Bangalore Watch Company™, an Indian luxury watch brand, has entered the 2026 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) – widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the world of watchmaking.

Bangalore Watch Company – Peninsula Carbon

Following its debut at the GPHG in 2025, the brand returns this year with the Peninsula Carbon, introducing a world-first material innovation in mechanical watchmaking.

A first in the world, the Peninsula Carbon uses carbon captured from our atmosphere as the dial material. The brand has developed a proprietary material called ReforgeCarbon™ using industrial waste and atmospheric pollutants.

“This is a proud milestone for us,” said Nirupesh Joshi, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company. “Last year, our participation at the GPHG was an important moment for Indian watchmaking. We were the first independent watch brand from India to be on the list. Returning for a second consecutive year is both encouraging and humbling. It reinforces our belief that contemporary stories from India can find appreciation around the world, when paired with thoughtful design and world-class craftsmanship.”

Inspired by India’s rapidly growing cities, the Peninsula Carbon explores the relationship between human ambition, urban growth, and the traces they leave behind. Through ReforgeCarbon™, the watch offers a distinctly contemporary perspective on modern India.

In addition to the innovative dial material, the watch carries a 200 Meter water-tight case, a Swiss automatic movement for high-accuracy, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, making it fit for the same standards that would apply for luxury Swiss watchmaking.

The watch also features a display inspired by the Air Quality Index (AQI), replacing the traditional minute track with a scale that serves as a subtle reminder of the relationship between urban growth and its consequences.

“We have always believed that meaningful watchmaking begins with meaningful stories,” said Mercy Amalraj, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company. “The Peninsula Carbon reflects a subject that is relevant not just to India, but to the world. By combining material innovation with a distinctly Indian perspective, we wanted to create a watch that remains true to our vision of bringing modern storytelling to high-quality watchmaking.”

Established in Geneva, Switzerland, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève is considered the watch industry’s highest distinction. Each year, an international jury evaluates watches from some of the world’s most respected brands, recognizing excellence in design, innovation, engineering, and craftsmanship.

“India is becoming an increasingly important market for luxury watches,” added Joshi. “I believe India should not only be viewed as a consumer of luxury watches, but also as a place capable of producing brands that can be appreciated globally for our storytelling, design, and craftsmanship. This is perhaps the finest example of that thesis.”

About Bangalore Watch Company™
Founded in 2018, Bangalore Watch Company™ creates high-quality mechanical watches that tell stories of a 21st-century India. Drawing inspiration from Aviation, Cricket, Space, and the Great Outdoors, each collection captures modern Indian narratives that go far beyond stereotypes.

With several firsts to its name including watches made from recovered fighter planes and aircraft carrier materials, India’s first watch qualified for Spaceflight, and a proprietary Cerasteel™ material that is a fusion of Steel and Ceramic, the brand blends storytelling with technical innovation and contemporary design. Recognised by leading global publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Hodinkee for its originality and craftsmanship, Bangalore Watch Company™ stands at the forefront of modern Indian watchmaking.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj who left their tech careers overseas to pursue a passion for modern Indian storytelling, the brand has built a quiet but enthusiastic following with customers in over 30 countries.

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) has successfully concluded its three-day Orientation Programme for the newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students of the 2026–27 academic session, recording a remarkable footfall of over 15,000, including students and their parents. Conducted through 13 meticulously planned sessions, the programme witnessed participation from students representing all the States and Union Territories of India, reaffirming MUJ’s position as one of the country’s leading destinations for multidisciplinary higher education.

President Dr N N Sharma addressing the new students and their parents

The orientation programme, organised across various faculties and schools of the University, provided the incoming students and their families with a comprehensive introduction to MUJ’s academic ecosystem, research culture, innovation-driven learning environment, global collaborations, student support services, campus life, and future-ready educational framework.

The various orientation sessions were addressed by President, Manipal University Jaipur, Prof. (Dr.) N. N. Sharma; Registrar, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Soni; Provost, Prof. (Dr.) Nitu Bhatnagar; Dean, Faculty of Science, Technology and Architecture (FoSTA), Prof. Kuldip Singh Sangwan; Dean, Faculty of Management, Commerce & Arts (FoMCA), Prof. Brajesh Kumar; Dean, Faculty of Law (FoL), Prof. Vijay Laxmi Sharma; Dean, Student Welfare, Prof. Madhura Yadav and Associate Dean, School of Arts, Dr. Trishu Sharma. Through their addresses, they welcomed the freshers to the MUJ family and encouraged them to embrace academic excellence, innovation, interdisciplinary learning, ethical values, and holistic development while making the most of the opportunities available on campus.

Addressing the students, President Prof. (Dr.) N. N. Sharma urged them to make the best use of the opportunities available at the University and uphold the values envisioned by the University’s founder, Late Dr. T.M.A. Pai. He encouraged students to cultivate curiosity, discipline, innovation, and lifelong learning while preparing themselves to become responsible global citizens. Dr. Sharma Motivated students through storytelling and sharing anecdotes from life experience. He also highlighted MUJ’s growing academic excellence reflected in national and international rankings, advanced research facilities, AI-enabled learning ecosystem, Cyber Labs, AR/VR laboratories, industry partnerships, and global academic collaborations.

The orientation programme featured dedicated sessions for students from the Faculty of Science, Technology and Architecture (FoSTA), Faculty of Management, Commerce & Arts (FoMCA), Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Health Sciences. Students enrolled in engineering, computer science, architecture, biological sciences, management, commerce, economics, liberal arts, media and communication, fine arts, psychology, law, hotel management, biotechnology, and several postgraduate programmes participated in programme-specific sessions designed to familiarise them with their academic disciplines and future learning pathways.

Besides introducing students to the University’s academic regulations, examination system, research opportunities, innovation ecosystem, entrepreneurship initiatives, placement support, and student welfare services, the sessions also highlighted MUJ’s emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary education and holistic development.

Following the successful completion of the Orientation Programme, the University commenced its Departmental Induction Programme on Monday to facilitate students’ transition into their respective academic departments. The induction program will continue from 20th to 24th July 2026.

During the induction sessions, students were welcomed by the Heads of Departments, Deans, programme coordinators, and faculty members, who introduced them to the academic structure, curriculum framework, credit system, departmental regulations, laboratories, studios, research facilities, innovation centres, mentorship programmes, and the various academic and co-curricular opportunities available within their disciplines.

The induction programme also enabled students to interact closely with faculty members, understand departmental expectations, explore research and project opportunities, and become acquainted with the learning environment that will shape their academic and professional journey over the coming years.

Speaking on the successful completion of the orientation programme, University officials noted that the overwhelming participation of students and parents from across the country reflects the growing trust reposed in Manipal University Jaipur as a premier institution of higher education. They added that the University’s integrated orientation and induction model has been carefully designed to ensure that every student experiences a smooth transition into university life while becoming part of an academically enriching, research-oriented, and student-centric environment.

With the successful conclusion of the three-day orientation and the commencement of departmental induction programmes, Manipal University Jaipur has formally welcomed the newest members of its academic community. As the academic session gathers momentum, the University looks forward to empowering the 2026–27 batch with world-class education, cutting-edge research opportunities, industry engagement, innovation-driven learning, and holistic development, preparing them to emerge as competent professionals, visionary leaders, and socially responsible citizens.

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

Galgotias University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Felix Hospital, Greater Noida, to strengthen clinical education and skill development for students of the School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS) and the School of Nursing.

Felix Hospital runs two NABH-accredited multispecialty hospitals in Greater Noida, with a combined capacity of 400 beds. Under the partnership, students will receive structured clinical exposure, compulsory internships, competency-based education, and hands-on training with advanced medical technologies, along with practical experience in NABH quality standards, patient-safety protocols, and professional healthcare practice.

Galgotias University’s state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab and optometry lab give students hands-on mastery of clinical skills before they enter hospital practice

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, said, “Healthcare education is complete only when classroom learning meets the realities of patient care. Our students first master their skills in our cutting-edge nursing simulation lab, and this partnership with Felix Hospital now takes them from simulation to the bedside, giving our allied health and nursing students the clinical immersion they need, in a NABH-accredited environment, to graduate as confident, compassionate professionals ready to serve from day one.”

The collaboration spans the full breadth of the University’s healthcare programmes. At SAHS, students of Physiotherapy, Cardiovascular Therapy, Laboratory Sciences, Optometry, and Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology will gain clinical exposure in their respective specialties at a working multispecialty hospital, complementing the school’s on-campus facilities such as electrotherapy labs and its outpatient department.

For the School of Nursing, the partnership strengthens the clinical rotations that are central to its B.Sc. Nursing programme, a four-year degree recognized by the Indian Nursing Council and the Uttar Pradesh State Medical Faculty. Actual clinical experience at Felix will build directly on the University’s cutting-edge nursing simulation lab, where students first master clinical procedures and emergency response on advanced mannequins in a safe, controlled setting before applying those skills at the bedside with real patients.

Working under experienced clinicians, technologists, and nurses, students will develop clinical competencies aligned with the curriculum prescribed by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions.

Beyond clinical training, the collaboration will foster interdisciplinary learning, joint research, workshops, and continuing professional education, helping students connect classroom and laboratory learning with real-world healthcare delivery and develop the technical, ethical, and interpersonal skills that modern clinical practice demands.

The MoU adds to the University’s growing engagement with the region’s healthcare ecosystem. Galgotias University recently upgraded the Community Health Centre at Dadha, Greater Noida, in coordination with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Gautam Buddha Nagar, strengthening its physiotherapy and rehabilitation unit with modern therapy equipment and trained physiotherapy support to improve rural access to care.

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 2027 by Quacquarelli Symonds, Galgotias University was placed in the 1201-1400 global band and ranked 16th among private universities and 46th 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, computer science, semiconductors, business, law, media, design, health sciences, hospitality, liberal education, and emerging interdisciplinary domains. In 2026, students secured more than 5,500 job offers from over 1,250 recruiters. The University has built strong industry and innovation partnerships with organisations including Apple, Infosys, IBM, Intel, Cisco, Tata Technologies, L&T EduTech, Capgemini, and Salesforce, while continuing to strengthen its global academic engagement and startup ecosystem.

With a distinguished legacy spanning more than 30 years, ANHAD Group has earned a reputation for excellence in one of India’s most demanding industries-mining. With operations across India and international markets, the Group has consistently demonstrated precision, resilience, operational excellence, and uncompromising integrity.

ANHAD Group Enters the Delhi-NCR Real Estate Market, Building on a Legacy of Over Three Decades

Today, ANHAD Group marks a significant milestone by entering the Delhi-NCR real estate sector through ANHAD Developers, bringing with it the same values that have defined its success for over three decades.

The Group’s transition into real estate is a natural evolution of its enduring philosophy: building with transparency, creating long-term value, and delivering with unwavering commitment.

Every development by ANHAD Developers will be guided by a customer-first approach, sustainable planning, superior quality, and timely execution.

Leading this vision, Mr. Pramesh Singh, Chairman, ANHAD Group, said: “Gurugram is one of India’s most dynamic and discerning real estate markets, where quality and credibility are valued above all else. Our entry into this sector is driven by a simple yet unwavering commitment – to deliver transparency, uncompromising quality, and projects completed on time. At ANHAD Developers, we aspire to build not just exceptional developments, but lasting trust an enduring relationships with our customers.”

ANHAD Developers aims to create iconic developments distinguished by thoughtful architecture, sustainable design, meticulous planning, and worldclass execution. Every project will reflect the Group’s long-standing philosophy of responsible growth while creating enduring value for customers and stakeholders alike.

Recognising Gurugram as India’s most vibrant luxury real estate destination, ANHAD Developers has established its corporate headquarters at Worldmark, Gurugram, and is assembling a highly experienced leadership team committed to redefining benchmarks in the sector.

As part of its initial growth strategy, the company is developing three flagship projects comprising a luxury residential development, a premium plotted township, and a landmark high-street commercial destination. Together, these projects represent an estimated development value of approximately INR 7,000 crore.

Every ANHAD development will be driven by four uncompromising principles:

• Prime and strategically connected locations

• Exceptional quality and craftsmanship

• Timely delivery with complete transparency

• Long-term value creation for homeowners and investors

With the strength of a trusted legacy and a clear vision for the future, ANHAD Developers is poised to emerge as a distinguished name in Delhi-NCR’s premium real estate landscape -building spaces that inspire confidence, enrich lifestyles, and stand the test of time.

CloudifyOps, an AI Transformation Partner for enterprises, today announced the launch of MIXIMO, an AI-driven cloud migration and modernization platform designed to simplify the full cloud transformation lifecycle, from discovery and assessment to migration and modernization planning and execution.

CloudifyOps | MIXIMO

Built with an AI-first approach, MIXIMO helps organizations understand their infrastructure and applications, map dependencies, and make migration decisions based on real utilization data rather than guesswork. Supporting AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform as both source and target environments, it enables both on-premises-to-cloud and multi-cloud transformation through one platform.

Sushanth Bellapu, Founder and CTO, CloudifyOps / MIXIMO, said, “The industry has long treated cloud migration as a logistics problem. MIXIMO reframes it as an intelligence problem. Built by engineers who have navigated large-scale transformations firsthand, MIXIMO applies AI to understand applications, dependencies, and modernisation opportunities before a single workload moves. The result is predictable outcomes, lower risk, and infrastructure that is truly cloud-native not just cloud-hosted.”

MIXIMO combines automated infrastructure and application discovery, portfolio assessment, dependency mapping, and AI-driven instance and service recommendations in one platform. Discovery supports agent-based, agentless, and repository-based approaches, enabling assessment at scale.

The platform supports three migration strategies: Rehost, Replatform, and Refactor, making it suitable for different cloud transformation journeys. Its tri-mode instance recommendations provide 1-to-1, cost-effective, and high-performance mapping based on actual source utilization. MIXIMO also automatically generates a visual and actionable End State Blueprint for individual workloads, helping teams plan their migration architecture with greater clarity.

“We are not entering the migration tooling market; we are creating the migration intelligence category,” said Vaitheeswaran Krishna Subramanian, CEO, CloudifyOps. “MIXIMO turns years of migration expertise into a platform, making intelligence-led migration available to any engineering team, at any scale.”

MIXIMO is designed for startups, SMBs, and enterprises across healthcare, BFSI, SaaS and technology, e-commerce, logistics, and manufacturing. For organisations with data sovereignty and compliance requirements particularly in BFSI and healthcare MIXIMO supports self-hosted and hybrid LLM deployment, ensuring sensitive infrastructure data remains within the organisation’s own environment.

With MIXIMO, CloudifyOps aims to make cloud transformation more intelligent, predictable and accessible for businesses at every cloud maturity stage.

CloudifyOps is India’s leading AI Transformation Partner, helping enterprises move from manual complexity to autonomy through AI, cloud, and intelligent operations. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bengaluru, with offices in Chennai, Dubai, and the United States, CloudifyOps combines over a decade of mission-critical cloud engineering with purpose-built AI capabilities.

An AWS Advanced Consulting Partner and one of the few organisations in India to hold the AWS AI Services Competency across both Generative AI and Agentic AI, CloudifyOps serves businesses across BFSI, healthcare, SaaS, and enterprise technology sectors in India, the Middle East, and the United States. With a team of over 150 cloud and AI specialists, CloudifyOps delivers AI Transformation, Cloud Transformation and Managed Services.

For more information, cloudifyops.com and miximo.ai.

Salesforce, the #1 Agentic CRM*, today announced SMB Growth Kit, a connected offering for India’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) that brings Agentforce Sales, Slack, and Tableau into one platform designed to meet the needs of fast-growing Indian businesses. This powerful platform helps SMBs replace disconnected tools and apps with a simpler, smarter way to run their business—improving visibility, accelerating collaboration, supporting revenue growth, and going live in four – six weeks.

Agentforce Sales brings structure and visibility to the revenue engine. Instead of relying on spreadsheets, manual updates or one individual to maintain customer records, businesses get a real-time view of every lead, opportunity and pipeline. Automated lead assignment, workflow automation and mobile access help sales teams move faster, while built-in AI capabilities—including opportunity scoring, forecasting and intelligent recommendations—help teams focus on the opportunities that matter most without requiring specialist expertise.

For many SMBs, the biggest challenge isn’t adopting new technology—it’s getting people to use it. That’s where Slack becomes a powerful advantage. Already familiar and loved by many growing businesses, Slack has evolved beyond team messaging to become the “work operating system” where employees collaborate, make decisions and keep work moving. From sales and customer support to HR, IT, operations and external collaboration, teams work together in one place. For smaller businesses, where employees wear multiple hats, every hour saved has an outsized impact on productivity and growth.

Tableau completes the picture by turning business data into actionable insights. Rather than waiting for static reports or manually compiled spreadsheets, founders and business leaders can monitor pipeline health, revenue trends and business performance through live, mobile-friendly dashboards. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes analytics accessible to every business user, while native connectivity with Salesforce provides real-time visibility into sales performance without the complexity of separate data warehouses or extensive integration projects.

Together, Agentforce Sales, Slack and Tableau create a connected operating system for growth—helping Indian SMBs sell smarter, collaborate faster and make confident decisions, all from a single platform that can be deployed in just four-six weeks. The SMB Growth Kit will be available immediately and includes structured onboarding, hands-on setup and post-go-live support. Teams can adopt AI-ready systems without turning implementation into another operational burden. The offering will be delivered in collaboration with select Salesforce reseller partners across India, helping ensure SMB customers receive a consistent onboarding, implementation and go-live experience.

Additional Comments on the News:

Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, Salesforce India, said, “India’s SMBs are moving quickly toward AI, but ambition alone is not enough. Many businesses are investing in AI, but far fewer have implemented it because their customer data, team conversations and business insights are still scattered. SMB Growth Kit gives growing businesses one connected system where sales activity, team conversations and live insights work together — helping teams act with more confidence, fewer blind spots and less guesswork.”

Swaroop Kaja, RVP – Sales, Salesforce India, said, “We launched SMB Growth Kit to give growing businesses one connected way to run sales, collaborate on deals and understand business performance in real time. With Agentforce Sales, Slack and Tableau working together, teams can spend less time chasing updates and more time moving customers forward. That is the immediate value: clearer pipeline, faster decisions and fewer blind spots. As these businesses grow, that connected data foundation also gives them a stronger base for using AI in ways that are trusted, useful and grounded in the reality of their business.”

Availability

SMB Growth Kit is available in India for small and medium businesses, exclusively through select Salesforce reseller partners. Salesforce teams support customers with structured onboarding, hands-on setup and post-go-live support, with businesses designed to be live and operational within four-six weeks of starting.

*Salesforce, the #1 CRM, powered by AI technology and capabilities.

About Salesforce

Salesforce helps organizations of any size become agentic enterprises – integrating humans, agents, apps, and data on a trusted, unified platform to unlock unprecedented growth and innovation.

Visit www.salesforce.com/in/ for more information.

Disclaimer: Pricing and packaging are subject to change. Availability may vary by region and is governed by customer agreements. Customers should base purchasing decisions on products and services currently available.

MediaTek, the world’s leading fabless semiconductor company powering nearly 2 billion connected devices a year, reiterated its focus on the smartphone imaging ecosystem and expanding its edge-to-cloud technology portfolio as it showcased its latest chipset innovations at its flagship MediaTek Tech Day- Beyond the Lens, in New Delhi. Further, the company demonstrated imaging technologies enabled by its MediaTek’s SoCs for flagship smartphones and outlined its broader ‘One MediaTek’ vision spanning automotive, data centres, AI PCs and other connected computing platforms beyond smartphones.
 

Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, India and SEA, MediaTek and Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India
 

Key industry voices, including media representatives, tech analysts, professional photographers, KOLs and OEM stakeholders from, Vivo, Motorola and Xiaomi shared their viewpoints at insightful discussions on the next frontier of imaging technology. These conversations also underscored the overarching One MediaTek vision, a unified strategy showcasing the vast scale of the company’s evolving technological ecosystem and seamlessly connecting intelligent solutions from Edge to Cloud.
 

Speaking at the event, Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, India and SEA, MediaTek, highlighted breakthrough imaging innovations such as 18EV HDR Fusion for extended dynamic range and 4K120 Super EIS for smooth, cinematic capture. He also outlined the brand update, highlighting MediaTek’s continued momentum and leadership in high-performance computing across India’s fast-evolving multi-device ecosystem.
 

“Beyond the Lens” featured dedicated experience zones that showcased MediaTek’s imaging technologies through devices such as the vivo X300 Pro powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, the OPPO Find X9s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s, and the Motorola Edge 70 Pro and the Xiaomi 17T powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500.
 

On the sidelines of the event, Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, India and SEA, MediaTek said, “Smartphone photography continues to shape consumer expectations and with the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 flagship SoC and the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Premium SoC, we are meeting that demand head-on. Equipped with next-generation AI-ISPs, the chipsets elevate computational photography without compromising on power efficiency. At MediaTek, we believe that truly brilliant technology is about more than just creating products, it’s about delivering incredible experiences that positively impact people’s lives. With our ecosystem partners, we continue to deliver innovations that empower users to capture every moment with greater clarity, creativity, and intelligence.”
 

The event also witnessed an interactive panel discussion, titled ‘Who Really Takes the Photo?’, moderated by Rajiv Makhni. The panel brought together Rahul Jhangiani, professional photographer, Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, MediaTek India & SEA, Paigham Danish CTO, Head of Product & GTM, vivo India, Gautam Batra, Associate Director – Product Marketing, Xiaomi India and Shivam Ranjan, Marketing Director – APAC, Motorola Mobility. Each panelist brought a unique perspective to what truly makes a great photo – the chip, the camera hardware, or the person behind the lens. Together, the panelists highlighted how human perspective, advanced camera sensors, and the processing power of the ISP work together to deliver the perfect shot.
 

Additionally, the MediaTek Tech Day also witnessed insightful conversations around the MediaTek roadmap and its latest technologies:

• Latest Flagship & Premium chipsets: Showcased the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s, Dimensity 9500 and Dimensity 8500 SoCs that delivers leadership in AI, imaging, gaming, connectivity and power efficiency.

• One MediaTek – MediaTek’s expansion beyond smartphones into automotive, data centers, AI PCs and more, streamlined its portfolio as it scales across categories: Dimensity for smartphones, Dimensity AX for automotive, and Dimensity CX for compute platforms.

• Automotive Momentum – 20+ partnerships with leading automakers worldwide and 190+ ongoing projects under the Dimensity AX platform.

• Compute Momentum – Demonstrated MediaTek’s growing focus on AI compute platforms and next-generation computing technologies.

• Discussions on the MediaTek’s broader technology roadmap spanning smartphones, connectivity, Imaging capabilities, AI computing, and intelligent edge devices.

MediaTek remains the No. 1 smartphone chipset brand in India, with a 49% market share in Q2, 2026, a position it has now held for 24 consecutive quarters.

The MediaTek Technology Day is an interactive platform to showcase the latest innovations that are reshaping everyday life. ‘Beyond the Lens’ is in tune with MediaTek’s philosophy of making great technology available to help consumers connect seamlessly with the things that shape our daily lives, by enhancing, enriching, and making us smarter and more creative.

DS Group, a leading FMCG conglomerate and multi-business corporation, has launched a comprehensive initiative to address the occupational health risks faced by women farmers due to exposure to agricultural pesticides and chemicals. Moving from awareness to action, the initiative not only educates women farmers about the health risks associated with pesticide exposure but also provides them with access to a practical, culturally relevant protective solution designed specifically for agricultural use. Currently being implemented across seven villages in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, Pali, Katha, Bandpur, Sunehra, Basi, Mavikala and Sankrodh, the initiative combines awareness, preventive healthcare and innovative protection solutions to promote safer farming practices.

DS Group introduces ‘Pallu Protection Equipment’ Awareness Campaign in Uttar Pradesh

As part of the initiative, DS Group has introduced its Pallu Protection Equipment (PPE) filter, an advanced washable nano-fibre filter designed to be stitched into a saree pallu or dupatta, transforming it into a protective barrier during agricultural work. Offering protection against pesticide particles, dust and harmful chemicals, including PM2.5 pollutants, the solution has been developed as a practical and culturally relevant intervention for women engaged in farming activities. The nano-fibre filters, integrated into saree pallus, dupattas and similar coverings, will be made readily available, free of cost, through identified tailor shops, pesticide outlets and chemist stores across the seven villages in Baghpat district.

DS Group introduces ‘Pallu Protection Equipment’ Awareness Campaign in Uttar Pradesh

The ongoing initiative has engaged rural communities through mobile awareness vans, traditional puppet shows, nukkad nataks (street plays in local language), free health check-up camps and door-to-door educational outreach. Conducted with the support of local authorities as well as local communities, the programme has encouraged conversations around the hidden health risks associated with pesticide exposure and the importance of adopting safer agricultural practices. Health camps have offered blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, basic health counselling and the distribution of the PPE protective masks to women farmers. Additionally, every woman participating in the programme has received mirrors and calendars carrying messages that reinforce the importance of safe farming practices.

Mr Rajeev Jain, Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing, DS Group, said, “Women farmers play a vital role in India’s agricultural economy, yet awareness of the occupational health risks they face remains limited. Our field research revealed that the saree pallu and dupatta are often used as informal protective coverings during pesticide-intensive agricultural work, despite offering inadequate protection. This highlights the urgent need for simple, practical and culturally appropriate solutions that women farmers can seamlessly adopt. Through the Pallu Protection Equipment’ Awareness Campaign, DS Group combines awareness with action, providing accessible solutions that can help make agricultural work safer and healthier for women.”

This initiative forms part of DS Group’s broader FarmHER programme, which recognises and supports the contributions of women farmers across India. By making essential health and safety information accessible, practical and culturally relevant, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between awareness and action, empowering women farmers to adopt safer and more sustainable agricultural practices. The PPE kit can also be used by male farmers, as a special version has also been designed that’s integrated into the gamcha (cloth used on the shoulder to wipe sweat/ dust, etc) that the male farmers use.

About DS Group

The DS Group (Dharampal Satyapal Group) is a one of the leading FMCG conglomerates and a Multi-Business Corporation with a strong Indian and International presence. Founded in the year 1929, it is an inspiring and successful business story that blends a remarkable history and legacy with visionary growth. It has an extensive and diverse portfolio with presence in Food and Beverage, Confectionery, Mouth Freshener, Hospitality, Agri, Luxury Retail businesses, and other investments. Catch, Pulse, Pass Pass, Silver Pearls, Ksheer, Rajnigandha, Ovino, L’Opera, Le Marche, Birthright, LuvIt, Chingles, Golmol, Namah are some of the leading brands, the Group proudly shelters today.

As a corporate, DS Group is guided by a clear set of values that are built on a strong foundation of collective good to give back to society and protect the planet. The DS Headquarters has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, under the USGBC (US Green Building Council) existing building O&M (Operation and Maintenance) program version 4.0. The DS Headquarters has also received LEED Zero Carbon Certification, by the USGBC. DS Group has aligned its financial performance with global ESG priorities with the launch of a pioneering Double Materiality Assessment across all businesses. Further demonstrating its environmental leadership, the DS Group has a water positivity index at 1.8 across its business units in 30 locations of India.

For details, log onto www.dsgroup.com.