortable spaces for reading, studying and work at home.

About Signify  

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers. We proudly bring to market the world’s best lighting brands, from Signify, Philips, Philips Hue, Signify Interact, Philips Dynalite, Color Kinetics and many more. Our advanced products, connected systems and services unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. In 2025, we had sales of EUR 5.8 billion, approximately 27,000 employees, and a presence in over 70 markets. We are in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and hold the EcoVadis Platinum rating.  News and updates from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) commenced the three-day International Conference on Advances in Computational Intelligence for Fluid and Fuzzy Systems (ACIFFS-2026) on Wednesday at the Smt. Sharda Pai Auditorium. Organised by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the conference is being held in association with IIT Guwahati, the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tanzania, and the African Mathematical Union (AMU), with financial support from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Prof. Verdiana Grace Masanja of NM-AIST, Tanzania is felicitated by Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Rana, Pro President, Manipal University Jaipur

The inaugural ceremony featured eminent academicians from across the globe. Renowned researcher Prof. Ali J. Chamkha of Kuwait College of Science and Technology joined virtually as the Chief Guest, while Prof. Verdiana Grace Masanja of NM-AIST, Tanzania, attended as the Guest of Honour. The event was also graced by Prof. Swaroop Nandan Bora of IIT Guwahati and Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Rana, Pro President, Manipal University Jaipur, along with distinguished researchers, faculty members and students.

Addressing the gathering, the speakers highlighted the transformative role of computational intelligence, artificial intelligence and mathematical sciences in solving complex scientific and engineering challenges. They emphasised the need for interdisciplinary research and stronger international collaborations to advance innovation and sustainable development.

A highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the release of the ACIFFS-2026 Conference Souvenir, which features the conference theme, scientific programme, messages from dignitaries and details of participating researchers and invited speakers.

Presenting the conference overview, Prof. Reema Jain, Program Chair of ACIFFS-2026, said the conference received an overwhelming response from the global research community, with 645 abstracts submitted from across the world. Following a rigorous peer-review process, 300 high-quality research papers were selected for oral presentation during the three-day conference.

The inaugural session witnessed enthusiastic participation from researchers, academicians, industry professionals and students from India and abroad, reaffirming the growing global interest in computational intelligence and fuzzy systems.

The conference underscores Manipal University Jaipur’s commitment to fostering world-class research, encouraging interdisciplinary innovation and strengthening international academic partnerships. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Abdul Haseeb Ganie, Convener of ACIFFS-2026.

To know more about Manipal University Jaipur please visit jaipur.manipal.edu

SwiftPAL from ConveGenius.AI in India has today been named in the Top 25 shortlist for the second annual Global EdTech Prize in the Majors category. Founded in 2025 by T4 Education, with the support of Owl Ventures and Digital Promise, the Global EdTech Prize recognises those trailblazing solutions that are driving change and grappling with the most crucial challenges in today’s classrooms.

SwiftPAL earns a place in the Global EdTech Prize 2026 top 25 shortlist, spotlighting its mission to close learning gaps at scale across India

Judged by educators themselves, the prize provides a vital platform to help companies and organisations scale their products, tools, or services and their impact worldwide. It celebrates EdTechs that are making a real difference to the next generation and champions innovative tech solutions that actually work for the people who matter most – educators, their students, and their communities.

The prize is awarded in three categories: Majors, Start-ups, and Non-profits, with winners announced live at the World Schools Summit in London on January 17, 2027.

Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the Global EdTech Prize, said, “I want to congratulate SwiftPAL from ConveGenius.AI in India on being named in the Top 25 shortlists for this, the second Global EdTech Prize.

Technology in the classroom holds the enormous potential to close learning gaps and fully equip today’s young people for the rapidly emerging workplace of tomorrow. But we can only harness technology effectively when it is made to work for educators to tackle the challenges they face every day.

Judged by educators themselves, the Global EdTech Prize exists to bridge the gap between technology and teachers and give a global platform to the solutions that are making a real impact in classrooms so that impact can be scaled worldwide.”

Shashank Pandey, Co-Founder, ConveGenius.AI  said, Over the last decade, we have learned that learning outcomes at scale improve when policy, budgets, programmes, technology, and people work in harmony. Technology and AI can be powerful accelerators when aligned with national priorities and implemented well.

Independent third-party research shows that students using ConveGenius’ PAL platform learn 2.3 times faster, helping bridge years of accumulated learning gaps.

Being named a global finalist for the Global EdTech Prize 2026 is a tremendous honour. It validates a decade of conviction, execution, and partnership with state governments to create a level playing field for every child.

About SwiftPAL by ConveGenius

SwiftPAL is ConveGenius’s personalised adaptive learning platform, built for learners of Bharat to support them with their journey towards their grade-level outcomes. SwiftPAL starts the journey with each learner at their present-day level, moving with them at their pace.

We are all aware that ASER 2024 found that only 23.4% of Std III children in government schools can read a Std II-level text, even though 98% of children that age are enrolled in school. Globally, the World Bank and UNESCO describe this as “learning poverty”, estimating that 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple text. This is the specific gap SwiftPAL has been built to close: the gap between being enrolled in school and actually learning at grade level.

SwiftPAL works by first diagnosing what a learner actually knows, rather than what their textbook assumes they should know by now, using adaptive assessments that identify missed concepts and gaps from previous grades. Based on this diagnosis, it builds an individual learning path unique to each learner instead of assigning the same grade-level content to everyone. A learner who is lacking in understanding and application of a particular concept is given ample guided practice followed by opportunities to demonstrate their gained mastery. Students work through videos, practice questions, hints and retries on the devices inside school ICT labs, dedicating two class periods a week to catching up with their grade-level concepts via SwiftPal. This is how SwiftPAL supports learners demonstrating measurable learning gains and catching up with their grade-level concepts.

An independent randomised controlled trial by the University of Chicago’s Development Innovation Lab, led by Nobel laureate Dr Michael Kremer, tracked SwiftPAL across 120 schools in all 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh over 17 months. The study validated that students using SwiftPAL learned 2.3 times faster than expected, clocking in close to two additional years of learning.

In Uttar Pradesh, under India’s first outcomes-based financing model in public education, students using SwiftPAL outperformed peers by 16 to 54 percentage points across subjects, evaluated independently across 280 schools, covering 72,000 students.

In Rajasthan, the programme has scaled from a 60-school pilot to more than 3,700 schools on government mandate.

SwiftPAL now reaches over 4 million students across 15,000+ schools, in 22 Indian states and 145 districts, at a cost of USD 10–35 per student per year. The programme has been recognised with the CIPS Innovation Award 2025, named a Government of India GeM Top Seller in the Startup Category, and awarded Best Personalised and Adaptive Learning Solution at the 16th World Education Summit.
 

About T4 Education

We believe every child, everywhere, deserves a good education. We are building the world’s largest community of teachers and schools to achieve this. Together. Our digital media platform provides opportunities for educators to network, collaborate, share good practices, and support each other’s efforts to improve learning and school culture. We work to amplify teachers’ voices because the world we want to see will only be built by listening to those at the heart of education.

What’s Next?

The Global EdTech Prize is awarded annually in three categories: Majors, Start-ups, and Non-Profits, recognising outstanding EdTech products, tools, or services based on rigorous criteria.

The top 10 finalists for each of the three categories will be announced in September, with finalists invited to the World Schools Summit, where they will showcase their work before an expert panel comprising leading figures in the technology and education sectors, including investors and policymakers from around the world.

The expert panel will narrow down the final 3 per category who will present their products and tools before educators at the World Schools Summit. Educators will vote by secret ballot to determine the winner of each category, and they will be announced live on stage at the culmination of the summit.

• Integrated business destination within SPR City supports the Tamil Nadu Government’s “Perambur 2.0” initiative, empowering MSMEs, startups and professionals with premium office ownership

• The launch, inaugurated by Chief Guest Thiru A.M. Vikram Raja, State President, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam Peramaippu, witnessed an overwhelming response from leading industrialists, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and Chennai’s MSME community
   

SPR India recently announced the launch of District 12, a smart office space development within the 63-acre SPR City, offering MSMEs, startups, entrepreneurs, professionals and growing businesses the opportunity to own premium office spaces in one of Chennai’s fastest-emerging commercial destinations. Supporting the Tamil Nadu Government’s “Perambur 2.0” initiative, District 12 is set to accelerate Perambur’s transformation into a vibrant commercial, business and investment hub.
 

Mr. Hitesh Kawad, Managing Director and Mr. Navin Ranka, Director, felicitating Chief Guest Mr. Shelvi K. Dhamodar, Advocate, at the District 12 launch event at SPR City
 

In support of the Tamil Nadu Government’s “Perambur 2.0” initiative, District 12 was officially launched in the presence of Thiru A.M. Vikram Raja, State President, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam Peramaippu, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, along with leading industrialists, entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders.
 

The launch witnessed an overwhelming response from Chennai’s MSMEs, startups, IT/ITES companies, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors and business owners, reflecting the strong demand for professionally managed office ownership within an integrated commercial ecosystem.
 

Built around the compelling proposition, “Why Rent When You Can Own Your Office Space?”, District 12 offers flexible office spaces ranging from 120 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft., enabling businesses to choose spaces that match their current requirements while providing room for future expansion. The development features premium commercial infrastructure, including a fully equipped business centre, exclusive clubhouse, modern elevators and escalators, 100% power backup, CCTV-enabled security systems, 24×7 security, concierge services, professionally maintained common areas and ample parking.
 

Businesses at District 12 also benefit from the integrated SPR City ecosystem, comprising the Market of India, shopping mall, restaurants, food courts, an eight-screen multiplex, entertainment zones, premium residences, Kauvery Hospital, The Shri Ram Universal School and other lifestyle amenities, creating a complete live-work-business destination that supports business growth while offering unmatched convenience.
 

Strategically located in Perambur, District 12 enjoys excellent connectivity, with the Perambur Bus Terminus just 500 metres away, Perambur Railway Station within 1 km and the proposed Perambur Metro Station only 800 metres away. Chennai Central Railway Station, the High Court and the Secretariat are also easily accessible.
 

District 12
 

Sharing SPR Group’s vision for the project, Mr. Hitesh Kawad, Managing Director, SPR Group, said, “District 12 reflects SPR’s vision of creating future-ready commercial infrastructure that empowers businesses to own, grow and thrive. As Perambur continues to evolve into a vibrant commercial hub, the launch of District 12 marks another significant milestone in the growth of SPR City while reinforcing Perambur’s emergence as one of Chennai’s most promising commercial and investment destinations. We are proud to offer entrepreneurs, MSMEs and professionals a premium business address within an integrated ecosystem designed for long-term growth and success.”
 

Highlighting the commercial value proposition of District 12, Mr. Shashie Kumar, CEO, SPR Commercial, said, “District 12 is designed to offer businesses much more than premium office spaces. It enables entrepreneurs, MSMEs and professionals to convert recurring rental expenses into long-term asset ownership while operating from a professionally managed commercial environment designed for growth, collaboration and enterprise. As part of the integrated SPR City ecosystem and the Market of India, businesses also benefit from greater visibility, wider customer reach, valuable networking opportunities and a vibrant business environment, making office ownership a smart investment for long-term success.”
 

Commenting on Perambur’s growing prominence as a business destination, Mr. Navin Ranka, Director, SPR Group, said, “Perambur is fast emerging as one of Chennai’s most promising commercial destinations, driven by strong infrastructure and excellent connectivity. District 12 is designed to meet the evolving needs of startups, MSMEs, professionals and enterprises seeking a premium business address in a high-growth location.”
 

The launch also featured an insightful panel discussion on “Perambur 2.0,” moderated by noted journalist and television anchor Avudaiappan S. The panel featured Mr. Hitesh Kawad, Managing Director, SPR Group, Mr. Rahul Rajamuthiah, Business Head, Market of India, Dr. Sam Paul, Paulsons Group (TONI&GUY), and advocate and renowned astrologer Shelvi K. Damother. The discussion explored Perambur’s rapid transformation into one of Chennai’s fastest-growing commercial corridors, driven by infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, employment generation and the growing demand for organised commercial spaces.
 

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Anirudha Srikkanth and actor Samyuktha also visited District 12, interacting with the SPR team and exploring the project’s smart office formats, premium amenities and investment potential.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), in partnership with the Shangri-La Group, hosted eight senior MICE professionals from India on The Dragon Pulse, a five-day familiarisation trip held from 26-30 June 2026. The programme was designed to demonstrate Hong Kong as a MICE destination for the Indian market, bringing together the city’s world class meetings and events infrastructure, venue diversity, and cultural experiences within a single corporate itinerary.

HKTB hosts eight Indian MICE professionals on a five-day familiarisation trip, showcasing the city’s event infrastructure and cultural depth for corporate travel programmes

The visit coincided with the 2026 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, one of Asia’s most significant annual sporting and cultural events. Participants were given VIP access to the races and harbourfront festivities, offering a direct example of how a major public event of international standing can be integrated into a corporate travel programme to deliver experiences that extend beyond conventional conference settings. This approach reflects a broader HKTB strategy of inviting business event visitors to participate in the city’s landmark public events strengthening Hong Kong’s overall appeal as a business events destination.

Site inspections across the five days covered a cross-section of Hong Kong’s most significant MICE properties. The Kowloon Shangri-La in Tsim Sha Tsui, a luxury waterfront hotel with comprehensive event facilities and direct harbour views, and the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom Bay, a contemporary urban resort with flexible event spaces and acclaimed dining, were assessed against the practical requirements of Indian corporate groups.

The itinerary also included a venue introduction and site inspection at the West Kowloon Cultural District, with a focus on M+, the museum of contemporary visual culture that anchors the precinct. In addition to its standing as a leading cultural institution, M+ offers world-class event spaces with harbour views, advanced facilities, and professional event services, positioning it as a venue of distinction for conferences, exhibitions, and large-scale corporate gatherings. West Kowloon Cultural District more broadly represents Hong Kong’s flagship arts quarter and one of the world’s largest cultural centres, increasingly recognised as a premier destination for business events that seek an environment of creative and cultural distinction.

Beyond its venue infrastructure, the programme demonstrated the range of experiences available to corporate groups in Hong Kong. Participants took a speedboat tour through the UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung, where they viewed dramatic volcanic rock formations, sea arches, and a rugged coastline. Just 30 minutes from the city centre, the excursion highlighted how Hong Kong’s compact footprint combines a vibrant urban environment with landscapes of international natural heritage significance.

Cultural engagement was a consistent thread throughout the itinerary. A hands-on dim sum making workshop at Maxim’s Palace introduced participants to one of Hong Kong’s most deeply rooted culinary traditions in a classic teahouse setting, while a cocktail workshop at Tell Camellia provided direct exposure to the city’s internationally recognised mixology culture. Dinner at Rajasthan Rifles, the Anglo-Indian brasserie at The Peak, further illustrated the breadth of Hong Kong’s dining landscape and its capacity to offer Indian visitors points of cultural familiarity alongside distinctly local experiences.

The programme also encompassed the Peak Tram experience and Sky Terrace 428, the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong at 428 metres above sea level; an evening at the Sha Tin Racecourse with dinner at The Box Seat; an exclusive visit to Ocean Park Hong Kong including an encounter with the Giant Panda Twins; the “Pixar Pals Spectacular” and “Momentous” nighttime shows at Hong Kong Disneyland; an evening at Lan Kwai Fong; and a harbour cruise aboard the Oriental Pearl. Taken together, these experiences map a destination that holds equal relevance for the seasoned Hong Kong visitor and the first-time traveller, one where iconic landmarks, natural heritage, world-class dining and after-dark culture coexist within a compact, highly navigable city.

“India continues to be one of Hong Kong’s most strategically important MICE markets, and The Dragon Pulse was designed to reflect the full scope of what the city can offer Indian corporate groups today,” said Puneet Kumar, Director – South Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board. “From VIP access to the 50th Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races to site inspections at some of the city’s most exceptional venues, the programme demonstrated that Hong Kong’s MICE proposition goes well beyond infrastructure. It is a destination where world-class event facilities, natural heritage, cultural traditions, and dining experiences of genuine distinction exist within a highly connected city. What The Dragon Pulse affirmed is that for Indian companies looking to deliver incentive and conference programmes that leave a lasting impression, Hong Kong remains one of the strongest choices in Asia.”

Hong Kong offers a spectrum of venues suited to events of every scale. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), a globally recognised facility, has recently received Gold Certification for MICE Venues from CrescentRating, an internationally recognised halal travel accreditation body, an acknowledgement of the standards it has established for Muslim exhibitors and delegates, and a consideration of growing relevance for Indian corporate groups. 

At the larger end of the scale, AsiaWorld-Expo is currently undergoing a Phase II expansion that will add more than 20,000 square metres of column-free space, directly responding to rising demand for large-scale, flexible exhibition and arena-style events and reinforcing Hong Kong’s competitiveness for the world’s biggest gatherings. Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong’s history, opened in March 2025. Its Main Stadium seats 50,000 and is designed to accommodate international sporting competitions, concerts, music festivals, exhibitions, and corporate gatherings within a fully integrated harbourfront precinct that also encompasses retail, dining, and open community spaces. Additionally, more than 20 new hotels have opened in Hong Kong over the past five years, expanding the city’s capacity for small and medium-sized meetings and conventions and offering organisers a wider range of accommodation and meeting configurations.

For the Indian MICE industry, the visit reinforced why Hong Kong continues to hold relevance as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. With visa-free entry under the Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) arrangement for eligible Indian passport holders, direct flight connectivity, and an established ecosystem of hotels, venues, and experiences, it offers organisers the flexibility to build programmes that balance business objectives with memorable experiences. Rather than relying on any single attraction, Hong Kong’s appeal lies in how these elements come together to create a well-rounded corporate itinerary.

The Dragon Pulse – Hong Kong MICE Familiarisation Trip was organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in partnership with the Shangri-La Group, from 26–30 June 2026.

About Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked to market and promote Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide and enhance visitors’ experience once they arrive. These include making recommendations to the Government and other relevant bodies on the range and quality of visitor facilities. The HKTB’s missions are to maximise the social and economic contribution made by tourism to the community of Hong Kong and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a unique, world-class, and most desired destination.

India’s housing market is entering a more mature and geographically balanced phase, with growth being driven not just by the country’s largest metropolitan centres. While Delhi-NCR continues to dominate the luxury segment, the Tier-2 cities are emerging as the next growth frontier, aided by improving infrastructure, rising purchasing power and changing buyer expectations.

From Urban Expansion to Regional Growth: The Next Chapter of India’s Housing Story

Homebuyers are more discerning, with lifestyle, planning and long-term value influencing an increasing number of purchasing decisions. In response to shifting demand, developers are increasing their supply of premium and luxury units. The transition is most visible in Delhi-NCR. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s Delhi-NCR Residential MarketBeat Q4 2025, the region recorded 14,248 new residential launches during the quarter, up 39% sequentially and nearly 2.5 times year-on-year. Gurugram alone accounted for almost half of these launches, reinforcing its position as the country’s leading luxury residential market.

Reflecting this evolution, Kushagra Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing, says, “Gurgaon has emerged as one of India’s clearest luxury housing benchmarks because buyer behaviour here has become more confident, more selective and far more long-term in outlook. Today’s homebuyer is not just looking at ownership as a transaction, but as a decision tied to lifestyle, capital preservation and future relevance. That shift has strengthened interest from HNIs and other affluent buyers, who now view Gurgaon as a market where convenience, quality of life and strong infrastructure come together in a way few other places can match. What makes the city especially significant is that it is setting a template for premium housing across the country, showing how mature demand, market depth and connectivity can create lasting residential value.”

The momentum in Gurugram reflects a broader national trend. CBRE’s India Market Monitor Q4 2025 – Residential noted that residential sales and launches both crossed 270,000 units in 2025, while high-end housing overtook the mid-end segment to account for the largest share of residential sales. The sustained demand for premium homes signals that buyers are increasingly prioritising quality and long-term value.

The momentum is no longer confined to metropolitan markets. Cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Chandigarh and Rishikesh are emerging as the next growth engine for India’s housing market, aided by improving infrastructure and rising buyer confidence. Better infrastructure, expanding employment hubs and improved connectivity are accelerating demand across Tier-2 cities, where luxury housing is steadily gaining ground.

Umang Jindal, CEO, Homeland Group, says, “The luxury housing story in Tier-2 cities is being driven by a fundamental shift in buyer aspirations. Today’s buyers are not simply looking for larger homes; they want thoughtfully designed residences that deliver privacy, wellness, convenience and a superior living experience. We are also seeing demand become increasingly end-user led, with entrepreneurs, professionals and business families investing in homes that reflect their lifestyle rather than purely investment considerations. As infrastructure and urban ecosystems continue to improve, buyers are becoming more confident about choosing premium developments outside traditional metropolitan markets. Luxury is no longer defined by location alone—it is defined by the quality of the product, the strength of the community and the long-term value that a well-planned development can offer.”

Tejpreet Singh Gill, MD, GILLCO Group, says, “One of the most significant shifts we’re witnessing today is the growing confidence that homebuyers and investors are placing in India’s Tier-2 cities. Improved infrastructure, better connectivity and expanding economic opportunities are enabling these markets to build their own momentum while complementing established centres like Delhi-NCR. What stands out even more is the growing sophistication of homebuyers, who are making more considered choices and placing equal importance on quality, connectivity and long-term value, regardless of where they buy. This evolution is creating a more balanced housing landscape, where cities that combine economic opportunity with a high quality of life are emerging as enduring centres of residential growth.”

The numbers reinforce this shift. According to PropEquity’s Tier II Cities: Residential Overview, housing sales across the top 15 Tier-2 cities reached INR 40,443 crore in Q1 2025, up 6% year-on-year, while developers launched nearly 2.43 lakh residential plots between 2022 and May 2025. Higher-ticket homes priced above INR 1 crore also continued to gain traction, reflecting rising buyer confidence.

As expectations evolve, developers are adapting their projects to match changing preferences, placing greater emphasis on planning, amenities and integrated communities.

Reflecting this trend, Harvinder Singh Sikka, Chairman, Sikka Group, says, “The biggest shift we are witnessing is in what homebuyers expect from residential developments. Buyers today are looking beyond square footage and pricing to evaluate design, amenities, community living and long-term value. This evolution is encouraging developers to create projects that offer better planning, integrated lifestyles and higher-quality infrastructure. Whether in metropolitan markets or emerging cities, the focus has clearly moved towards homes that enhance everyday living while retaining strong investment potential. As aspirations continue to rise, premium features that were once limited to luxury developments are becoming increasingly important across a wider range of housing segments. This marks a fundamental shift in how residential projects are being planned and delivered.”

The result is a broader premium housing market, where luxury is steadily expanding beyond India’s largest cities as incomes rise and urban ecosystems mature.

Commenting on this trend, Sanchit Jain, Director, Sarvottam India, says, “Tier-2 cities are becoming far more relevant in the luxury housing conversation because the buyer profile itself is changing. We are seeing a clear rise in purchasing power, stronger interest from end-users and investors, and a greater willingness to invest in homes that deliver long-term value. Luxury demand is no longer confined to the metros; it is steadily spreading into markets where planning, livability and future appreciation align with buyer aspirations. This reflects a more mature mindset, where people are not simply buying a house, but choosing a location and product that can hold value over time. For developers, that makes the market more compelling because it rewards quality, thoughtful design and a sharper understanding of what today’s buyers want.”

India’s housing market is no longer defined by a single growth centre. As premium demand spreads beyond Delhi-NCR and Tier-2 cities continue to mature, the next phase of residential growth will be driven by stronger fundamentals, evolving aspirations and higher-quality development.

DACE Athletic Club, a first-of-its-kind private multi-sport destination, has officially launched in RK Puram, introducing a contemporary recreational space that blends emerging sports, community-driven fitness, and experience-led wellness under one roof.

DACE Athletic Club Launches in RK Puram

Spread across nearly one acre, the facility features dedicated infrastructure for padel, pickleball, football, yoga, table tennis, and other recreational formats, positioning itself at the intersection of sport, lifestyle, and social engagement. Built within the DTEA campus in Delhi, the club also follows a unique access model where the infrastructure is made available free of cost to thousands of school students during the day, while operating as a private sports facility during early mornings and evenings.

DACE Athletic Club Launches in RK Puram

DACE enters the market with a clear focus on accessibility, community engagement, and experience driven recreation. While sports like pickleball and padel continue to gain popularity among younger audiences and working professionals, Delhi has lacked integrated spaces that bring multiple formats together within a premium yet community-oriented environment.

Conceptualised and privately funded by entrepreneur Puranjay Katara, DACE Athletic Club reflects the growing cultural shift towards social sports and immersive wellness experiences in urban India.

“Across global cities, sports infrastructure is increasingly evolving into community infrastructure,” says Puranjay Katara, Founder & Director, DACE Athletic Club. “India is now entering a similar phase where consumers are looking beyond conventional gyms and transactional fitness formats. The opportunity lies in creating spaces people consistently engage with socially, recreationally, and culturally. DACE was built keeping that long-term behavioural shift in mind.”

Unlike standalone courts or traditional sports clubs, DACE has been structured as a long-format recreational destination with extended operational hours from 5 AM to 8 AM and 2:30 PM to 1 AM for members. Bookings are available exclusively through Huddle.

The facility offers multiple sporting formats across varying group sizes and playing preferences, with off-peak padel court bookings starting at INR 2200 per hour, pickleball at INR 1100 per hour, and football box formats beginning at INR 2400 per hour for 7v7 games.

As Delhi’s wellness landscape continues to evolve beyond routine workouts and conventional fitness spaces, DACE Athletic Club enters the city as a modern sporting destination built around movement, culture, and community.

About DACE Athletic Club
DACE Athletic Club is a next-generation private sports and wellness destination redefining how urban India experiences recreation. Built around the philosophy of community-led movement, the club brings together emerging sports, fitness, and social experiences within a premium, inclusive environment. Located in RK Puram, New Delhi, DACE seamlessly blends world-class sporting infrastructure with a unique community-first model, making movement, connection, and active living more accessible for both members and young students alike. 
 

FACT SHEET | DACE Athletic Club
Address: DACE Athletic Club,DTEA Campus, RK Puram, New Delhi

Operating Timings:

• Private Members Access: 5:00 AM to  8:00 AM & 2:30 PM to 1:00 AM

• DTEA School Student Access: 8:00 AM to  2:30 PM

Pricing Structure:

Padel Courts

• Off-Peak Hours: INR 2200 per hour

• Peak Hours: INR 2400 per hour

Pickleball Courts

• Off-Peak Hours: INR 1100 per hour

• Peak Hours: INR 1300 per hour

Box

7 vs 7

• Off-Peak Hours: INR 2400 per hour

• Peak Hours: INR 2700 per hour

8 vs 8

• Off-Peak Hours: INR 2800 per hour

• Peak Hours: INR 3100 per hour

9 vs 9

• Off-Peak Hours: INR 3200 per hour

• Peak Hours: INR 3500 per hour

10 vs 10

• Off-Peak Hours: INR 3600 per hour

• Peak Hours: INR 4000 per hour

Bookings Available Via:
Huddle

Glimmer Technologies Private Limited (“Glimmer”) and Fikra Ventures, a global AI-native venture studio, today announced a commercial partnership to bring Glimmer’s FinomeAI suite, already live in production across financial services, to banks, lenders and enterprises across the Gulf.

Under the agreement, Fikra Ventures is Glimmer’s exclusive commercialisation, marketing and distribution partner in the Gulf region. Fikra Ventures will use that position to build a new portfolio company to deploy Glimmer’s FinomeAI suite for enterprises across the region.

The new company will develop Arabic-language and regionally compliant solutions on top of Glimmer’s products, reducing the localisation and compliance burden on customers and shortening deployment timelines. Fikra Ventures will provide the venture-building, capital, and commercial infrastructure, with Glimmer providing the underlying technology.

Glimmer’s products already operate at production scale, processing more than 1,000,000 loan applications each month across live financial services deployments. To date, the suite has delivered:

• Fraud investigation turnaround reduced from one to two days to 20–30 minutes per case at a financial institution, with an audit-ready log trail generated automatically

• An 8% lift in onboarding conversion for a non-bank lender, with customer acquisition spend held flat

• A ~6% improvement in portfolio collection rate at low incremental cost per asset

Glimmer’s enterprise AI platform supports a broad range of complex and regulated workflows, spanning document intelligence, decisioning, conversational journeys, voice automation, personalised video, model development, policy intelligence and enterprise knowledge access. Its products include Data Quotient for explainable, audit-ready decisioning; ConvFlow for guided conversational journeys across customer acquisition, onboarding and servicing; Klaris for end-to-end voice automation across high-volume customer interactions; SynthVid for personalised video at scale; and Meridian for faster model development and deployment.

The new company will run regional go-to-market and customer support, from pilots through production deployment. Early focus areas span collections, customer acquisition, onboarding, servicing, marketing outreach, underwriting, fraud investigation and regulatory workflows.

“Fikra turns proven global technology into regional companies. Glimmer’s platform processes over one million loan applications a month, giving us the foundation to build a significant Gulf business,” said Wael Aburida, Founder & Managing Partner of Fikra Ventures. “Banks, lenders, telecom operators and large enterprises here are actively looking for solutions that improve conversion, reduce costs and deliver better customer outcomes at scale. This partnership gives us the technology, venture-building structure and commercial access to pursue that opportunity.”

The initial commercialisation effort will focus on financial services and lending, where institutions face pressure to modernise collections, customer communication, underwriting and operating workflows without compromising governance or control. Over time, the companies see scope to extend these capabilities to other high-volume enterprise environments facing similar challenges around automation, decision-making and customer engagement.

“Our partnership with Fikra Ventures gives us the regional relationships, market understanding and commercial platform to take our capabilities to enterprises across the Gulf,” said Saurabh Nigam, Chief Executive Officer of Glimmer Technologies. “Enterprise AI creates real value when it moves beyond experimentation and becomes part of the workflows that businesses depend on every day. We have built and proven our technology in complex, high-volume environments where accuracy, governance and measurable outcomes matter. Together, we can help enterprises use AI to make better decisions, automate critical processes and deliver more intelligent customer experiences at scale.”

The companies will begin with Arabic-localised product demonstrations and market-specific pilots for enterprise customers in the Gulf, with plans to extend into the greater MENA region. Initial demonstrations will include Arabic and bilingual use cases across collections, marketing outreach, conversational onboarding, voice automation and document-led decisioning.

The partnership extends Fikra Ventures’ model of turning commercially relevant AI into companies with clear pathways to regional adoption and international scale.

About Glimmer Technologies

Glimmer Technologies is an enterprise AI company building the future of financial intelligence. Operating at the intersection of deep AI capability and real-world enterprise workflows, Glimmer develops intelligent platforms that help businesses interpret complex data, make faster decisions, automate operations, and deliver better customer journeys.

Its ecosystem brings together FinomeAI, a GenAI intelligence platform for document processing, risk insights, compliance, customer journeys, and operational automation; Flo, a configurable lending stack for digital credit operations across LOS, LMS, and modular workflows; and ZestMoney, one of India’s widely known Buy Now, Pay Later platforms.

To know more, please visit: www.glimmertech.in

About Fikra Ventures

Fikra Ventures is a global AI-native venture studio that builds and scales applied AI companies. The studio combines venture ideation, technical execution, strategic partnerships, founder development, and commercialisation support to create ventures with clear market relevance.

Fikra Ventures works with founders, technical leaders, corporates, governments, universities, investors, and strategic partners to turn commercially relevant AI opportunities into scalable companies. Fikra Ventures Holdings Limited is registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

For more information, visit www.fikra.ventures and follow us on @fikraventures #fikraventures.