EMCON 2026, the international conference on Emergency Medicine and the 28th national conference of the Society for Emergency Medicine India (SEMI), concluded with a triumph in Mumbai, bringing together more than 2,000 delegates, 300 national faculty members and over 50 international faculty members. The conference comprised of three days of scientific exchange about clinical innovation and global collaboration, featuring a packed agenda with 6 parallel workshop tracks, 60 themed sessions and live simulation theatres. 
 

EMCON 2026 – Inauguration Moment

Hosted from October 30th to November 1st, 2026, at Powai, Mumbai, the conference was organised under the leadership of Dr Sandeep Gore, Organising Chairman, along with Dr Nitin Jagasia, Organising Secretary, and an accomplished scientific and organising team including Scientific Chair Dr Shrinath Kumar along with Scientific Co-chairs Dr Rajadurai & Dr Shweta Tyagi. 
 

With the theme “Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence in Emergency Medicine,” EMCON 2026 placed resuscitation at the centre of the specialty’s future, guided by its defining philosophy: “Excellence in Emergency Medicine comes from excellence in resuscitation.”
 

Global Leaders Unite in Mumbai: The grand inaugural ceremony witnessed an exceptional convergence of international Emergency Medicine leadership. This included Dr Ian Higginson, President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), United Kingdom; Dr Pauline Convocar, President, International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM); and Dr Julina Md Noor, President, World Interactive Network Focused on Critical Ultrasound (WINFOCUS), participated in the inauguration. Dr L. Anthony Cirillo, President, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), delivered an inaugural address, further strengthening the conference’s international significance.
 

The conference received endorsements from the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and Asian Society for Emergency Medicine (ASEM), reflecting the growing global recognition of India’s Emergency Medicine fraternity.
 

Distinguished Healthcare Leaders Grace the Inauguration: Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairman, National Medical Commission (NMC), graced the inaugural ceremony as Chief Guest. Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director and CEO, Fortis Healthcare, and Dr Arunesh Punetha, Regional Director, Apollo Hospitals, attended as Guests of Honour. The ceremony was also graced by Dr K. Hariprasad, Founder Member of SEMI, and Dr S. Narayani, Director-Regional Operations, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai, as distinguished guests.
 

Other honoured guests included Dr Bishnu Panigrahi, Head-MSOG, Fortis Healthcare, Dr Kiran Shingote, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, and Ms Rinku Mavani, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai. The presence of senior healthcare executives, academic leaders, professional society presidents and clinicians highlighted the increasing recognition of Emergency Medicine as a critical pillar of modern healthcare systems.
 

Three Extraordinary Live Demonstrations Redefine Resuscitation Education:

Among the most distinctive highlights of EMCON 2026 were three major live educational demonstrations of advanced resuscitative procedures:

• Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) in the Emergency Department – demonstrating the expanding frontiers of extracorporeal life support in emergency resuscitation.

• Perimortem Caesarean Section – highlighting the critical importance of decisive intervention during maternal cardiac arrest.

• Resuscitative Thoracotomy – showcasing an advanced, time-critical intervention in traumatic cardiac arrest.

These demonstrations formed a unique signature of EMCON 2026, translating complex, high-stakes resuscitation concepts into powerful educational experiences.
 

The conference reinforced a fundamental message: Emergency Medicine must lead not only in the initial recognition and stabilisation of critically ill patients, but also in mastering advanced, life-saving resuscitative interventions.
 

Dr Sandeep Gore Elected National President of SEMI for 2026–2028: In another defining milestone, Dr Sandeep Gore, Organising Chairman of EMCON 2026 and Director – Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai, was elected National President of the Society for Emergency Medicine India for the 2026–2028 term. He succeeded Dr Sowjanya Shree Patibandla, taking over the leadership of the national professional body at a pivotal moment in the specialty’s evolution.
 

In his inaugural presidential address, Dr Sandeep Gore outlined an ambitious vision for Indian Emergency Medicine, declaring, “Emergency Medicine is a resuscitative specialty, and Emergency Medicine physicians must be masters of resuscitation.” He further asserted, “India will lead global Emergency Medicine.” 
 

His address emphasised the need to strengthen clinical excellence, advanced resuscitation capabilities, Emergency Medicine education, professional leadership and international collaboration, positioning Indian Emergency Medicine for a greater role on the global stage.

Emergency Medicine Anthem Receives an Enthusiastic Reception: Another memorable moment of the inauguration was the official launch of the Emergency Medicine Anthem, written by Dr Sandeep Gore and registered as an original intellectual property with the Copyright Office, Government of India. The anthem, celebrating the courage, commitment and life-saving mission of emergency physicians, received an enthusiastic response from delegates, with applause and cheers filling the auditorium. Its launch gave the conference a powerful emotional dimension, celebrating not merely the scientific advancement of Emergency Medicine but also the identity, pride and collective spirit of the fraternity.

Dr Imron Subhan, Executive Chair, SEMI, and Dr Saravana Kumar, Executive Co-Chair, SEMI made significant contributions to the conference’s success. The research committee, with important contributions under leadership of Dr Sowjanya Shree Patibandla along with Dr Nilu Sunil, Dr Harshita Sridhar and Dr Priyanka M., supported the conference’s academic and research initiatives.

The organising and scientific teams, volunteers, faculty members, delegates and institutional partners collectively ensured the successful execution of an international event of this scale.

More Than a Conference – A Movement for Indian Emergency Medicine: Overwhelming participation and enthusiastic response from the national and international Emergency Medicine fraternity demonstrated the growing strength, confidence and academic maturity of the specialty in India.

EMCON 2026 successfully brought together scientific excellence, hands-on resuscitation education, professional leadership and global collaboration under one platform. What began as a national conference emerged as a global celebration of Indian Emergency Medicine. With a new national leadership, a renewed emphasis on mastering resuscitation and a clear ambition to contribute to global Emergency Medicine, EMCON 2026 has set the stage for the next chapter of the specialty.

EMCON 2026 became a movement that redefines the functional standards, strengthened the identity and shape the future of Emergency Medicine in India.
 

About EMCON 2026

EMCON 2026 was the 28th National Conference of the Society for Emergency Medicine India (SEMI), organised as an International Conference on Emergency Medicine from October 30 to November 1, 2026, in Mumbai.

Expanding its three-decade journey in real estate and development, HiLITE Group is set to enter the investment management sector with the introduction of its new vertical, HiLITE Investment Management. The venture marks an expansion of the Group’s presence beyond real estate development, into a new area of business. Its first offering, HiLITE Ethical Fund 1, is a real estate-focused fund with a maximum fund size of Rs. 200 crore, marking the beginning of the Group’s journey in professionally managed investment opportunities.

Logo of HiLITE Investment Management

Registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), HiLITE Ethical Fund 1 is designed for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors seeking long-term opportunities in real estate. A key distinction of the fund is its Shariah certification by TASIS (Taqwaa Advisory and Shariah Investment Solutions Pvt. Ltd.), bringing an ethical framework to its investment approach. With this venture, HiLITE Group aims to extend its understanding of the real estate sector to a wider investment landscape, combining industry experience with a structured approach to investment management.

The fund will primarily focus on greenfield developments and brownfield developments, with an emphasis on disciplined capital management. It has a seven-year tenure and a minimum investment commitment of Rs. 1 crore, payable in instalments over 36 months. As real estate projects typically have development periods of two to four years, distributions to investors may commence from the fourth year onwards, with returns varying based on project realisations and overall fund performance.

Each investment opportunity undergoes an initial assessment by HiLITE Investment Management to ensure alignment with the Shariah guidelines set by TASIS, followed by a review by its Shariah advisory team.

This process brings an added layer of ethical oversight to the fund’s approach to real estate investment. The fund is supported by an institutional partner network that includes PwC as fund auditor, Mitcon Credentia as trustee, SBI as banker, Nuvama as custodian, and Ajmal & Company as regulatory advisor.

Commenting on the upcoming launch, HiLITE Group Chairman P. Sulaiman said, “Over the past three decades, HiLITE Group has grown by identifying opportunities and building value across sectors. HiLITE Investment Management is a natural extension of this journey. We believe investment should be guided not just by returns, but also by strong ethical principles. Our Shariah-certified approach reflects this belief. We aim to build this venture on the trust, values and commitment that have shaped HiLITE over the years.”

“Our entry into investment management is driven by a larger vision of bringing our experience in real estate to a wider investment landscape. We see an opportunity to offer high-net-worth individuals access to professionally managed, real estate-focused investment opportunities, supported by a structured and disciplined approach. As we expand into this sector, our focus will remain on careful decision-making, responsible practices and creating long-term value,” said HiLITE Group CEO Ajil Muhammed.

Over the past 30 years, HiLITE Group has played a defining role in shaping Keralam’s real estate landscape through landmark developments, including Focus Mall, Keralam’s first mall; HiLITE City, South India’s largest mixed-use development; and World Trade Center Kozhikode, one of the world’s largest World Trade Centers. With a vision to develop 50 million sq. ft. across Keralam by 2030, the Group continues to expand its presence across sectors. Building on this experience, HiLITE Investment Management aims to establish itself as a trusted name in professionally managed, Shariah-certified real estate investment, contributing to the growth of real estate as an asset class through responsible practices and a long-term outlook. 

More details are available at www.hilitefunds.com, Ph: +91 9061340044

Paisabazaar, one of India’s leading financial platforms, has strengthened its instant personal loan programme with 18 lending partners, including six leading banks, enabling eligible borrowers to access personal loans with disbursal within two hours through a digital journey.

Paisabazaar strengthens its instant personal loan programme with 18 lenders, offering loans up to Rs. 7 lakh with disbursal within two hours

The breadth and depth of partnerships bring together banks, NBFCs and fintech lenders under the programme, offering borrowers a wider choice of loan offers based on their eligibility and requirements. By bringing multiple lenders onto a single platform, Paisabazaar aims to simplify access to personal credit through faster processing, digital onboarding and a convenient borrowing experience.

Some of the leading lending partners include HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, YES BANK, IDFC FIRST Bank, L&T Finance, Poonawala Fincorp, Federal Bank, IndusInd Bank, Tata Capital and Hero FinCorp.

Santosh Agarwal, CEO, Paisabazaar, said, “Today’s borrowers expect access to credit to be as seamless and quick as other digital services. By continuously strengthening our personal loan offerings, we are bringing greater choice and faster access to credit to consumers from varied segments. Our technology-led platform combines the reach of multiple lenders with personalised recommendations and a convenient digital journey, helping borrowers find loan offers suited to their profiles and needs. We will continue to invest in technology and partnerships to make access to responsible credit simpler and more efficient.“

Eligible borrowers can access personal loan offers of up to Rs. 7 lakh through a four-step digital process on Paisabazaar. They can begin by submitting their personal and income details, viewing loan offers they are eligible for, completing video KYC and proceeding towards disbursal. Depending on lender approval and completion of the required formalities, eligible customers can receive their loan amount within one to two hours.

Paisabazaar overall has a wide network of over 70 lending partners across its consumer credit portfolio, including personal loans, business loans, home loans and credit cards. Its SmartMatch technology provides certainty of disbursal by recommending and ranking relevant offers based on individual eligibility, while personalised guidance supports customers through their application journeys, helping them make informed financial decisions.

The strengthened personal loan offering comes amid continued growth in Paisabazaar’s lending business. In Q2 FY 2027, the company recorded a 22% year-on-year increase in core disbursals, led by 30% growth in unsecured loan disbursals.

About Paisabazaar
Paisabazaar, a part of PB Fintech (listed since 2021), is India’s leading marketplace for financial products and a free credit score platform. Over the last 12+ years, Paisabazaar has earned the trust and goodwill of over 58 million consumers from 850 cities and towns across India. Paisabazaar has built wide and deep partnerships across the ecosystem, to offer a broad range of financial products, ranging from loans and cards to investments and savings along with bill payments and mobile recharge. The platform also enables consumers to check their free credit score from all 4 CICs (Credit Bureaus) in India. Paisabazaar is an ISO (27001:2013) and PCI DSS certified organisation, with industry-best controls, to safeguard the best interest of consumers.

New York

World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®), an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations across nearly 100 countries and territories, successfully concluded its 2026 WTCA Member Forum, held virtually October 27-28. The two-day event brought together nearly 200 WTC colleagues representing 109 WTC businesses across 42 countries and territories to explore how shifting global trade dynamics, emerging technologies and international partnerships are shaping the future of business.
 

Under the theme “Connecting Ideas. Shaping What’s Next,” this year’s Member Forum emphasized that the WTCA network is most valuable when Members actively share knowledge, build relationships and collaborate across borders. Through interactive discussions, presentations and member-led sessions, participants exchanged insights on evolving trade patterns, emerging markets, artificial intelligence (AI) and strategies for strengthening their WTC businesses, while reinforcing the value of trusted relationships in driving international business growth.
 

The Forum also marked a new chapter for WTCA under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Annette Gregg. During the opening “WTCA Chair and CEO Briefing,” Gregg and John E. Drew, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors, shared their vision for the Association’s future and the value of a trusted global network, emphasizing the growing importance of bringing people together to navigate an increasingly complex global business environment.
 

“What really stood out to me about WTCA was its mission – ‘Connecting Businesses, Globally.’ It symbolizes innovation and collaboration — the ability to come together to build bridges across borders instead of being polarized — which humanity needs now more than ever,” said Gregg, WTCA CEO. “Some of my biggest takeaways since joining the Association is that the brand is well-known and well-respected, but there is an opportunity for us to get the word out about what the WTC brand is doing for local communities and how WTCA can become the definitive, trusted resource for cross-border trade in the midst of constant geopolitical change.”
 

Drew also shared the process for Annette’s selection as the Association’s new CEO, and emphasized the importance of expanding WTCA’s global reach while strengthening connections among its existing Members, reinforcing the long-term ambition to grow the Association’s network to 500 WTC businesses over the next decade.
 

“Annette brings extensive experience in working with Associations like ours, and building them internationally. As WTCA enters this next chapter under new leadership, our focus is to build on the strength of our global network while positioning the Association for continued growth,” said Drew, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors. “This is a very exciting time as the WTCA Headquarters office has also moved to return to the birthplace of our Association. At next year’s Member Forum, we’re eager to welcome our Members to our new home at One World Trade Center.”
 

One of the Forum’s central discussions examined how global trade is evolving in response to changing policies, tariffs and supply chain dynamics. During the “Global Café: Trade in Transition” session, Alice Ancona, COO of WTC Miami, emphasized that global trade is rerouting rather than stopping. The discussion highlighted growing opportunities in emerging markets, including ASEAN economies such as Vietnam, as well as India, as businesses look beyond China to diversify supply chains, expand international partnerships and identify new opportunities for investment.
 

While AI and emerging technologies are transforming how businesses operate and connect, discussions during the Forum reinforced that technology cannot replace the personal relationships and trust that drive successful international partnerships. Members explored how AI can facilitate business development, streamline operations and create new opportunities, while emphasizing that behind every successful partnership is a human connection. For WTCA, the ability to build trusted relationships across borders remains one of the network’s greatest strengths.
 

Beyond global trade trends, the Forum offered practical strategies to help Members strengthen their individual WTC businesses. Sessions included “Future-Ready WTC Businesses: Creating Places that Shape What’s Next,” which examined how real estate-focused WTC businesses can respond to changing market demands; “From Conversations to Collaboration: How Events Move Ideas Forward,” which highlighted how conferences and exhibitions-focused WTC businesses can turn business introductions into meaningful partnerships and opportunities; and the introduction of the “WTCA Business Club Playbook” that highlights WTC businesses at various stages of building business clubs and membership models. Additional programming focused on professional development, social media advocacy, technology adoption and maximizing the value of WTCA Membership.
 

Looking ahead, Members received a preview of the 2027 WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF), taking place April 4-7 in Vietnam, held in partnership with WTC Binh Duong New City. Under the theme “Forging the Future of Trade & Investment,” the event will convene international business leaders to explore emerging markets, strengthen cross-border partnerships and identify new opportunities for trade and investment both within the host market and across the global WTCA network. The upcoming GBF will combine B2B matchmaking, networking and thought-provoking programming focused on the forces shaping global trade, investment, real estate and business, providing another opportunity for the global business community to turn the connections and insights fostered through the WTCA network into meaningful business opportunities.
 

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries and territories. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe, creating an ecosystem built around commerce, community and connection.

To learn more, visit www.wtca.org.

Almondz Global Securities Limited (AGSL) has reported a 136.5 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated profit to Rs 9.13 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared with Rs 3.86 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

 

Navjeet Singh Sobti, Founder, Almondz Group

 

Consolidated revenue increased 17.9 per cent to Rs 40.09 crore from Rs 34.00 crore during the same period, supported by growth in infrastructure consulting and contributions from the Group’s diversified business operations.

 

The quarterly performance comes amid continued expansion across the Almondz Group’s financial services, infrastructure consulting and green fuel businesses, with the companies and subsidiaries developing complementary capabilities across their respective sectors.

 

The infrastructure consulting business reported a strong order pipeline, with its total order book crossing Rs 400 crore, while the green fuel joint venture recorded significant growth in revenue and profitability.

 

Founder Highlights Group’s Integrated Growth Strategy

Commenting on the performance and the Group’s growth trajectory, Navjeet Singh Sobti, Founder, Almondz Group, said, “Our performance reflects more than growth in individual businesses. It reflects the strength of a Group whose companies increasingly complement one another, bringing together financial expertise, infrastructure capabilities, and emerging opportunities in green energy.

 

We have been deliberate in building independently strong businesses, yet collectively create greater value. As these platforms mature, we are seeing the benefits of that approach in our execution capabilities, order pipeline and operating performance.

 

Our focus now is on scaling this momentum responsibly, strengthening collaboration across the Group and building an institution capable of delivering sustained, long-term value.”

 

Consolidated Financial Performance

About Almondz Global Securities Limited

Almondz Global Securities Limited is a listed Indian company operating across financial services, infrastructure consulting and green fuel businesses through its subsidiaries and joint venture interests. Its financial services activities include broking, wealth advisory, corporate advisory, merchant banking and debt and equity operations. The company is part of the Almondz Group, whose businesses span financial and advisory services, infrastructure consulting and emerging sectors. Almondz Global Securities Limited is listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and BSE.

Website: www.almondzglobal.com

Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to business growth, project execution, capacity utilisation, commercial operations and future performance. Such statements are subject to market conditions, regulatory processes, commercial arrangements and other risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes may differ materially from current expectations.

Gurugram-based Challanwala, an online platform for settling traffic challans, saw a sharp rise in use during its Diwali festive offer. Users checked and added 9,32,120 new challans to the platform. Between 6 and 8 November 2026, motorists paid Rs. 40.48 lakh in fines, clearing 3,250 challans across 2,440 transactions.
 

The offer gave users up to 70% off Challanwala’s platform fee. It also let users gift a challan payment for the first time, so they could clear a pending fine for a family member or friend as a Diwali gesture. Each transaction cleared about 1.3 challans on average, and the average payment per challan was about Rs. 1,245. Many users settled several pending fines at once, often across more than one vehicle in the family.
 

What the festive data shows

• Helmet-less riding is the most common violation. It accounts for 81,480 challans, more than twice the next category, parking violations (35,070). Disobeying the orders of an authority came third with 30,720. Together, these three make up nearly 1.5 lakh challans, or about 16% of all challans added during the campaign.

• Commercial vehicles lead. Of the challans with vehicle details recorded, goods carriers had the most: 16,810, or about 36%. Cars followed with 12,270 (26%), then two-wheelers with 8,770 (19%).

• Uttar Pradesh dominates, but Guwahati breaks in. Among challans that could be traced to a city, Noida had the most (19,620), followed by Ghaziabad (14,120). Together, the two NCR cities account for more than one in five traced challans. Guwahati is third with 12,440, ahead of Lucknow (10,610) and Varanasi (7,990). It is the only city outside Uttar Pradesh in the top five.
   

A road-safety signal;
The helmet finding goes beyond fines. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Road Accidents in India 2023 report, 54,568 two-wheeler riders who were not wearing helmets died in road accidents that year. Overall, 41% of road accident victims were not using a helmet or seat belt.

Mr. Arvind Singhatiya, Co-founder and CEO, Challanwala
 

Mr. Arvind Singhatiya, Co-founder and CEO, Challanwala, said, “Diwali is about clearing out the old before welcoming the new, and we wanted to bring that spirit to something most of us keep putting off: pending traffic challans. Over 9.3 lakh challans came to light in a single festive window, which shows how many people carry fines they don’t know about or keep postponing. With challan gifting, we wanted to offer a different kind of Diwali gift: a clean record.”
 

He added, “The data is also a road-safety reminder. Riding without a helmet tops the list by a wide margin, and that is not just a fine. It is a risk to life. We hope that settling a challan also prompts people to change the behaviour behind it. Given the response, we are extending the offer until New Year, so more families can start 2027 without pending challans.”
 

About Challanwala
Challanwala is a Gurugram-based start up platform that lets vehicle owners check, settle and resolve traffic challans online. Founded in December 2023, the platform offers vehicle insurance, pre-owned vehicle history reports, PUC (pollution) certificate services and vehicle service records, so owners can manage their vehicle’s paperwork in one place.

Gurugram-based Challanwala, an online platform for settling traffic challans, saw a sharp rise in use during its Diwali festive offer. Users checked and added 9,32,120 new challans to the platform. Between 6 and 8 November 2026, motorists paid Rs. 40.48 lakh in fines, clearing 3,250 challans across 2,440 transactions.
 

The offer gave users up to 70% off Challanwala’s platform fee. It also let users gift a challan payment for the first time, so they could clear a pending fine for a family member or friend as a Diwali gesture. Each transaction cleared about 1.3 challans on average, and the average payment per challan was about Rs. 1,245. Many users settled several pending fines at once, often across more than one vehicle in the family.
 

What the festive data shows

• Helmet-less riding is the most common violation. It accounts for 81,480 challans, more than twice the next category, parking violations (35,070). Disobeying the orders of an authority came third with 30,720. Together, these three make up nearly 1.5 lakh challans, or about 16% of all challans added during the campaign.

• Commercial vehicles lead. Of the challans with vehicle details recorded, goods carriers had the most: 16,810, or about 36%. Cars followed with 12,270 (26%), then two-wheelers with 8,770 (19%).

• Uttar Pradesh dominates, but Guwahati breaks in. Among challans that could be traced to a city, Noida had the most (19,620), followed by Ghaziabad (14,120). Together, the two NCR cities account for more than one in five traced challans. Guwahati is third with 12,440, ahead of Lucknow (10,610) and Varanasi (7,990). It is the only city outside Uttar Pradesh in the top five.
   

A road-safety signal;
The helmet finding goes beyond fines. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Road Accidents in India 2023 report, 54,568 two-wheeler riders who were not wearing helmets died in road accidents that year. Overall, 41% of road accident victims were not using a helmet or seat belt.

Mr. Arvind Singhatiya, Co-founder and CEO, Challanwala
 

Mr. Arvind Singhatiya, Co-founder and CEO, Challanwala, said, “Diwali is about clearing out the old before welcoming the new, and we wanted to bring that spirit to something most of us keep putting off: pending traffic challans. Over 9.3 lakh challans came to light in a single festive window, which shows how many people carry fines they don’t know about or keep postponing. With challan gifting, we wanted to offer a different kind of Diwali gift: a clean record.”
 

He added, “The data is also a road-safety reminder. Riding without a helmet tops the list by a wide margin, and that is not just a fine. It is a risk to life. We hope that settling a challan also prompts people to change the behaviour behind it. Given the response, we are extending the offer until New Year, so more families can start 2027 without pending challans.”
 

About Challanwala
Challanwala is a Gurugram-based start up platform that lets vehicle owners check, settle and resolve traffic challans online. Founded in December 2023, the platform offers vehicle insurance, pre-owned vehicle history reports, PUC (pollution) certificate services and vehicle service records, so owners can manage their vehicle’s paperwork in one place.

India’s rich food heritage is set to take centre stage internationally as Chef Aanal Kotak, Celebrity Chef, Entrepreneur and Co-founder of TSK Hospitality LLP, prepares to represent the country at the 10th World Tapas Championship (Concurso Mundial de Tapas), scheduled from November 9–11, 2026, in Valladolid, Spain. Recognised as Gujarat’s Youngest Cooking Expert and known for her association with MasterChef India Season 7 as a celebrity guest, Aanal’s participation marks a significant milestone for India’s presence at the championship. The international competition brings together chefs from across the world to showcase their interpretations of tapas, a traditional Spanish culinary format, and compete for the title of the World’s Best Tapa. Taking with her Amdavad ni Kachori, an iconic preparation rooted in Gujarat’s food culture, she will introduce a distinctive regional Indian speciality to an international audience.

Chef Aanal Kotak_Celebrity Chef Entrepreneur & Co-founder of TSK Hospitality LLP

Beyond the competition, Chef Aanal’s representation carries a larger story of India’s food identity reaching beyond its borders. Through Amdavad ni Kachori, she brings together six distinct expressions of Gujarat on a single plate, with Tuver Dal capturing the comfort of Gujarati home cooking, Kadhi representing tradition, Mango Chundo adding the region’s signature sweet-and-sour balance, and Mint bringing freshness, all brought together through the soul of Indian street food. Conceptualised around the connection between Ahmedabad and Valladolid as sister cities, the dish reimagines a traditional Gujarati preparation in a contemporary tapas-style format, creating a bridge between local food traditions and international culinary expression.

Celebrating its tenth edition, the World Tapas Championship is a leading international competition that brings together 16 chefs from across five continents to compete for the title of the World’s Best Tapa. Hosted at the Cúpula del Milenio in Valladolid, Spain, the 2026 edition will feature chefs from countries including Australia, Mexico, the United States, Thailand, South Korea, India and the United Kingdom, presenting their creations before an international jury of distinguished culinary experts. The championship celebrates culinary excellence, bringing together diverse food traditions, innovation and contemporary interpretations of tapas.

Speaking about her participation, Chef Aanal Kotak, Founder, The Secret Kitchen said, “Representing India at the 10th World Tapas Championship is both a tremendous honour and a responsibility that I carry with immense pride. India has an extraordinary culinary legacy, with every region offering its own distinct flavours, techniques and stories. Through Amdavad ni Kachori, I want to take a piece of Gujarat’s food culture to the world and showcase the depth and character of our regional cuisine. For me, this is not just about presenting a dish at an international competition; it is about giving Indian flavours a voice on a global platform and demonstrating that our culinary heritage has a place in conversations shaping the future of world gastronomy.”

As the countdown to the championship begins, all eyes will be on Valladolid as Chef Aanal prepares to take on the international challenge. Her participation marks an exciting chapter in her culinary journey, with the opportunity to make a lasting impression on one of the world’s most prominent culinary competitions.