The Ramaiah Group’s Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) in Collaboration with University at Albany, State University of New York today launched Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management (RISM), India’s first distinct greenfield deemed‑to‑be university in Bengaluru. Conceived as a next‑generation STEM and management university, RISM will deliver a globally benchmarked, industry‑embedded engineering and management education that prioritizes resilience, translational research, and measurable societal impact.

Dr. M R Jayaram and Havidan Rodríguez with senior leaders at the launch of the Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management (RISM) in Bengaluru

“Build. The Future.” is embedded across RISM’s curriculum and culture. RISM’s main residential campus is being developed in Bengaluru’s Information Technology Investment Region near Devanahalli, close to major innovation hubs and industry anchors. Academic operations will begin from a transit campus in Yelahanka in August 2026, with the main campus scheduled for full operation by September 2028. All programmes will follow a fully residential model to support holistic development through sports, culture, wellness, leadership, and entrepreneurship initiatives, creating an immersive environment where industry context, academic rigor, and research converge to build the future.

Extracts from Speeches at the Inaugural Event Today.

Dr. M. R. Jayaram, Chairman and Trustee of Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) and Chancellor Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management,

Dr. M R Jayaram, Chairman and Chancellor of RISM: described the day as “A great day for us. It has taken almost 25 years of dreaming of what has come true today.” He traced his journey of lifelong commitment and experiential learning in higher education that helped to launch a transformative higher education system that brings in the new change of “teaching institutions” to true “learning institutions.”

Why RISM? The Vision Behind the Institution

Dr. Jayaram explained that India’s education sector has lagged industry liberalization since 1990, creating a 40-year gap between industry needs and educational outcomes. RISM was conceived to bridge this chasm through experiential, outcome-based learning embedded with industry from day one.

Why U Albany -Global Knowledge Partnership,

A defining feature of RISM is its genuine knowledge partnership with the University at Albany (State University of New York), chosen after 18 months of searching. Dr. Jayaram emphasized: “We wanted a genuine knowledge partnership, not a transactional arrangement where knowledge is offered as a service for a fee. We were looking for something deeper and more meaningful.”

Dr. Jayaram affirmed that partnership’s depth, centered on co-developed curriculum, faculty engagement, shared academic standards, international pathways and research collaboration.

“This is a great day for us. It has taken me almost 25 years of dreaming for what has come true today. We have had excellent teaching institutions, but did they truly contribute to India’s industrial and economic growth? That was the biggest question I faced. RISM is my answer to those questions. RISM is designed to transform institutions from teaching to learning, to translate learning into systems, products and practices, and to serve the largest sections of society in this country.”

Philosophy and Future Vision

Ramaiah philosophy—“Gnyanam, Vignyanam cha Bhakti Saritam” (Knowledge, Science, and Devotion as a River)—guides its mission. Dr. Jayaram described his role as a “younger brother” learning from global “elder brothers” U Albany to build institutions that serve India.

The institution represents a triad: RISM (the university), Ramaiah Academy Foundation (skill development), and Vyuha Deep Science (Deep Science Translational Research Centre), creating a 360-degree ecosystem from learning to commercialization.

As Dr. Jayaram concluded: “I want to learn for my country, and give a learning institution for India’s next generation, RISM’s launch signals a new possibility: global-benchmark universities rooted in Indian realities, ready to produce engineers who are adaptable, ethically grounded, and capable of translating ideas into societal impact in the age of AI.”

Dr. Havidan Rodríguez, President, University at Albany, State University of New York stated that, “Higher education systems-built decades or centuries ago served an economy that no longer exists; RISM is being built from the ground up to thrive in today’s rapidly changing economy—and to lead it, not just follow it.”

Rodriguez highlighted that RISM’s DNA is infused with industry and global collaboration, ensuring students solve real-world problems in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, health equity, and climate change. He concluded with UAlbany’s motto: “Today, like every single day, it is a great day to be a Great Dane,” declaring that “today is a true manifestation of what a truly transformational partnership can do for our countries.”

Together, the two institutions pledged: “Together we are going to build the future—and we are starting today.”

Sri Gurucharan Gollerkeri, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer in his strategic address stated that, “RISM will be uniquely focused on STEM and management disciplines, offering rigorous foundational science programs designed to develop transferable technology skills. The institute will emphasize industry-embedded capstone projects that follow the principle “doing is learning,” and will promote translational research that encourages students to apply knowledge for societal benefit.”

He stated, “We must move from being mere teaching institutions to becoming learning institutions—combining knowledge with practice, embedding industry partners, and benchmarking ourselves against global standards, so that ideas move from lab to prototype, prototype to validation, validation to market, and market to societal impact, and in the age of AI, we reinforce what makes us human: curiosity, creativity, judgment, ethics, empathy, and the ability to work across disciplines.”

Prof. Raghunandan, Chairman, Task Force RISM, explaining how RISM will distinguish itself across India’s higher‑education echelons. “RISM will redefine India’s higher education echelons by shifting from credentialing to capability-building. Rooted in deep industry co‑creation and translational research, our programmes merge rigorous fundamentals with continuous, applied engagement—internships, live projects, industry‑sponsored Centres of Excellence, and a three‑year capstone starting in year two. The Mentor Professor model embeds senior industry leaders within the faculty, ensuring curriculum relevance and career‑ready graduates. Interdisciplinary schools in AI, aerospace, electrical sciences, and technology management will accelerate cross-domain problem solving and entrepreneurship. A fully residential, outcomes-driven ecosystem will cultivate leadership, resilience, and social responsibility alongside technical mastery. Strategically located in Bengaluru’s innovation corridor and partnering with global universities, RISM will produce professionals who translate research into scalable solutions and new enterprises. In doing so, RISM will elevate academic standards, employer trust, and societal impact—creating a replicable model that advances India’s leadership in technology, industry collaboration, and inclusive national development.”

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Zon Hotels (Mumbai) Private Limited to develop InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon. Scheduled to open in Q1 2030, the hotel marks a significant addition to IHG’s luxury portfolio in India and further strengthens its presence in Mumbai, one of the country’s leading commercial and hospitality markets.

IHG Hotels & Resorts Signs InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon

Located in Goregaon, one of Mumbai’s thriving western suburbs, InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon will feature 350 elegantly appointed guest rooms, including 70 suites. Strategically positioned between Andheri and Malad, the hotel will offer seamless connectivity across the city, providing an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers. This signing expands IHG’s luxury presence in Mumbai and reinforces its commitment to growth in one of India’s most dynamic hospitality markets.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the world’s first international luxury hotel brand, synonymous with bold exploration, cultural discovery, and the worldliness that travel brings. With over 237 hotels open globally and more than 100 in the pipeline, the brand continues to pioneer new destinations, from iconic urban landmarks to immersive resort escapes. Each property serves as a distinguished gateway to its destination, seamlessly connecting guests with local culture and experiences.

Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are delighted to partner with Zon Hotels (Mumbai) Private Limited to bring InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon to the city. Mumbai continues to demonstrate strong demand across both business and leisure travel, and Goregaon’s emergence as a growing commercial corridor makes it an ideal location to expand our luxury portfolio.”

He added, “InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is synonymous with culturally rich and globally inspired hospitality. With InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon joining our portfolio, we look forward to creating a destination that offers world-class amenities, intuitive service, and a strong sense of place, catering to the evolving needs of modern travellers.”

Sandip Gupta, Director, Zon Hotels (Mumbai) Private Limited, said, “We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring the world-renowned InterContinental brand to Goregaon. This collaboration builds on our existing relationship with IHG and reflects our shared vision of developing landmark hospitality destinations. We are confident the hotel will set a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in Mumbai. Leveraging IHG’s global expertise, enterprise systems, and powerful loyalty platform, we are well positioned to deliver exceptional value to both guests and stakeholders alike.”

Guests at InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon will experience the brand’s hallmarks of refined luxury, personalised service, and meaningful cultural connections. The hotel will feature five distinct dining venues, including an all-day dining restaurant, bar, specialty restaurants, and a lobby lounge.

The property will also offer extensive meeting and event facilities across multiple versatile spaces, including one of the largest ballrooms in the city. Wellness and recreation offerings will include a fully equipped fitness centre, spa, and swimming pool. Retail spaces and ample parking facilities will further enhance the overall guest experience.

Ishwar Shukla, Director, DGS Group, said, “The hotel will be a landmark destination in North Mumbai and a flagship asset for all stakeholders involved. Designed to the highest international standards, the property will feature exceptional architecture and contemporary design, setting a new benchmark for hospitality in the region. Catering to a diverse range of customer segments, the hotel will offer world-class experiences, combining luxury, comfort, and outstanding service.”

As IHG continues to expand its luxury and lifestyle portfolio in India, InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon represents another important milestone in strengthening its presence in key gateway cities. The hotel is set to become a landmark destination, offering a seamless blend of global standards and local cultural experiences.

IHG currently has 52 hotels operating across seven brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort, and Holiday Inn Express, with a strong pipeline of 98 hotels expected to open over the next three to five years.

About Zon Hotels (Mumbai) Private Limited
Zon Hotels (Mumbai) Private Limited is a joint venture between the SanRaj Group and the DGS Group. The SanRaj Group currently owns the 245-key Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, and this project marks its second hotel partnership with IHG, further strengthening the relationship between the two groups.

The SanRaj Group owns and operates a portfolio of seven hotels across India and the United Kingdom, comprising approximately 1,100 operational rooms which includes the 245 keys Holiday Inn Mumbai

Alongside its existing portfolio and the recently announced InterContinental Mumbai Goregaon, the Group is developing a greenfield luxury resort in Goa, which is expected to feature approximately 150 rooms upon completion.

The Group is also actively pursuing the acquisition of two additional premium and luxury hotel assets. Upon completion of these transactions, SanRaj Group’s portfolio is expected to expand to nine operating hotels within the current year, further strengthening its position as a leading hospitality owner, developer and operator across key markets.
 

About IHG Hotels & Resorts
IHG Hotels & Resorts (tickers: LON:IHG for Ordinary Shares; NYSE:IHG for ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
 

With a family of 20 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 160 million members, IHG has more than one million rooms across 6,963 open hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of a further 2,300 properties.

• Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo

• Premium: voco hotels, Ruby, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels

• Essentials: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Garner hotels, avid hotels

• Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites

• Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 400,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores.

A premium real estate pocket once held back by regulatory uncertainty is now witnessing one of the strongest revival stories in NCR.

Noida Sports city sector 150

Sector 150 has long been positioned as one of Noida’s most aspirational luxury destinations. With improving regulatory clarity and accelerating infrastructure growth, the sector is now rapidly re-emerging as a high-confidence investment corridor.

The turning point came after the Noida Authority’s 222nd Board Meeting on April 6, 2026, which lifted the long-standing registry restrictions in the Sports City cluster. The move, aligned with Supreme Court directives, has significantly improved market confidence and reopened the path for registries in compliant projects.

The impact has been immediate.

Over the past five years, residential prices in the region have recorded massive appreciation, with demand continuing to rise in 2026. Industry experts believe the combination of infrastructure expansion, improved legal clarity, and limited premium inventory could push the market into a completely new growth cycle. Industry experts believe the return of registries, improving liquidity, and expected resumption of home loan disbursals could further accelerate demand in the coming months.

What continues to differentiate this location is its planning-led development. Spread across nearly 300 acres, with close to 70% dedicated to green and open spaces, the sector remains one of Noida’s lowest-density luxury corridors. Strategic connectivity through the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, and proximity to the Noida International Airport at Jewar at a distance of approx 40 minutes have further strengthened its long-term investment appeal.

The region is also set to benefit from a significant infrastructure upgrade directly tied to Sector 150. The Noida Authority has announced plans to expand the Yamuna Pushta Road — which runs from Sector 94 and connects directly to Sector 150 — into a 10-lane corridor, specifically to handle rising traffic from the upcoming Noida International Airport. Krishna Karunesh, CEO of the Noida Authority, confirmed the road will be widened to 8–10 lanes to meet future demand, with at least six lanes in the initial phase. The Authority is also developing the Chilla elevated road and a link road from the Mahamaya Flyover to Pushta Road to further ease traffic pressure (Source: Hindustan Times, April 4, 2026).

Among the developers that have played a defining role in shaping the sector’s identity, ACE Group stands out for creating an integrated residential and commercial ecosystem in the region.

The Group’s flagship developments include ACE Golfshire (Rs. 4,000–13,000 per sq. ft.), the sector’s first fully sold-out luxury residential project delivered in 2020, designed by renowned architect Hafeez Contractor with interiors by Gauri Khan. This was followed by ACE Parkway (Rs. 4,000–16,000 per sq. ft.), an 11-acre premium residential development facing a 42-acre green park, further strengthening the Group’s presence in the area.

On the commercial front, ACE Medley Avenue became the sector’s first major commercial destination and witnessed a complete sell-out on launch day — a milestone that highlighted growing investor confidence in the location’s future potential.

Speaking on the market’s transformation, Ajay Chaudhary, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director, ACE Group, said, “Sector 150 is uniquely positioned at the intersection of infrastructure growth and lifestyle-driven planning. With improving regulatory clarity and rapid development along the Yamuna Expressway corridor, we are witnessing a strong shift in both investor and end-user sentiment.“

Building on this momentum, ACE Group has also announced plans for new developments in the region, signalling long-term confidence in the market’s next growth cycle.

For investors, the story is becoming increasingly clear — a premium low-density location, improving legal clarity, major infrastructure upgrades, and rising institutional confidence are collectively reshaping the future of this once-overlooked market.

A dominant developer already embedded — and expanding. Sector 150 is not emerging. It has arrived. And ACE Group is leading from the front. And for NCR real estate, this could just be the beginning of its biggest turnaround story yet.

Website: www.acegroupindia.com.

• MSI partners with NVIDIA to unveil the Prestige N16 Flip AI+, its first laptop powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark

• World’s first gaming handheld powered by Intel ArcG3 Extreme processors

• 40th anniversary flagship Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Draco Epic with Intel CoreUltra 9 290HX Plus

MSI, a global leader in gaming, content creation, and business & productivity laptops, today announced its COMPUTEX 2026 lineup, featuring the Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld, the limited-edition Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Draco Epic, and a series of new laptop additions spanning gaming and productivity. The announcements mark a key milestone in MSI’s 40th anniversary year, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to performance-driven design and AI-powered computing.

MSI 40 years of innovation at Computex 2026

Commenting on the announcements, Mr. James Sung, NB Sales Director, MSI India said, “COMPUTEX 2026 is where MSI’s engineering ambition truly comes to life. From the Prestige N16 Flip AI+, our first laptop powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark, to the Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Draco Epic and the world’s first Intel ArcG3 Extreme-powered handheld, every product we are unveiling this year represents a significant step forward in gaming performance, design, and AI-driven computing. This is our strongest lineup yet, and it reflects what MSI stands for, pushing the boundaries of what gaming hardware can deliver.”

Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Draco Epic: MSI’s 40th Anniversary Flagship

The Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition Draco Epic is MSI’s limited-edition 40th anniversary laptop, inspired by the Draco constellation. The chassis features precision metal etching with an anodized finish that embeds colour directly into the metal, creating dynamic light reflections and enhanced durability. The laptop ships with an exclusive collector’s bundle comprising a gaming mouse, mouse pad, and commemorative coin.

Claw 8 EX AI+: World’s First Gaming Handheld with Intel ArcG3 Extreme

MSI introduces the Claw 8 EX AI+, the world’s first gaming handheld powered by Intel ArcG3 Extreme processors — Intel’s first platform specifically optimised for handheld gaming. The device delivers a significant leap in AAA gaming performance while maintaining strong power efficiency for extended play sessions.

Prestige N16 Flip AI+: MSI’s First Laptop Powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark

MSI, in partnership with NVIDIA, unveils the Prestige N16 Flip AI+ — its first laptop powered by the new NVIDIA RTX Spark platform. Designed for creators, AI developers, and gamers, the Prestige N16 Flip AI+ combines NVIDIA’s full-stack AI platform and full suite of RTX technologies with exceptional power efficiency in a premium thin-and-light 2-in-1 form factor.

The laptop features a 16-inch UHD+ Tandem OLED display with peak brightness of over 1,000 nits, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, Calman Verification, and Delta E <1 colour accuracy, delivering cinema-grade visuals for both creative professionals and everyday users. The versatile flip design supports laptop, tablet, tent, and presentation modes, while the MSI Nano Pen enables natural stylus input for sketching, note-taking, and creative workflows. A 99.9Wh battery ensures all-day productivity without compromise.

Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Vincent van Gogh Edition: Art Meets Productivity

The latest addition to MSI’s Artisan Collection, the Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Vincent van Gogh Edition draws design inspiration from The Starry Night and Starry Night Over the Rhône. Powered by Intel CoreUltra Series 3 processors, it combines a 14-inch OLED touchscreen, all-day battery life, and a slim, portable form factor — designed for creators and everyday professionals.

New Series: Katana, Venture, and Crosshair 16 HX MLG Edition

MSI also expands its portfolio with three new additions. The refreshed Katana Series brings reliable gaming performance for mainstream users, powered by Intel Corei9/i5 processors and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX5070 Laptop GPU. The Venture Series, powered by Intel CoreUltra processors (Series 3), is engineered for everyday productivity with a robust cooling system for stable, efficient performance. The Crosshair 16 HX MLG Edition features a Stellar White chassis inspired by MSI’s original mascot character, MLG (Dragon Princess), and is powered by Intel CoreUltra processors with NVIDIA GeForce RTX50 Series Laptop GPUs.

Availability and pricing for the Indian market will be announced separately through official MSI India channels.

For more information, please visit www.msi.com.

In a series of extraordinary medical recoveries, three teenagers facing certain death from end-stage heart failure have been given a second chance at life, thanks to the successful use of artificial heart pumps. The clinical team at Narayana Health used these advanced artificial heart pumps known as Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) to keep the young patients alive until life-saving donor hearts could be found.

Three Lives, One Second Chance: Advanced Heart Pumps Bridge Three Teenagers to Successful Heart Transplants at Narayana Health

All three teenagers, who arrived separately at the hospital in extremely critical condition, have now returned home to their families following successful heart transplants.

Bridging the Gap to Survival

When the teen patients were admitted, their hearts were too weak to sustain life. To buy them precious time, doctors implanted mechanical pumps that took over the work of their failing hearts. These devices acted as a bridging support, stabilising their hearts and keeping the young patients alive while they were placed at the top of a priority list for transplantation.

In a region where donor organs are often scarce and waiting lists can be long, suitable matches were remarkably found for all three patients within 28 to 45 days.

Three Inspiring Stories of Recovery

The three cases highlight the complexity and success of the hospital’s paediatric heart programme:

• Case 1: A teenager suffering from severe heart dysfunction and dangerous blood clots was supported by a machine that assisted both sides of his heart (a BiVAD). After 45 days on the device, he received a transplant and was discharged from hospital in just a few weeks.

• Case 2: Diagnosed with a condition where the heart becomes stretched and weak, this teenager was kept alive by a mechanical pump for 28 days before a successful transplant was performed.

• Case 3: A childhood cancer survivor who had previously lost a kidney to a tumour, faced a new battle with heart failure. Supported by an artificial pump for 30 days, he successfully underwent a transplant, marking a triumphant recovery against all odds.

A New Era for Specialist Care in India

This medical milestone for the hospital represents a significant shift in the availability of advanced medical treatment in India. Previously, these complex therapies were only accessible at a handful of specialised centres worldwide.

“These young patients were at the very edge of survival. Using artificial pumps to keep them alive until a donor heart became available, was a landmark moment for heart failure care in the country,” said Dr. Shashiraj Subramanya H S, Head of Paediatric Cardiology, Narayana Health.

“Over the last decade, we have worked to make these advanced technologies a reality for families who previously had no options. Today, these life-saving treatments are achievable in India through better systems and a focus on making healthcare affordable,” said Dr. Varun Shetty, Senior Consultant – Cardiac Surgery, Narayana Health.

“When these patients first arrived, survival looked nearly impossible. VADs acted as lifesaving bridges, keeping them alive until donor hearts arrived. Seeing them return home smiling with their families is one of the proudest moments for our entire team.” said Dr. Riyan Sukumar Shetty, Director of Paediatric Intensive Care, Narayana Health

About Narayana Health

Narayana Health, founded by Dr. Devi Shetty and headquartered in Bengaluru, is a leading presence in the global healthcare landscape. As one of the largest healthcare providers in India, Narayana Health operates a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and super-speciality tertiary care facilities across India and the Caribbean. The group’s Centres of Excellence in various medical domains, a team of 18,822 dedicated professionals, including 3,868 skilled doctors and specialists, and a relentless focus on patient well-being and clinical excellence underscore its position as a beacon of hope and healing in the healthcare industry.

Narayana One Health (NH Integrated Care) and Narayana Health Insurance are subsidiaries of Narayana Health.

For more information, visit www.narayanaone.health.

T20 cricket didn’t emerge from a boardroom in London or a sports science lab in the United States. It emerged because India demanded it. Shorter. Faster. More suited to the attention patterns of a young, mobile, time-compressed audience. It then became one of the most valuable sporting formats ever created, exported globally and imitated across other sports.

Investor Nicole Junkermann highlights India’s role in shaping future sports formats

That wasn’t an accident. It was a consequence of market conditions. And those conditions, Nicole Junkermann argues, are more present in India today than anywhere else in the world.

“The markets that produce format innovation aren’t always the biggest or the richest. They’re the ones with the right combination of audience appetite, digital infrastructure and low attachment to the way things have always been done. India has all three. It had them when T20 happened. It still has them now, across a much broader range of sports.”

Nicole Junkermann, founder of NJF Holdings and Gameday by NJF Holdings, has developed her view on format innovation through Gameday’s work in professional sports leagues across Europe, most notably its partnership with Lega Volley Femminile in Italy, where the platform has supported a significant transformation in how a traditional league reaches and engages modern audiences. The experience has sharpened her thinking on what makes certain markets generative and others imitative.

What makes a market produce innovation
Junkermann identifies three structural conditions that tend to produce sports format disruption rather than replication.

Audience sophistication without legacy loyalty. Indian sports fans are deeply knowledgeable and intensely engaged, but outside cricket and one or two other sports, haven’t spent decades attached to a single format. That creates genuine openness to new propositions. A fan in Manchester has forty years of expectations about what a football match looks like. A fan in Mumbai watching the ISL in its early seasons does not. That difference matters more than it appears.

Mobile-first infrastructure that determines what works. India’s sports audiences access content almost entirely through mobile devices. That shapes what succeeds: shorter windows, interactive features, creator-led storytelling, real-time participation. Formats designed for television audiences require significant adaptation. Formats designed for mobile audiences from the start look different, and India’s market provides the clearest signal anywhere for what that means in practice.

Commercial conditions that reward experimentation. The IPL demonstrated that new formats can generate extraordinary value very quickly. That proof of concept has made India’s sporting ecosystem more willing to try things than more conservative markets. The cost of failure is lower. The upside case is highly visible. That changes the risk calculus for everyone involved.

What to watch
Junkermann sees three areas where India’s market conditions are most likely to produce something genuinely new in the near term.

Women’s leagues designed for digital audiences from day one. New women’s leagues in India can be built with creator ecosystems, direct fan access and mobile distribution as primary channels rather than treating broadcast as the default and digital as an afterthought. That’s a fundamentally different product architecture, and it’s only available to new entrants. Established men’s leagues in Europe have spent years trying to retrofit it.

Fan participation integrated into the live experience. India’s fantasy sports and gaming market is one of the largest in the world. Leagues that build prediction, participation and personalisation into the live event itself, rather than treating them as adjacent products, may produce something that doesn’t yet have a name. The technology exists. The audience appetite is demonstrable. The format hasn’t arrived yet.

Creator-first content distribution. India’s creator economy is enormous and sports-adjacent content is among its fastest-growing categories. Leagues that treat creator partnerships as primary distribution infrastructure rather than a marketing channel gain direct access to engaged audiences without dependence on broadcast intermediaries. That changes the economics of reaching fans in ways that haven’t been fully explored.

“The interesting question isn’t whether India will produce the next format innovation in sport. It’s which sport, and which league will be positioned to capture it when it happens. The conditions are structural. The timing is harder to predict.”

Why format travels
Nicole Junkermann is clear that format innovation doesn’t stay where it starts. T20 may have originated in England, but India transformed it into a global phenomenon. The formats that emerge from India’s current market conditions, whatever they turn out to be, are likely to travel for the same reason: they’ll be built for the audiences the rest of the world’s sports markets are increasingly trying to reach.
Mobile-first, creator-adjacent, participation-oriented sport isn’t an Indian preference. It’s a generational one. India is simply the market where the conditions to develop it are most concentrated right now.

Nicole Junkerman adds, “Every major format shift in sport has started somewhere specific before it became universal. T20 became a global cultural and commercial phenomenon in India. The next one might too. The underlying logic is the same: build for the audience that exists, not the one that used to.”

About Gameday by NJF Holdings
Gameday by NJF Holdings is a sports investment and strategic platform founded by Nicole Junkermann. Focused on building long-term value across leagues, media and sports technology, its approach centres on structural growth, digital transformation and scalable fan ecosystems.

The platform is the largest shareholder in Italy’s professional women’s volleyball league, Lega Volley Femminile (LVF), where it is supporting league-level commercial and digital development.

For more information, visit gameday.team

A wedding doesn’t wait for savings to catch up. Neither does a medical emergency, or a child’s tuition deadline. Large expenses rarely arrive on schedule — and for most households, the gap between when a cost hits and when the money is ready is where financial pressure builds.

Bajaj Finance Personal Loan

Bajaj Finance Personal Loan is designed to address that gap, with loan amounts from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 55 lakh, repayment tenures stretching up to 108 months, and a fully digital application process that puts funds in the borrower’s account within 24 hours* of approval. * Here is what that means in practice.

Repay over 9 years — and breathe every month
Most personal loan products cap repayment at 5 years. Bajaj Finance extends that to 108 months — 9 full years, giving borrowers the ability to meaningfully reduce their monthly EMI burden without paying down the loan faster than their income allows.

To put numbers to it: a Rs. 5 lakh loan at 14% per annum over 60 months carries an EMI of roughly Rs. 11,634. Spread the same loan over 84 months and that drops to approximately Rs. 9,117. The loan costs more over its lifetime — but for a household managing finances on a fixed monthly income, that Rs. 2,500 difference is rent, groceries, or a child’s school fee. The right tenure isn’t always the shortest one. It is the one that fits the borrower’s actual cash flow.

Know the EMI before applying — Not after
Bajaj Finance Personal Loan EMI calculator allows borrowers to model their monthly obligation before submitting a single document. By entering the desired loan amount, tenure, and applicable interest rate, the calculator returns the exact monthly EMI, total interest payable, and total repayment amount.

This matters because most borrowers make loan decisions based on the headline loan amount, not the true cost of credit. Seeing the full repayment figure upfront — interest included — is what separates an informed borrowing decision from a regrettable one. Financial advisors generally recommend running at least two scenarios: one with the shortest tenure manageable comfortably, and one with the longest. The difference reveals exactly what flexibility costs — and whether it is appropriate for a given financial situation.

Interest rates: 10%–30% p.a. — Eligibility determines where borrowers land
Bajaj Finance Personal Loan interest rates range from 10% to 30% per annum (indicative range, subject to eligibility assessment and prevailing rates at time of application). Where a borrower lands within that range depends primarily on three factors: CIBIL score, income stability, and existing debt obligations relative to income.

Salaried or self-employed applicants with a CIBIL score above 650, a stable income history, and low existing EMI commitments typically qualify for lower interest rates. Self-employed individuals or those with shorter credit histories may be offered higher rates due to income variability. Checking one’s CIBIL score before applying is recommended, as a stronger credit profile directly influences the interest rate offered.

Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 55 Lakh — Matched to actual financial needs
The loan range is wide enough to cover nearly any personal financial requirement. A Rs. 40,000–Rs. 2 lakh loan covers emergency medical expenses, urgent home repairs, or a short-notice travel requirement. A Rs. 2–10 lakh loan handles wedding costs, higher education fees, or a significant home renovation. A Rs. 10–55 lakh loan is suited to larger financial needs — full home interiors, major surgeries, or a significant business investment.

Because the loan is unsecured — no collateral or guarantor required — access does not depend on the assets a borrower owns. Eligibility is assessed on income and creditworthiness, making the product accessible to a broader range of borrowers, including those without property to pledge.

Fully digital application — No branch visit required
The application process is entirely digital for both salaried and self-employed applicants. Borrowers are required to submit standard KYC documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, and additional identity proof where required, along with income documents — salary slips or bank statements for salaried applicants, and ITR with business financials for self-employed borrowers. Address proof may include utility bills, phone bills, piped gas bills, property or municipal tax receipts, pension orders, or employer accommodation letters. A real-time photograph and employee ID card may also be required. Eligible applicants can complete the process in a single sitting, with quick approval for profiles meeting standard criteria.

Funds disbursed within 24 Hours*
Once verification is complete and the loan is approved, disbursement typically occurs within 24 hours*. For time-sensitive requirements — a hospital admission deposit, a vendor advance for a wedding booking, or a school fee deadline — that turnaround can be decisive.

Bajaj Finance recommends that borrowers use the EMI Calculator to confirm repayment comfort before accepting a loan offer. Borrowing within one’s repayment capacity — not just the eligibility limit — is the responsible starting point for any personal finance decision.

*Terms and conditions apply. Interest rates are indicative and subject to change. Loan approval and disbursement timelines are subject to verification and eligibility.

Bajaj Finance Ltd. (‘BFL’, ‘Bajaj Finance’, or ‘the Company’), a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). BFL is engaged in the business of lending and acceptance of deposits. It has a diversified lending portfolio across retail, SMEs, and commercial customers with significant presence in both urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate deposits and offers a variety of financial services products to its customers. BFL, a thirty-five-year-old enterprise, has now become a leading player in the NBFC sector in India and on a consolidated basis, it has a franchise of 69.14 million customers. BFL has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and CRISIL AAA/Stable & [ICRA]AAA(Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global ratings.

Cohesion Foundation Trust, a development organisation with nearly 30 years of work in India’s most underserved communities, today released its Outcome Report 2020–25: 5 Years of Impact at a national event titled ‘Roots and Horizons: 25 Years of Development Through Her’, held at Juniper Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The report documents 5 years of measured outcomes across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh, it further outlines the future plans for the next 5 years as it works toward its stated goal of transforming 1 million lives by 2030.

(L-R) Sudarshan Suchi, Reliance Foundation; Poonam Muttreja, PFI; Rajesh Tandon, PRIA; Subodh Mishra, Cohesion Foundation Trust; Sivakumar Surampudi, ITC

Distinguished voices contributing to the day’s discussions included Dr. Rajesh Tandon (PRIA), who spoke on the state of government-civil society collaboration; Prof. Bina Agarwal (University of Manchester), on women’s land rights as the foundation for economic agency and intergenerational change; Mr. Gagan Sethi, on the lessons of 25 years of community-centred practice and what the next chapter demands; Mr. Sudarshan Suchi (Reliance Foundation), on how philanthropic capital can be aligned with public systems to reach the last mile; Ms. Saranya Pradhan (McCain Foods India), on how private sector engagement with women and youth in agriculture builds both livelihoods and supply chain resilience; Mr. Biraj Patnaik (National Foundation for India), on resourcing the civil society ecosystem and sustaining organisations that hold the long view; and Mr. Sivakumar Surampudi (ITC Limited), on market-linked models that connect rural women and youth to economic opportunity.

The Outcome Report 2020–25 captures a period of significant growth and impact for the organisation. Over the last 5 years, Cohesion supported more than 15,000 women farmers, reached 67,409 children through education and early childhood development programmes, linked over 43,000 individuals to government welfare schemes, strengthened more than 150 community-based organisations, and enabled community-led water management initiatives that created 259,188 kilolitres of additional water storage across 78 villages.

Speaking at the event, Rajesh Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, Cohesion Foundation Trust, said, “25 years ago, we began with a belief that communities themselves hold the knowledge, resilience and leadership needed to drive lasting change. Our journey has reinforced that belief time and again. Whether it is women farmers strengthening livelihoods, families accessing essential entitlements, or communities managing natural resources, meaningful development happens when people are empowered to lead it. As we look ahead, our ambition is to help transform a million lives by 2030 through community-owned development.”

The Outcome Report also sets out Cohesion’s strategy for the next 5 years, the organisation’s stated goal is to transform 1 million lives by 2030 through community-owned development. Building on its ‘Model, Replicate and Scale’ approach, the strategy will focus on climate-resilient livelihoods, women’s leadership, youth empowerment, stronger community institutions and evidence-driven engagement with public systems and development partners.

About Cohesion Foundation Trust

Cohesion Foundation Trust was set up in 1996 by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals. The team equipped with the experience of different facets of development, started as a support body, providing professional services to other organizations. The support included services like community organization; project finance & management services including planning, monitoring & evaluation; designing & maintenance of Impact assessment and Management Information Systems; research, capacity building, democratization of development process & empowerment; advocacy works etc. As a strategic move in the year 2000-01, Cohesion initiated its implementation units, with a view to enrich the exchange of learning through support activities.

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) celebrated its Establishment Day 2026 with great enthusiasm and a sense of pride, commemorating its remarkable journey since its establishment on June 4, 2011, as a State Private University following an invitation and approval by the Government of Rajasthan. The occasion served as an opportunity for the university community to reflect on its achievements, growth, and contributions to higher education over the past 15 years.

Manipal University Jaipur celebrates its Establishment Day 2026

The celebration was attended by Dr. Niti Nipun Sharma, President, Manipal University Jaipur; Dr. Karunakar A. Kotegar, Pro-President, MUJ; Dr. Amit Soni, Registrar, MUJ; and Dr. Nitu Bhatnagar, Provost. Deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members, staff members, and representatives from the local community also participated in the event.

Welcoming the gathering, Dr. Karunakar A. Kotegar paid tribute to the founder, Late Dr. T.M.A. Pai, whose vision laid the foundation of the Manipal movement. Emphasizing the themes of “Reflection, Introspection and Commitment,” he encouraged every member of the university community to remain dedicated to the institution, society, and the nation.

In his presidential address, Dr. Niti Nipun Sharma remembered the founders of the university and the Manipal Group and acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors in shaping the growth and achievements of Manipal University Jaipur. Highlighting the university’s philosophy of inclusive development, he spoke about the importance of engaging with the local community and appreciated the support extended by community members who regularly assist students and the university fraternity.

A unique highlight of this year’s celebration was a friendly cricket tournament organized on the eve of Establishment Day as part of MUJ’s community engagement initiatives. The tournament brought together members of the local community, auto-rickshaw drivers, university security personnel, and small business owners associated with the campus. For many participants, it was their first visit to the university, making the experience particularly memorable.

Three teams—Boundary Riders, Trophy Fighters, and Master Blasters—participated in the tournament, demonstrating sportsmanship, teamwork, and camaraderie. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Amit Soni, Registrar, Manipal University Jaipur, who encouraged participants to strengthen their association with the university and continue working together for mutual growth and development. He emphasized the importance of strong community partnerships in creating a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem around the university.

The tournament concluded with an exciting final match in which Trophy Fighters emerged as champions. During the Establishment Day celebrations, all winners and participants were felicitated with trophies and medals by the university leadership in recognition of their enthusiastic participation.

Adding another milestone to the occasion, the jingles of the new programmes of Radio Manipal Jaipur 90.8 FM were officially launched by Dr. Niti Nipun Sharma.

Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. Amit Soni expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their contributions in making Manipal University Jaipur one of the most sought-after destinations for higher education in the country.

Community participants expressed immense appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a first-of-its-kind opportunity that allowed them to connect with the university and with one another beyond their daily responsibilities. The event successfully reinforced MUJ’s commitment to academic excellence, social responsibility, and meaningful community engagement.