The BYU Ballroom Dance Company lit up stages in India for the first time, enchanting over 1,000 audience members with show-stopping performances held on 4 and 6 June 2026 in the nation’s capital and a grand finale in Bengaluru on 9 June. Distinguished guests, including government, interfaith, and community leaders, were among the crowd, dazzled by the performances.
 

Audiences in New Delhi and Bengaluru were mesmerized by the elegance and precision of the BYU Ballroom Dance Company’s performances

“It was superb,” said India Foundation Executive Vice President Alok Bansal. “Not only the performance, but everything was so well-coordinated. Here, the whole team was in synchronization. It actually was amazing. It requires immense practice and confidence in one another, and that was very clearly visible. I think audience reaction was superb.”
 

For their performances in India, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company seamlessly blended ballroom dance with Indian cultural elements, drawing an effusive response from the audience

The three shows were presented shortly after the Company’s success at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival, where they swept the British Championships again in both Ballroom and Latin Formations. Whether competing in London or performing in India, the internationally acclaimed ensemble consistently wowed audiences with its creative blend of standard ballroom and Latin styles. From the Waltz, Tango, and Quickstep to the Lindyhop and Samba, the student dancers surpassed cultural boundaries on the dance floor, show after show.

“It was truly spectacular. Every movement was executed beautifully, and the storytelling was so powerful that it kept me completely engaged throughout,” said media consultant Poonam Kashyap from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, who partnered the performances.
 

Every performance by the BYU Ballroom Dance Company in India concluded with a standing ovation. Their respect for the country and genuine desire to connect were evident as the student dancers embraced the people and culture

As the Company’s premiere performances in India, the shows filled theaters with standing ovations. Attendees left feeling mesmerized by the dedication and pure passion of the performances, with a newfound love for the art form. Many expressed appreciation for the opportunity to enjoy high-caliber performing arts with such cultural heritage at no cost.

Beyond the stage, the 32 dancers participated in meaningful cultural exchanges with classical Indian dancers from the illustrious Triveni Kala Sangam, and heartfelt interactions with mentally challenged patients at the Missionaries of Charity home in Old Delhi. These experiences fostered mutual understanding and strengthened connections between the visiting students and the people they met.

“All of us tried to coordinate and learn each other’s culture and traditions,” shared Acharya Jayalakshmi Eshwar, renowned head of the Bharatanatyam department at the dance institution. “It was like one family then we came together, exchanging our artistic ideas. It was very, very beautiful – a great experience.”

“India’s rich cultural heritage and extraordinary hospitality have made a lasting impression on our students and faculty,” said Curt Holman, Artistic Director of the Company. “The arts create connections that transcend language, reminding us that we have far more in common than we often realize.“

He added, “Our time in India has been life-changing for the students. Not only have they been able to share their dance talents, but they have gained a new perspective on life as they have personally connected with audience members. This will be a memory never to forget.”

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Galgotias University and 247VC, a leading seed stage venture capital fund, today announced a long term partnership. The collaboration encompasses the launch of the Entrepreneurship & Venture Excellence (EVE) Program, a structured initiative designed to equip students with startup-building frameworks, investor mentorship, and access to institutional capital.

Galgotias University and 247VC partner to bring a new dimension to campus entrepreneurship through startup mentorship and venture funding opportunities

“Our partnership with 247VC is a one-of-its-kind initiative where a venture capital fund will have an active engagement presence within the University ecosystem itself, enabling students to interact directly with investors, startup mentors, founder networks, and venture-building experts. As part of this initiative, the University will facilitate dedicated on-campus engagement spaces to enable regular interaction between students and venture capital professionals. Having venture capital presence directly on campus will help students move ideas, research, and prototypes closer to real-world execution, mentorship, and venture creation,” – Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University.

The partnership is designed to bridge a critical gap in entrepreneurship education within Indian universities by providing students with practical, investor-validated frameworks rather than theoretical knowledge.

“We are truly elated to partner with a premier institution like Galgotias University. With its 50,000+ students, across various disciplines, having state of the art technologies available to them, this collaboration presents a unique opportunity to nurture the next gen of entrepreneurs. This model will become a blueprint for how universities should partner with venture capital. We’re committed to bringing our real-world venture investing experience and our deep founder networks directly to Galgotias’ students, transforming entrepreneurship from an aspiration into a structured, achievable outcome.” – Yagnesh Sanghrajka, Managing Partner, 247VC.

About Galgotias University

Galgotias University is one of India’s leading multidisciplinary universities recognised for academic excellence, research, innovation, global collaborations, and industry aligned education. With a vibrant student community of over 50,000 learners and a global alumni network of more than 100,000 graduates, the University has built a rapidly growing ecosystem focused on technology, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning, and real-world impact.

In the QS World University Rankings 2026 by Quacquarelli Symonds, Galgotias University was placed in the 1201-1400 global band and ranked 15th among private universities and 43rd among all universities in India. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the University was placed in the 1201-1500 global band and ranked 27th among private universities and 65th among all universities in India. The University is also accredited with NAAC A+, one of India’s highest institutional quality ratings.

Galgotias University offers programmes across engineering, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, business, law, media, design, health sciences, hospitality, liberal education, and emerging interdisciplinary domains. In 2026, students secured more than 5,100 job offers from over 1,250 recruiters. The University has built strong industry and innovation partnerships with organisations including Apple, Infosys, Intel, Cisco, Tata Technologies, L&T EduTech, Capgemini, and Salesforce, while continuing to strengthen its global academic engagement and startup ecosystem.

About 247VC

247VC, founded by Operator VCs Yagnesh Sanghrajka and Shashank Randev, is a seed-stage technology focused venture capital firm backing legendary founders building for India’s next decade. The fund invests in key themes such as Advanced Manufacturing, Frontier / Deep tech, Enterprise Tech, and Consumer Tech, with initial cheque size between INR 4 to 5 crores with an appetite for follow-on capital. 247VC, registered as Category 2 AIF has a target corpus of INR 250 crores. Yagnesh Sanghrajka and Shashank Randev together with the core team bring over 30 years of operating and 20 years of venture investing experience.

Interior My Room by Rawat, a customised furniture and interior solutions company driven by cutting-edge technology and precision craftsmanship, has announced the launch of its third studio in Kharadi, Pune. Having delivered over 10,000 customised modular kitchens and more than 1 crore sq. ft. of crafted furniture, the brand continues to champion personalised living spaces designed around the lifestyles, aspirations, and preferences of its customers.

(LTR) – Amey Achuthan – MD, Tejashree Rawat – Director, Jayashree Rawat Amey – Director, Mukta Sarkar – Director

Founded in 2020, Interior My Room by Rawat has rapidly established itself as a trusted name in India’s interior design and furniture solutions industry. At the heart of its operations is a 1 lakh sq. ft. manufacturing facility located on the Pune–Bengaluru Highway, equipped with advanced German and Italian machinery from globally renowned brands including Burkle, Biesse, Felder, Holzher, and Homag. With the capability to process over 10,000 sq. ft. of panels daily, the company operates through a robust hub-and-spoke model, efficiently serving both B2B and B2C customers.

The newly launched Kharadi studio joins the company’s existing factory-cum-showroom on the Pune–Bengaluru Highway and its studio in Bavdhan, further strengthening its presence across Pune. Designed as immersive experience centres, the studios showcase the company’s expertise in customised interiors, modular kitchens, wardrobes, and bespoke furniture collections across a range of finishes, styles, and design concepts.

Led by founders Amey Achuthan, Jayashree Rawat Amey, Mukta Sarkar, and Tejashree Rawat, Interior My Room has steadily built a distinctive identity in Pune and Maharashtra through a design philosophy centred on innovation, precision, quality, and trust.

Commenting on the launch, Mukta Sarkar, Director, Interior My Room, said, “At Interior My Room, we believe every home should be a reflection of the people who live in it. Our approach combines refined aesthetics with intuitive functionality to create spaces that are both beautiful and deeply personal. The launch of our Kharadi studio is an extension of this vision, enabling us to engage more closely with customers and deliver customised solutions that truly resonate with their lifestyles and aspirations.”

Interior My Room was among the early adopters of customised modular furniture technology in India. Over the years, the company has partnered with leading real estate developers including Godrej Properties, Amanora Park Town, and Solitaire; educational institutions such as Symbiosis International University and FLAME University; and brands including Bajaj and Force Motors, while also collaborating with prominent architects and design firms to deliver high-quality interior and furniture solutions.

About Interior My Room
Interior My Room was incorporated in 2020, and the company has emerged as a rising leader in Pune’s interior design space since 2021. Rooted in the Rawat family’s long-standing furniture legacy, the brand has transformed countless homes with designs that balance modern elegance and functional precision. From custom-crafted furniture to complete interior solutions, Interior My Room continues to uphold a tradition where innovation meets integrity, combining decades of expertise with a fresh and contemporary design outlook.

For more information, please visit – interiormyroom.com

Home loan interest rates in India are shaped by the RBI repo rate, your CIBIL Score, and loan tenure. Use an EMI calculator to estimate costs before you apply.

In summary
Home loan interest rates in 2026 are influenced by a mix of macroeconomic signals and your personal financial profile. The RBI held its repo rate at 5.25% in June 2026, which affects how lenders price their products. Your CIBIL Score, income stability, loan amount, and the property you choose all play a role in the final rate you’re offered.

Home loan interest rate updates 2026: key factors influencing housing loan costs this year

On a Rs. 50 lakh loan over 20 years, a difference of just 1% in your interest rate changes your EMI by over Rs. 3,000 per month – and your total interest outgo by over Rs. 7 lakh. Using an EMI calculator for home loan planning helps you see this clearly before you commit. This article covers what’s moving rates this year, how to assess your own position, and how to compare options with numbers.

What’s affecting home loan interest rates in 2026?
Home loan interest rates don’t move in isolation. They shift with broader monetary policy, inflation trends, and banking system conditions. Understanding these can help you time your decision better.

The repo rate signal
Per the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee announcement on 5 June 2026, the policy repo rate was kept unchanged at 5.25%. The MPC voted unanimously to maintain this rate and continued with its neutral stance. For borrowers, a stable repo rate means lenders have less pressure to revise rates sharply in either direction in the short term.

Inflation and liquidity
When inflation stays within the RBI’s target band of 4%, lenders can hold rates steady. If inflation rises, rate hikes follow, which pushes up home loan interest rates across the board. Banking system liquidity also matters: tighter liquidity typically means higher short-term borrowing costs for banks, which can filter through to retail loan rates.

External benchmark-linked rates
Since 2019, the RBI has required that floating-rate home loans be linked to an external benchmark such as the repo rate. This means rate changes by the RBI now pass through to borrowers more directly than before. It’s worth checking whether your lender offers repo-linked rates so you can benefit when rates ease.

Which factors can affect your home loan interest rate?
Your personal financial profile has a direct bearing on the rate you’re offered. Lenders assess risk, and a stronger profile generally means a lower rate.

A borrower with a CIBIL Score of 780 could be offered a better rate than one with a score of 700 on a Rs. 65 lakh loan over 20 years, and that difference compounds significantly. It’s worth cleaning up any credit report errors before applying.

How much difference can a small rate change make?
This is where the numbers make the case. Many borrowers focus on the loan amount but underestimate how much the rate itself affects total repayment.

Even a 0.25% difference in your rate matters at higher loan amounts: 

The difference is roughly Rs. 1.82 lakh over the loan’s full term. That’s money you could use for other goals. This comparison shows why securing the best possible rate from the start matters far more than it might seem.

How can an EMI calculator for home loan help you plan?
An EMI calculator for home loan estimates your monthly repayment using three inputs:

• Loan amount you plan to borrow

• Expected interest rate (or a range you want to compare)

• Loan tenure in years

It instantly gives you clarity before you speak to any lender by showing you estimates for:

• Your monthly EMI figure

• Total interest payable over the full tenure

• Total repayment amount (principal + interest)

• An amortisation schedule showing how much goes to principal and interest each month

The Bajaj Finance Home Loan EMI Calculator lets you adjust all three inputs and see results instantly. This helps you compare a 15-year versus a 20-year tenure side by side, without any paperwork or phone calls.

Should you choose a shorter or longer loan tenure?
Tenure is one of the most practical decisions you’ll make. There’s no universal right answer; it depends on your monthly cash flow and your appetite for total interest cost.

If your income allows for a higher EMI comfortably, a shorter tenure saves you more, as the table shows. If you need breathing room in your monthly budget, a longer tenure keeps payments manageable. You can always make part-prepayments later to reduce the outstanding principal and, effectively, shorten your loan.

What can you do if interest rates rise?
Rate increases aren’t always avoidable, but you can manage their impact with a few deliberate steps.

• Improve your CIBIL Score before applying: every point above 725 can work in your favour

• Increase your down payment to reduce the loan amount and your risk profile

• Make periodic part-prepayments to reduce the principal and limit future interest accrual

• Review balance transfer options if another lender offers a materially better rate

• Recalculate your EMI using a calculator periodically to track how much you still owe and how long remains

Scenario: Pritha is 34, works as a salaried software professional in Pune, and earns Rs. 20 lakh per year. Her CIBIL Score is 760. She’s identified a property worth Rs. 65 lakh and plans to pay 20% (Rs. 13 lakh) as a down payment, bringing her loan requirement to Rs. 52 lakh.

Before approaching any lender, she used an EMI calculator for home loan to compare two scenarios:

The Rs. 6,314 monthly difference showed her she could afford the 15-year option within her budget. She chose it and will pay Rs. 13.77 lakh less in interest over the term.

When should you review a home loan balance transfer?
If you took a home loan two or more years ago at a higher rate, it may be worth reviewing whether a balance transfer makes financial sense. The savings can be material, especially in the early years of a loan when interest makes up the larger portion of each EMI.

A balance transfer moves your outstanding principal to a new lender at a lower rate. It’s not a new loan; it’s a refinancing of what you already owe.

Bajaj Finance offers home loan balance transfer rates starting at 7.30%* p.a. If your current rate is above this, the difference over the remaining tenure could add up to significant savings. Additionally, eligible balance transfer customers can apply for a top-up loan of up to Rs. 1 crore*, which can be used for home improvements, medical costs, or other needs with end-use flexibility.

How to apply for a Bajaj Finance Home Loan?
Who can apply?
To apply for a Bajaj Finance home loan, you must meet the following eligibility criteria. Checking your eligibility before applying saves time and helps you prepare the right documents.

Step-by-step process for online application

• Click on the ‘APPLY’ button on the Bajaj Finance Home Loan page.

• Enter your full name, mobile number, and employment type.

• Select the type of loan you wish to apply for.

• Generate and submit your OTP to verify your phone number.

• Enter additional details, including your monthly income, required loan amount, and whether you have identified a property.

• Enter your date of birth, PAN, and other details as requested based on your occupation type.

• Click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.

• Your application is submitted. A Bajaj Finance representative will contact you to guide you through the next steps.

Home loan interest rates in 2026 are shaped by the RBI’s monetary stance, inflation signals, and your own financial profile. Understanding what drives your rate, and by how much, puts you in a stronger position before you walk into any application. Use an EMI calculator for home loan to run through different loan amounts, tenures, and rates so you know exactly what you’re committing to each month. Affordability isn’t just about what you can borrow; it’s about what you can repay comfortably over time. Explore Bajaj Finance Home Loan options, compare repayment scenarios, and estimate your EMIs before making a borrowing decision.

As Indian summers grow longer, hotter and more unpredictable, one homegrown brand is shifting the conversation around bedroom comfort from cooling appliances to the fabric you sleep in. SWEET DREAMS, one of India’s leading sleepwear and downtime-wear labels, has launched its summer-ready nightwear collections — featuring the proprietary BambooSoft fabric, 100% linen sets, shorts sets and a range of breathable sleepwear options — built specifically for the realities of the Indian climate.

Part of the SWEET DREAMS’ Summer 2026 collection, featuring breathable fabrics and relaxed silhouettes engineered for Indian climate

The brand’s summer narrative is anchored in a deceptively simple premise: when the weather refuses to cooperate, the right fabric can still make home feel livable. In a country where power cuts, voltage fluctuations, inverter limitations and rising electricity bills are everyday realities for millions of households, SWEET DREAMS is making the case that what you wear to bed matters just as much as whether your AC is running.

The “No AC, No Problem” Philosophy
The campaign’s tagline is not a bold technological claim — it is an honest, grounded insight drawn from Indian home life. The right summer nightwear can support better airflow, reduce the sensation of trapped heat, manage moisture more comfortably, and help the body ease into sleep. When the AC clicks off mid-night or simply isn’t an option, the fabric against your skin becomes the last line of comfort defence.

Central to the collection’s design language is the shorts set — identified by SWEET DREAMS as one of the most relevant summer sleepwear silhouettes for Indian consumers today. A breathable top paired with relaxed shorts reduces fabric coverage, allows natural airflow around the legs, and lends itself to hot nights, humid evenings, travel packing and casual home lounging alike. For consumers who find full-length pyjamas too warm during peak summer months, the shorts set offers the most direct, no-compromise answer to heat — without sacrificing a coordinated, put-together look.

Introducing BambooSoft: A Trademarked Fabric Built for Indian Nights
At the heart of SWEET DREAMS’ summer story is BambooSoft, a trademarked fabric concept developed in-house for consumers who want nightwear that feels light, fresh and skin-friendly through warm weather. The fabric is naturally breathable, pH-neutral and bamboo-infused, carrying a natural anti-bacterial character alongside thermo-regulating and UV-resistant properties. It is also built to withstand the abrasion of regular bed surfaces — an often-overlooked quality consideration for sleepwear that sees nightly use.

For the consumer, BambooSoft translates into a tangible experience: nightwear that feels gentle when the skin is tired from heat, allows airflow during long lounging hours, and holds its quality across repeated use. Unlike occasionwear, sleepwear occupies an unusually intimate role — worn through the couch, the bed, the balcony, the morning tea moment, the late-night laptop session. SWEET DREAMS treats fabric performance not as a premium add-on, but as the very foundation of the product.

Linen: The Original Cooling Fabric, Reimagined for Modern Indian Homes
Alongside BambooSoft, SWEET DREAMS’ 100% linen sets bring a time-honoured summer fabric into contemporary sleepwear and downtime dressing. Linen has long held a natural relationship with heat — appreciated across warm-weather cultures for its cooling character, natural airflow and understated elegance. SWEET DREAMS’ linen offering is positioned not as a formal or delicate product, but as a relaxed, lived-in fabric that suits slow evenings, resort lounging, work-from-home transitions and hot-weather sleep routines with equal ease.

What makes linen particularly relevant for India is its versatility across the season. It feels airy on a hot summer night, remains comfortable on a cooler monsoon evening, and only improves aesthetically with wear — making it an ideal companion for the imperfect, real rhythm of home life.

SWEET DREAMS is positioning summer sleepwear as a smart home essential — part fashion, part wellness, part textile innovation. As Indian consumers become increasingly discerning about what they wear at home, the brand’s investment in fabric-led design reflects a clear belief: comfort is not a luxury, it is a nightly necessity.

The full SWEET DREAMS summer collection, including BambooSoft sets, 100% linen nightwear and shorts sets, is available at SweetDreams.

About SWEET DREAMS
SWEET DREAMS is one of India’s leading sleepwear and downtime-wear brands, dedicated to bringing together textile intelligence, Indian climate understanding and relaxed design. The brand’s collections — including the proprietary BambooSoft fabric line, 100% linen sets and shorts sets — are crafted for everyday home comfort across seasons. For more information, visit SweetDreams.in.

The RBI’s latest monetary policy decision arrives at a crucial phase for India’s real estate sector, where both residential demand and commercial expansion have remained resilient despite an increasingly uncertain global environment. By maintaining the repo rate at 5.25%, the central bank has signalled a preference for macroeconomic stability at a time when geopolitical tensions, fluctuating commodity prices, and external market volatility continue to influence investment sentiment worldwide.
 

RBI Maintains Repo Rate at 5.25%; Developers See Positive Signals for Housing and Commercial Growth
 

For the sector, the move is being viewed as a supportive development that sustains financing visibility across segments. While stable interest rates are expected to encourage homebuyers evaluating long-term purchases, they also provide greater confidence to businesses, retailers, and institutional investors driving activity in office, retail, and mixed-use developments. Developers believe the policy continuity could help preserve the sector’s growth momentum while reinforcing confidence among both consumers and investors.
 

Sanchit Bhutani, Managing Director, Group 108, says, “A steady repo rate combined with a neutral policy stance bodes well for the commercial real estate sector. It provides greater visibility on borrowing costs, fostering confidence among developers, investors, and occupiers alike. For developers, this stability enables more predictable project planning and efficient liquidity management. Going forward, a consistent policy approach is expected to attract stronger institutional participation, reinforcing India’s position as a preferred commercial real estate destination.”
 

Mohit Batra, Regional Director, Realistic Realtors, says, “The RBI’s decision to maintain the repo rate was largely on expected lines. Given the current global environment, policy continuity was perhaps the more prudent choice. What remains encouraging is that domestic economic activity has continued to remain steady even amid the recent war-led global disruptions. Given the neutral stance, this would maintain confidence across the ecosystem and provide a stable environment for long-term investment and purchase decisions.”
 

Sanchit Jain, Director, Sarvottam India, says, “The RBI maintaining the repo rate at 5.25% brings a sense of continuity that the market values in the current environment. Stable interest rates reduce uncertainty around financing and help businesses take longer-term decisions with greater confidence. Whether it is office expansion, retail leasing, or mixed-use developments, predictability in borrowing conditions supports smoother planning across the ecosystem. It also creates a more favourable environment for developers to execute projects with better financial visibility and planning discipline.”
 

Shaurya Garg, Director, NorthWind Estates, says, “The MPC’s decision to hold rates steady is, in many ways, a vote of confidence in the health of residential demand. At 5.25%, home loan rates remain within a range that keeps purchase decisions rational and viable for a broad base of buyers. For developers, this is the kind of operating environment that allows for measured project planning without second-guessing the demand outlook.”
 

Ankit Kansal, Managing Director, Axon Developers, says, “Interest rate stability plays a significant role in buyer psychology, and today’s policy stability announcement maintains calm in the housing market. When EMIs are predictable, buyers feel empowered to move forward with purchase decisions. Amid rising inflationary pressures, driven by elevated global commodity prices, this balance between growth and caution is exactly what the sector needs.”
 

Paras Rai, Managing Director and Co-founder, Property Master, says, “The premium housing segment has never been purely rate-sensitive, but monetary stability does matter; it shapes buyer psychology and long-term financial planning. The RBI’s hold at 5.25% gives serious buyers the clarity they need to commit. We are seeing end-users, not just investors, drive enquiries in the luxury segment, and a stable rate environment is among the conditions that sustain it.”
 

Azad Ahmad Lone, President, Business Development and Operations, Biigtech, says, “For commercial real estate, the continuation of the current interest rate environment is a positive development. Stable rates create greater clarity for businesses, retailers, and institutional investors looking at long-term commitments across office and mixed-use assets. Markets with strong infrastructure growth and improving business ecosystems are already witnessing healthy traction, and the RBI’s measured stance is expected to further strengthen momentum across quality commercial developments.”
 

Ajendra Singh, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Spectrum@Metro, says, “The RBI’s neutral stance and decision to hold the repo rate steady comes as a welcome move for the commercial sector linked closely to investment and consumption. Real estate has been witnessing steady momentum driven by infrastructure growth, urban expansion, and evolving lifestyle aspirations. In this backdrop, stable interest rates help maintain positive market sentiment and support long-term financial planning for both developers and end-users.”

Bucketlistt, a curated experiences marketplace, has raised INR 1.07 crore in a pre seed angel funding round at a post money valuation of INR 10.07 crore, as it looks to organize and digitize India’s fragmented experiences and tourism market. The round saw participation from a group of angel investors including Arvind Choudhar, Aenik Shah, Kartik Khatri, and Yash Mehta.

L-R Divyam Shah, CA Nitant Desai, CA Shubham Makhecha

Founded by CA Shubham Makhecha (AIR 36), CA Nitant Desai, and Divyam Shah, Bucketlistt is building a curated marketplace for verified experiences across India, ranging from bungee jumping and river rafting to spiritual and immersive local experiences. Alongside its consumer facing platform, the company has also launched OkGhumo, an ERP and CRM platform designed specifically for experience and activity operators to manage bookings, operations, and finances.

The company will use the fresh capital to strengthen its technology stack, expand its operator network across key destinations, accelerate customer acquisition, and build out its team.

India’s experience tourism market is estimated at USD 45 billion, driven by rising disposable incomes and growing consumer demand for experiential travel. Despite the size of the opportunity, the sector remains highly fragmented, with travelers often relying on unorganized operators or generic online travel platforms that lack specialization and trust. Bucketlistt is positioning itself as a trusted, technology first platform focused on curated and verified experiences.

Since launching in December 2025, Bucketlistt says it has facilitated over INR 10 crore in bookings on its marketplace and served more than 31,000 customers within its first five months of operations. The company currently operates in Rishikesh, offering experiences such as skydiving, hot air balloon rides, ziplines, giant swings, rafting, camping, and front row access to the Ganga Aarti. As part of its expansion plans, Bucketlistt is preparing to launch in destinations including Manali, Bir, and Jaipur, while broadening its portfolio beyond adventure experiences to include curated cultural and spiritual offerings such as Dinner with the King of Rajwada, VIP Darshan at the Ujjain Mahakal Aarti, and authentic Feni making experiences in Goa. According to the company, every operator listed on the platform is vetted directly by its founding team before onboarding. 

Its recently launched SaaS platform, OkGhumo, is aimed at solving the operational inefficiencies faced by experienced businesses. The platform has already onboarded three vendors collectively representing over INR 40 crore in annual business volume.

“Adventure travel in India has long lacked trust, standardization, and digital infrastructure. Consumers often struggle to find reliable, verified operators, while vendors continue to manage their businesses through fragmented systems. We are building both sides of that infrastructure by creating a trusted discovery and booking platform for travelers, while equipping operators with purpose built software to run and scale their businesses more efficiently. This funding gives us the foundation to deepen our presence in existing markets and expand into new adventure hubs across India,” said Shubham Makhecha, Co founder of Bucketlistt.

Bucketlistt was founded by a team with backgrounds in finance, operations, and technology, with deep personal involvement in the experiences ecosystem. Co founder Shubham Makhecha is also a certified paragliding pilot and trek leader who has guided more than 3,000 participants across India.

“India’s adventure tourism ecosystem is large but still significantly underserved by organized, technology led players,” said Yash Mehta, Angel Investor and Founder, Joyspoon. “What stood out to us was Bucketlistt’s dual platform approach, building a trusted consumer marketplace while also embedding itself deeply into the operator ecosystem through OkGhumo. The founders have demonstrated strong execution in a short period, and we believe they are well positioned to help formalize and scale this category.”

Looking ahead, Bucketlistt plans to launch a consumer mobile app, introduce loyalty and dynamic pricing features, expand to additional destinations across India, and further develop OkGhumo’s product capabilities, including future integrations and AI powered booking infrastructure.

About Bucketlistt
Bucketlistt is an online curated marketplace for experiences, enabling customers to discover and book a wide variety of unique experiences across India. From skydiving in Delhi and attending the Ujjain Mahakal Aarti to exclusive cultural experiences such as dining with the King of Rajwada, the platform is designed to make experiential travel more accessible, trusted, and seamless for modern travelers.

Built on a technology first approach, Bucketlistt carefully curates and verifies every experience and operator listed on the platform to ensure quality, safety, and reliability. Beyond its consumer marketplace, the company is also building digital infrastructure for experience providers through OkGhumo, its ERP and CRM platform designed to help operators manage bookings, operations, and finances efficiently.

Founded in 2025, Bucketlistt is building toward becoming India’s trusted platform for discovering and booking memorable experiences across adventure, culture, spirituality, and lifestyle categories.

India’s households collectively hold an estimated 25,000 tonnes of gold, one of the largest private gold reserves in the world. Yet when a financial need arises, most owners have no clear sense of what that gold can unlock. They walk into a branch not knowing whether their jewellery qualifies for Rs. 50,000 or Rs. 5 lakh.
 

Bajaj Finance Gold Loan
 

Bajaj Finance’s gold loan calculator is designed to change that. It gives borrowers a verified, methodology-backed loan estimate before they pledge a single gram — removing the guesswork from one of India’s most widely used secured credit products.
 

How the loan amount is actually calculated

Understanding what drives the eligible loan amount helps borrowers make better pledging decisions.
 

The calculation starts with three inputs: the weight of the gold in grams, its purity in karats, and the applicable gold rate. Where most borrowers go wrong is assuming the rate used is the live market price they see on a financial app. It is not. Bajaj Finance values pledged gold at the lower of the previous day’s closing price or the 30-day average closing price published by IBJA or a SEBI-regulated commodity exchange. This is a deliberate, RBI-aligned methodology, it protects both the borrower and the lender from short-term price volatility and ensures the loan is structured on a stable valuation basis.
 

Once the gold value is established, the RBI-prescribed Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio of up to 85% is applied to arrive at the final eligible loan amount. For example, if a borrower pledges 22-karat gold valued at Rs. 2 lakh, they may be eligible for a loan of up to Rs. 1.70 lakh.
 

Why using the calculator before applying matters

The gold loan calculator is a planning tool. Borrowers can model multiple scenarios: pledging more gold to access a higher amount, adjusting tenure to reduce monthly outgo, or comparing total interest across short and long repayment periods. A borrower who needs ₹3 lakh but only models Rs. 2 lakh worth of gold walks into the branch under-prepared. The calculator prevents that.
 

Bajaj Finance’s gold loan calculator is available on their website and app, accessible from anywhere in India — Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, or a Tier-3 town.
 

Documents required for gold loan

A single valid KYC document is sufficient for a Bajaj Finance gold loan application. The documents required for gold loan applications with Bajaj Finance are minimal. Borrowers need just one valid KYC document — which may be an Aadhaar card, Voter ID, passport, driving licence, , NREGA job card, or a letter from the National Population Register. No income proof, no salary slips, and no bank statements are needed— a meaningful distinction from unsecured loan products where income documentation can delay or derail an application.
 

Key features of a Bajaj Finance gold loan

• Loan amounts from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 2 crore

• Interest rates are significantly lower than most unsecured loan options, making gold loans a cost-effective borrowing choice

• Multiple repayment — monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annual basis

• No foreclosure charges

• Same-day disbursal in most cases

• Free insurance on pledged gold
   

How to apply

Borrowers can begin the application process online by visiting the Bajaj Finance website or app, entering their mobile number, verifying with an OTP, selecting their nearest branch, and downloading their in-principal eligibility letter. The gold is assessed physically at the branch, and funds are credited on the same day in most cases.
 

T&C Apply.
 

About Bajaj Finance Limited

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.
 

For more information, visit www.bajajfinserv.in.

Streax Professional, India’s leading salon-exclusive hair colour and care brand, proudly unveils Brewlette 2026, a trend-led collection that redefines brunette through the lens of luxury, craftsmanship, and contemporary sophistication.

Streax Professional Brews A New Era Of Luxury Brunette With Brewlette 2026

Inspired by the slow richness of dark roast coffee, the depth of aged wine, and the tactile elegance of velvet, Brewlette is more than a colour story. It is a study in craft, a reminder that true luxury is never rushed. It is layered, curated, and built with intention. Through this collection, Streax Professional reimagines brunette not as a single shade, but as a beautifully nuanced expression of depth, dimension, and personal evolution.

From rich brunette foundations to carefully placed reflections of copper, mahogany, red, and blonde, each look in the collection is designed to create movement, shine, and visual texture. The result is a set of colour stories that feel elevated rather than loud, sophisticated rather than overstated, and wearable yet unmistakably premium. Brewlette speaks to the modern woman who seeks refinement over excess and believes in beauty that feels deeply personal.

Rochelle Chhabra, Head – Streax Professional, said, “Brewlette is a celebration of the artistry of brunette hair, creating depth, movement, and dimension in ways that feel premium and wearable. At Streax Professional, our larger purpose has always been to create opportunities for salons and hairstylists to grow through inspiration, education, and trend leadership. This collection has been designed not just to showcase beautiful colour, but to give professionals a creative platform that helps them elevate their service offerings and build stronger value for their clients.”

She further added, “We want to empower salon partners and hairstylists with techniques and inspiration that help them excel in a competitive market. Brewlette is a world of luxury brunette created for them, one where artistry meets commercial relevance, and where precision, personalisation, and creativity come together beautifully.”

Commenting on the launch, Priyancka Puri, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Hygienic Research Institute Pvt. Ltd., said, “With Brewlette, we wanted to capture a larger shift happening in beauty today. Luxury is no longer about being louder or more dramatic; it is about authenticity, craftsmanship, and intention. We saw an opportunity to take brunette, a shade that is often seen as familiar, and present it as something far more expressive, dimensional, and modern. The thinking behind Brewlette was to create a collection that feels slow-crafted, premium, and emotionally resonant, a collection that allows colour to feel like an evolution, not just a transformation.”

She added, “The manifesto behind Brewlette guided every aspect of the collection. It is about celebrating colour as a craft, about creating shades with depth and hidden reflections, and about designing looks for the woman who wants to feel elevated, not altered. That philosophy shaped the entire collection and helped us build a luxury brunette story that feels contemporary, artistic, and commercially relevant.”

Sharing the artistic and technical vision behind the collection, Najeeb Ur Rehman, Technical Ambassador, Streax Professional, said, “The beauty of Brewlette lies in its layering. Each look has been created through thoughtful colour placement and nuanced tonal reflections to deliver movement, shine, and dimensional depth. What makes it powerful is that it does not rely on overt transformation. Instead, it celebrates subtle sophistication, the kind that reveals itself gradually, just like the richest brew.”

He added, “This collection reflects the craftsmanship that goes into great colour work. It is inspired by texture, richness, and restraint, and it allows stylists to create looks that are not only visually striking but also technically refined. For us, Brewlette is about honouring the artist’s role in shaping beauty that feels elevated, timeless and meaningful.”

Inspired by global fashion sensibilities such as old-money aesthetics, slow-crafted beauty, and premium editorial styling, Brewlette captures the spirit of quiet luxury. It reflects a growing consumer preference for beauty choices that feel enduring, elegant, and distinctively personal. With this launch, Streax Professional continues to strengthen its position as a trend authority in the professional hair industry, empowering salon partners with globally inspired trends, advanced colour artistry, and commercially relevant innovations tailored for the evolving Indian consumer.

About Streax Professional

Streax Professional, a brand closely associated with style and glamour in the salon business, was launched in 2004 by Hygienic Research Institute. Streax Professional is the smart choice for smart Indian stylists and consumers. Launching innovative products with well-researched formulations, especially suited to Indian hair types, Streax Professional is the forerunner in the professional segment with the widest distribution network. Streax Professional Hair colourant range (Colour, Developer, and Ultralights) is on a continuous growth path and has a partnership with over 40,000 salons in India and abroad.

About Hygienic Research Institute

Hygienic Research Institute Private Limited (HRIPL) is a prominent Indian leader in beauty and personal care products, specializing in hair care, skin care, and salon services. With over 60 years of legacy since 1957, HRIPL has grown from a single-brand promoter-owned entity to a multi-brand, multi-category organization backed by private equity, known for brands like Vasmol, Streax, and Streax Professional, along with Florozone in skin care. Committed to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, HRIPL operates with a vision to offer excellent products and services globally while fostering growth and spreading happiness. The company boasts a robust manufacturing legacy across six locations, adhering to international quality standards. HRIPL is honoured with accolades such as Great Place to Work, Best Workplace for Innovation, and recognition in the FMCG sector.