EasyShiksha, an online education platform operated by EdSpectra Global Private Limited offering certification courses, internships, and university-affiliated programs, today announced the launch of its B2B Partner Program, a referral initiative open to individuals and institutions across India and internationally.

Become a B2B Partner with a Leading EdTech Platform

The program allows educators, career counsellors, alumni networks, coaching institutes, colleges, and companies to refer students to EasyShiksha’s catalog of over 1,500 active courses and earn a commission on resulting enrollments — without taking on any responsibility for course delivery, certification, or student support, which remain entirely EasyShiksha’s own.

A Commission Model Built to Compound
Commission under the program scales with referral volume, starting at 15% for partners referring up to 100 paid students per month and rising to 30% for partners exceeding 1,000 referrals monthly.

The program’s central feature, according to the company, is that commission attribution does not expire after a student’s first purchase. Once a student is linked to a partner’s referral code, any future enrollment that student makes — a second certification, an internship, or a subscription — continues to generate commission for the original referring partner, with no requirement to refer that student again.

“We’ve always believed the best way to reach students isn’t more advertising — it’s people who are already trusted by the students who need us. Building a commission model that pays for the long term, not just the first referral, was our way of actually committing to that belief instead of just stating it,” said Sunil Sharma, CEO, EasyShiksha

Open to Individuals and Institutions Alike
The program is structured to accommodate two categories of partners on identical commercial terms: individuals — such as educators, counsellors, and alumni with an existing network — and institutions, including coaching centres, colleges, placement offices, and companies referring in bulk. Applications are free, and the company states that approved partners typically gain access to their referral dashboard within one to two business days of applying.

Partners are provided with a real-time dashboard showing referral activity, current commission tier, and payout history, along with marketing materials and message templates intended to reduce the effort required to begin referring students.

Availability
The B2B Partner Program is open for applications now, for both India-based and international applicants, with payouts available via bank transfer or PayPal depending on the partner’s location. Full program details, commission tiers, and the application process are available at www.easyshiksha.com/b2b-partners.

About EasyShiksha
EasyShiksha is an online education platform offering certification courses, internship programs, and certifications in association with partner universities, spanning technology, business, and professional-skills subjects. EasyShiksha is operated by EdSpectra Global Private Limited.

Manipal Law School (MLS), a constituent institution of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, felicitated its second-year Law student, Kaziah Liz Mejo, Miss Universe India 2026, in recognition of her remarkable achievement and the pride she has brought to the institution.
 

Kaziah Liz Mejo was honoured for her inspiring journey from the law classroom to the national pageant stage

The felicitation took place during the inauguration of ERAYA’26, the cultural festival of MLS at MAHE Bengaluru, celebrating talent, creativity and culture. Kaziah was honoured for her inspiring journey from the law classroom to the national pageant stage. She is now preparing to represent India at the global Miss Universe competition later this year.

At nineteen, while pursuing her legal education, Kaziah made history as the first woman from Kerala to win the Miss Universe India title. As she prepares to compete on one of the world’s most recognised stages, her journey is a striking example of how ambition can take many forms. Her achievement has brought immense pride to her peers, faculty members and the wider MAHE Bengaluru community.

Currently in the third semester of the BA LLB programme, Kaziah has balanced her academic commitments with her passion for fashion and public engagement. At MLS, she has been an active member of the RUBARU fashion team and is known among her faculty members and peers as a polite, studious and approachable student. Her faculty members also recognise her as a strong team player with excellent communication skills, qualities that have helped her navigate both her academic journey and the competitive world of pageantry.

Reflecting on her journey, Kaziah Liz Mejo said, “My journey has taught me that success is not just about wearing a crown, it is about perseverance, overcoming challenges and continuously striving to become the best version of yourself. As a student of Manipal Law School at MAHE Bengaluru, I have learned the value of resilience, discipline and confidence. I am proud to carry these lessons with me as I represent India on the global stage.”

Speaking at the felicitation, Prof. Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE Bengaluru, said, “A crown brings attention. Character decides what that attention can become. Kaziah’s journey tells every student that confidence is not the absence of uncertainty, it is the decision not to let uncertainty have the final word. Her achievement enlarges the horizon of what the next young woman may permit herself to imagine.”

Commenting on her achievement, Prof. Dr. Sarasu Esther Thomas, Director, Manipal Law School, said, “Manipal Law School is proud of Kaziah’s achievement. She epitomises our law students, studying and playing hard, whether on the sports field, in moot courts or in pageantry.”

Kaziah’s journey challenges the narrow idea that a young person must choose only one version of herself. As a law student, performer, model and public representative, she has pursued her diverse interests with preparation, courage, discipline and a strong sense of purpose. Her achievement reflects the belief that education should give students intellectual confidence and moral courage to realise their potential without limiting their talents to a single field.

For Manipal Law School, the crown represents more than a title. It is a celebration of a student who dared to pursue a dream beyond the conventional boundaries of a law classroom. Her achievement also reflects the spirit of holistic development encouraged at MAHE Bengaluru, where students are given the space to discover their strengths, pursue diverse interests and build confidence alongside their academic and professional journeys.

As Kaziah prepares to represent India internationally, the Manipal Law School and MAHE Bengaluru communities celebrate this significant milestone and extend their best wishes to her for the journey ahead.

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.

As India accelerates its transformation into a digitally empowered nation, industry leaders, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, telecom operators, cybersecurity experts, and technology innovators converged at the Bharat Digital Fraud Prevention Summit 2026 to advance the national agenda of “Digital Swachhata: A National Mission for a Clean Digital Bharat.”
 

Shashi Dharan, Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Law Commission of India, Amit Relan, mFilterIt, A Robert J Ravi, BSNL, Ravada A. Chandra Sekhar IPS, Kerala Police, Subhashish Gupta, HDFC Bank

Organized by Bharat Exhibitions, the summit served as a high-level platform for addressing the growing challenge of digital fraud and strengthening trust in India’s digital ecosystem. The event aimed to foster collaboration between government, industry, financial services, telecom operators, cybersecurity agencies, and citizens to build a secure, resilient, and fraud-resistant Digital Bharat. 

Commenting on the significance of the initiative, Shri Shashi Dharan, Managing Director, Bharat Exhibitions, said: “A clean digital ecosystem is fundamental to India’s digital future. This is a summit not for the Summit’s sake, we take it as a mission, and we have plans to reach out to all.” 
                                                                                                               

Industry leaders and policymakers at the Bharat Digital Fraud Prevention Summit 2026 called for stronger collaboration, innovation, legal safeguards, and customer-centric security measures to combat the growing threat of digital fraud. Speaking at the summit, Amit Relan, CEO & Co-Founder, mFilterIt, stressed that digital trust is the foundation of a thriving digital economy and highlighted the role of advanced technologies and collective action in countering emerging threats. He said, “digital trust is the foundation of a thriving digital economy. By leveraging advanced technology and collective action, we can stay ahead of evolving threats and create a safer digital ecosystem for all.”
 

A. Robert J. Ravi, ITS, CMD, BSNL, noted that robust infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration are critical to strengthening digital trust and securing India’s digital future. “A secure digital Bharat can only be built through collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment to digital trust”, he commented.  

Highlighting the policy perspective, Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Member Secretary, Law Commission of India, emphasized that innovation must be supported by strong laws, effective enforcement, and informed citizens. She stressed, “Combating digital fraud demands a holistic approach that combines strong legal safeguards, technological innovation, and collective responsibility. Together, we can reinforce trust in India’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.”

Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, IPS, Director General of Police & State Police Chief, Kerala, called for vigilance, innovation, and collaboration to address digital fraud while stressing on the fight against digital fraud is strongest when technology, awareness, and law enforcement work together while Subhashish Gupta, Executive Vice President & National Head-Investigations, HDFC Bank, stressed the need for constant vigilance, seamless collaboration, and an unwavering focus on customer security. 

Collectively, the other distinguished speakers from other technical sessions throughout the day, underscored that securing Digital Bharat requires a whole-of-ecosystem approach, bringing together government, law enforcement, industry, telecommunications, financial institutions, and citizens to build a resilient and trusted digital future.

With digital transactions reaching unprecedented levels and cybercriminals adopting increasingly sophisticated tactics, the Bharat Digital Fraud Prevention Summit 2026 provided a timely forum for stakeholders to share insights, showcase innovative solutions, and develop strategies that strengthen Bharat’s defenses against digital fraud. The Summit was partnered by CERT-In, mFilterIt , ANZEN Technologies, and Communications Today. 

The Pant Project, India’s pioneering men’s bottom-wear brand, has been named the “D2C Brand of the Year 2026” by Myntra at its highly coveted brand conclave, Myntra Tech Threads 2026. The recognition celebrates the brand’s growth journey on Myntra, its differentiated approach to men’s bottom-wear and its focus on building stronger consumer connect through product innovation, assortment expansion and faster fulfilment.
 

The Pant Project has been named the “D2C Brand of the Year 2026” by Myntra at Myntra Tech Threads 2026
 

The Pant Project is part of Myntra’s growing ecosystem of 4,000+ homegrown D2C brands spanning overall Men’s Wear, Women’s Western Wear, Women’s Ethnic Wear, Beauty and Personal Care, Footwear, Accessories, Kidswear Loungewear, Home & Lifestyle, Sports and Athleisure and more. The recognition is a testament to customers’ growing affinity towards innovation in pants which The Pant Project’s has been able to address.

 

Founded in 2020 by brothers Dhruv Toshniwal and Udit Toshniwal, The Pant Project was built to solve a simple yet massive problem in the Men’s Wear segment: The Indian menswear market, as per industry reports, valued at USD 23.50 billion in 2026, had seen virtually no meaningful innovation in bottom-wear for decades. Most apparel brands invested heavily in top wear while treating pants as an afterthought, leaving Indian men to choose either ill-fitting ready-made options designed as per the western sizing guides or the inconvenience of traditional tailoring. The Pant Project set out to solve this at scale, specialising in custom-made and ready-to-wear pants designed specifically for Indian body types. Their mission statement is to blend traditional tailoring knowledge with modern technology to deliver “made-for-me” comfort through a seamless experience.

 

Specialising in custom-made and ready-to-wear pants for Indian men, the brand has 300+ SKUs across formal trousers, chinos, jeans, cargos, shorts, power-stretch knit pants, linen trousers, casual wear and athleisure.

 

The brand’s growth trajectory has been one of the most compelling in India’s D2C ecosystem. From Rs. 1 crore in its first year of operations (FY2020-21) to Rs. 80 crore in FY2025-26, The Pant Project has scaled 80x so far. It is projecting a revenue of Rs. 160 crore in FY2026-27.

 

Dhruv Toshniwal, Founder & CEO, The Pant Project said, “Being recognised as the D2C Brand of the Year by Myntra, is a significant milestone for us. Our journey on Myntra has been built around a clear focus on reaching new-to-brand customers, ensuring strong availability across our core products, leveraging M-now for faster delivery, and using the platform to launch differentiated products that create new demand. We have grown over 10x on Myntra over the last two years, and the platform has played an important role in helping us scale our reach and build a strong consumer franchise.”

 

Sukita Tapadia, CMO and Head of E-commerce, The Pant Project said “Myntra has been an incredible partner in our journey of building The Pant Project into a leading bottom-wear brand. What makes the partnership particularly valuable is the ability to combine scale with innovation and speed. We have been able to use the platform to introduce differentiated products such as Malai Pants and Inklock No Fade Jeans. Jeans have emerged as a particularly exciting growth opportunity for us, and we are looking forward to investing further in the category through newness, innovation and a wider assortment. This recognition reinforces our belief in the opportunity ahead and our ambition to continue building the category with Myntra.”

About The Pant Project

The Pant Project is a D2C custom-made and ready-to-wear omnichannel brand, founded in 2020 by Dhruv and Udit Toshniwal. With over 50 years of family expertise in textiles, Dhruv, a Wharton finance graduate, manages business operations, while Udit, from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, drives the creative vision. Offering formal wear, denims, chinos, cargo pants, and more, the brand ensures every pair is expertly tailored from the finest materials to deliver intuitive fits, smart performance, and effortless confidence. With great consideration for details, The Pant Project appeals to discerning individuals who value quality, invest in themselves and live intentionally. The brand’s commitment to quality and a seamless shopping experience across online and offline channels ensures every customer finds their perfect fit.

Visit www.thepantproject.com to know more about the brand.

S&P Global Energy, a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) providing a comprehensive view of global energy and commodities markets, will host Horizons Clean Energy Expansion India 2026 on September 24-25 in New Delhi. The event will convene more than 200 policymakers, industry leaders and clean energy experts to explore practical steps to scale India’s clean energy economy.
 

Formerly known as World Hydrogen India, the flagship event reflects the expanding scope and interconnected nature of India’s energy transition. Its broader focus recognises growing links between hydrogen, renewable power, industrial decarbonisation, infrastructure, shipping, mobility, manufacturing, investment and international trade.
 

Over two days, representatives from government, industry, finance and technology will examine how India can translate its clean energy ambitions into commercially viable, scalable projects and strengthen its position in global clean energy trade. Key discussion areas include:
 

• Project bankability and demand creation

• Infrastructure and technology deployment

• Domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience

• International market access
   

India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission has established a foundation for the domestic hydrogen economy, with incentives supporting 862,000 metric tonnes per year of green hydrogen production capacity and 3,000 MW per year of electrolyser manufacturing capacity. As of February 2026, approximately 8,000 metric tonnes per year of green hydrogen production capacity had been commissioned, against India’s target of 5 million metric tonnes per year by 2030.
 

As the market develops, focus is shifting from policy formation to execution. Scaling the sector will require competitive renewable power, dependable offtake markets, enabling infrastructure, greater access to capital, stronger domestic supply chains and closer links between Indian projects and international customers.
 

“India’s clean energy transition is entering a decisive phase where execution, investment and international collaboration will determine success,” said Matthew Hodgkinson, Senior Analyst, Hydrogen, S&P Global Energy. “Horizons Clean Energy Expansion India 2026 brings together policy, commercial and technological perspectives needed to move projects from development to operation and strengthen India’s position in global clean energy trade.”
 

Government perspectives will form part of the broader industry dialogue, with expected speakers including Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy; Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; and Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel, Gujarat’s Minister of Energy and Petrochemicals.

Stride School of Business has concluded ASCENT ’26, its flagship orientation, formally welcoming the inaugural Class of 2029 across its four campuses in Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Pune and Jaipur. Over three days, students and their families met the founders, faculty and industry practitioners, and got their first taste of the AI-first approach that runs through the three-year undergraduate programme.

Welcoming the inaugural Class of 2029

Two things anchored the orientation: a hands-on AI session that ran identically at all four campuses, and a guest programme of senior industry practitioners built city by city. Students at every campus began their degree having done the same practical work, with the same tools, in the same week.

The hands-on session was led by Priteesh Joshi, Associate Director, AI Learning, Stride School of Business, and put students to work across NotebookLM, Gamma and Gemini Canvas. They researched a topic and turned the output into images, mind maps, a video, a podcast and a set of quizzes. Then came the real test: building a presentation on the same brief across Claude, Gemini and Gamma, presenting it to the class, and arguing out which tool suited which task. At Delhi NCR, students also built a working website inside the session. In Jaipur, students built an app, then shot, edited and presented vlogs about their first days at the school. Priteesh Joshi also walked each batch through the three-year academic plan, laying out what each year covers and how AI threads through it.

On the ground, the guest programme ran campus by campus. At Delhi NCR, Mayank Agarwal, VP/Head of Marketing at The Man Company (a part of Emami Group), spoke in a fireside conversation on building a D2C brand from scratch, including which parts of brand-building AI has already taken over. Aditya Malhotra, DGM Product at Airtel Digital, ran a masterclass on how product teams decide whether to pursue or kill an idea.

Pune’s fireside conversation, “The Face of Business and Entrepreneurship Changing with the Evolution of AI,” featured Sudarshan Mahabal, AI and Technology Leader at Xoriant, and Prayag Dwivedi, Community Manager at Emergent. Girish Chhabra, VP and Global Practice Head for Data and AI at Atos, led a masterclass on agentic AI and set students an assignment to complete afterward. Jayesh Atal, Strategy, Marketing and Operations at KPIT, made the case for why AI won’t replace them, and walked through the practical reasoning behind it.

Bangalore brought together Aastha Shree, Vice President at Goldman Sachs, and Laveena Lobo, Partner at Insist Consulting, for a fireside chat on AI, careers, leadership and the changing nature of work in a world of AI. Uttaran Nayak, Co-Founder & CEO of Alchemyst AI, led a masterclass asking “What does a business look like when AI is built into everything?” And Gaurav Ranjan, Principal at Prime Venture Partners, joined a fireside chat on entrepreneurship and why investors and venture capital matter to the companies students may one day build.

At Jaipur, Radhesh Sirohiya, Co-Founder of Shyle, joined a fireside conversation on entrepreneurship and e-commerce, fielding questions on the practical challenges of building a business.

The four campuses sit at HiTech Group of Institutions (Delhi NCR), Rathinam School of Business (Bangalore), Ajeenkya DY Patil University (Pune) and Jagannath University (Jaipur). Students earn their BBA from the partner institution at each campus, while the programme, curriculum and learning model belong to Stride School of Business.

Every student received a personal Apple MacBook in their welcome kit on day one. Each campus carries an identical set of spaces: AI Launchpad, Collab Zone, Podcast Studio, Pitch Tank, AI Forum and Smart Classrooms, used for classes, project work, presentations and collaboration.

Piyush Nangru, Founder, Stride School of Business, said, “A school’s first batch usually takes years to build. Ours came together in four cities at the same time, around a straightforward argument: business education should now be taught with AI inside the work, not alongside it. The appetite for that has moved faster than the sector has. ASCENT ’26 was built to match it, which is why the same programme ran in all four cities in the same week rather than as four separate welcomes.”

Anmol Jain, Founding Director, Stride School of Business, said, “We could have spent three days telling this batch what Stride School of Business is. We decided to show them instead. They sat with people whose own jobs are being changed by AI and then we put them in front of the same tools and asked them to make something. By the third day every student had built something of their own. For a first batch, in a first week, that is exactly the beginning we wanted them to have.”

With ASCENT ’26 behind them, the Class of 2029 begins a three-year programme where AI runs alongside business fundamentals, practical projects and industry exposure, as part of how students learn concepts, develop ideas and solve problems, not a layer on top of it.

About Stride School of Business
Stride School of Business is an AI-first undergraduate business school with campuses in Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Pune and Jaipur. Its three-year programme is built around a learning-by-doing model combining business fundamentals, AI, practical projects and industry exposure. Students earn an AICTE-approved and UGC-recognised BBA degree from the partner institution at their campus.

In-Solutions Global (ISG), a Mumbai-headquartered payment technology company serving banks and financial institutions across India, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, APAC and Europe, in collaboration with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, recently announced at Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 the launch of Visa Payment Passkey, enabling cardholders to authenticate online and in-app payments using device biometrics or a device PIN instead of one-time passwords (OTPs).. ISG and Visa presented the capability live on the ISG stage at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Representatives from In-Solutions Global Ltd, Visa, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India, and Indian Overseas bank

With Visa Payment Passkey, banks and merchants on ISG’s payments platform can offer FIDO-based, phishing-resistant authentication for card-not-present transactions — replacing SMS OTPs with a faster sign-in built directly into the checkout flow. The approach is designed to reduce fraud and cart abandonment while aligning with card-network and regulatory direction on strong customer authentication. 

“Visa Payment Passkey gives control of the payment back in the cardholder’s hands with additional benefits of higher success ratios and stronger security. That’s what builds trust and trust is what drives inclusion. It’s the first step into agentic AI in payments, enabling a truly seamless digital payments journey,” said Mrs. Adelia Castelino, Co-Founder & Managing Director, In-Solutions Global (ISG).

“Visa is proud to partner with ISG to enable Visa Payment Passkey for leading issuers in India, advancing a more secure, seamless and trusted digital payments experience. As commerce evolves, this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to embedding trust at the core of every transaction and helping issuers, merchants and consumers embrace the next generation of digital payments with confidence,” said Rishi Chhabra, Country Manager, India, Visa.

The launch reflects a broader industry shift away from OTPs toward passkey — a FIDO Alliance and W3C WebAuthn-based standard already adopted across major platforms — as networks and regulators push for stronger, more usable authentication in digital commerce. For a payments technology provider operating switches, gateways, issuing and acquiring platforms under standards such as PCI DSS and ISO 27001, embedding passkey support directly into the checkout journey lets issuing banks modernise authentication without rebuilding their existing infrastructure.

For ISG, Visa Payment Passkey builds on capabilities already embedded across its issuing and acquiring platforms — including tokenisation and existing authentication tooling — extending that foundation to FIDO Alliance-based passkey standards. The shift is designed to lift authentication success ratios and ease adoption for cardholders and merchants alike, while laying the groundwork for the next phase of digital commerce, in which software agents may initiate payments on a customer’s behalf within secure, verifiable authentication frameworks. ISG and Visa see passkey as an early step toward safe, secure agentic payments — pairing Visa’s network capabilities with ISG’s payments infrastructure to advance security and customer experience together, as complementary priorities rather than a trade-off.

ISG and Visa intend to share further detail on rollout timelines and participating issuers. Consistent with ISG’s practice, the companies are highlighting capabilities that are live or in confirmed delivery. Participating issuers include Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Overseas Bank and Indian Bank.

About In-Solutions Global (ISG)
In-Solutions Global (ISG) is a global payments technology and infrastructure company, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Mumbai, India. ISG enables banks, fintechs, merchants, corporates and governments with secure, scalable solutions across the payments value chain, spanning issuing, acquiring, reconciliation, payment orchestration, fraud and risk management, card management, digital payments and cross-border payments. With a growing presence across India, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, APAC and Europe, ISG combines deep payments expertise with regulatory capabilities and technology innovation. In India, ISG is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Payment Aggregator for Online, Physical/Offline and Cross-Border payments, and also holds a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) authorisation. Through its presence in GIFT City, Gujarat, and its IFSCA licence, ISG is also building capabilities to serve international and cross-border payment requirements. ISG is a recognised Technology Service Provider for RuPay, Visa and Mastercard and is certified to PCI DSS, PCI SSF, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701. Learn more at www.insolutionsglobal.com.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, has announced a new social welfare initiative to construct and donate houses for economically disadvantaged families, whose children study in government Kannada-medium schools across Udupi district. The initiative was launched on 17 September 2026 to mark the 91st birthday of Dr Ramdas M. Pai, Padma Bhushan Awardee, the esteemed Chancellor of MAHE.

Dr Ranjan R. Pai, President, MAHE Trust, with the beneficiary family at the launch of the housing initiative for families of economically weaker students in Manipal

MAHE has joined hands with Yakshagana Kalaranga to construct 50 affordable homes for economically disadvantaged families of deserving students across Udupi district in next five years.

The project reflects MAHE’s commitment to extending its charitable activities beyond education and to supporting the well-being of deserving members of the community. The initiative will identify eligible beneficiaries based on defined criteria, with priority given to economically weaker families of deserving students. MAHE will oversee the construction of the houses and hand over the completed homes to the selected beneficiaries without any financial burden on them.

Launching the initiative, Dr. Ranjan R. Pai, President of MAHE Trust, reaffirmed MAHE’s commitment to inclusive community development through social impact initiatives. To mark the launch, house construction confirmation letters were handed over to two families on Thursday.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, “Education can transform lives, but meaningful social development also requires us to address the basic needs that enable families to live with dignity and security. Through this initiative, the MAHE seeks to extend its commitment to social responsibility by providing deserving families with a safe, permanent home.”

The initiative reflects the MAHE’s continuing commitment to community welfare and inclusive development, extending its charitable efforts beyond education to address the essential needs of economically disadvantaged families.

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3^rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.

Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, today announced the Cleft and Craniofacial Centre, Sree Balaji Medical College Hospital & Dr Rela Medical Centre, Chennai as the Comprehensive Cleft Care Reference Centre (CCRC) strengthening its efforts to advance access to high-quality, multidisciplinary cleft care while building clinical capacity through training, research and knowledge sharing.

Smile Train India Launches Comprehensive Cleft Care Reference Centre at Dr. Rela Institute, Chennai

The CCRC builds on one of the earliest multidisciplinary cleft care programs established in 2001 with Smile Train partnership in India. This program, led by Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, has been functioning in the new state-of-the-art facility at the Sree Balaji Medical College Hospital & Dr Rela Medical Centre since 2022 with a highly experienced multidisciplinary team which provides care across different stages of a patient’s cleft journey.

The program brings together expertise across cleft surgery, including complex procedures such as orthognathic surgery (OGS), velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) surgery and alveolar bone grafting (ABG), as well as nutrition, oral health, orthodontics, speech and ENT care. These clinical services support both patient care and the development of cleft care professionals.

Through the CCRC, Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre will further strengthen its focus on sharing clinical expertise, strengthening multidisciplinary practices and building capacity among healthcare professionals. The academic/ university affiliation to Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research further strengthens its role as a referral, research and resource hub for cleft care professionals from India and abroad.

The inauguration comes as Smile Train marks 25+ years of supporting cleft care in India. Through its partnerships with hospitals and local medical professionals, Smile Train has worked to expand access to free, safe and quality cleft care while strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals to provide treatment within their own communities.

Susannah Schaefer, President & CEO, Smile Train, said, “The launch of the Comprehensive Cleft Care Reference Centre at Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre reflects our commitment to building sustainable models of care that extend beyond individual treatment. By bringing comprehensive clinical expertise together with training, research and knowledge sharing, centres such as this can strengthen the broader cleft care ecosystem. This is another important step by Smile Train towards ensuring that people with clefts have access to quality care throughout their treatment journey.”

Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President & Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train, said, “Cleft care has evolved significantly in India, with greater recognition that surgery is only one part of a much longer care journey. The CCRC at Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre brings together surgery, nutrition, speech, orthodontics, oral health and ENT care, alongside training and research. By building on an already strong programme, the centre can serve as an important platform for strengthening referral networks, developing cleft professionals and advancing comprehensive cleft care across the region.”

Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, Plastic Surgeon and Director, Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre, said, “Every person with a cleft has a different care journey, often requiring multiple interventions and specialists at different stages of growth and development. Over the years, we have built a multidisciplinary programme that allows these specialists to work together around the patient’s needs, including managing complex cleft conditions. The inauguration of the CCRC will enable us to build further on this work, strengthen referral care and expand our contribution to training, research and knowledge sharing.”

The Comprehensive Cleft Care Reference Centre will serve as a platform for high-quality multidisciplinary cleft care while extending its expertise through referrals, professional training, research and knowledge exchange. By combining comprehensive patient care with capacity building, the centre aims to strengthen cleft care beyond the institution itself.

Smile Train’s sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training, funding and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care within their communities. Over the past 25 years, Smile Train has supported more than 800,000 cleft surgeries in India, working with a network of partner hospitals and medical professionals across the country.

About Smile Train India

For cleft treatment-related queries or support, please call our toll-free helpline number: 1800 103 8301.

For more information, please visit www.smiletrainindia.org.

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, through its Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development, hosted the Data, Governance & the SDGs: A Sustainability Symposium at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, bringing together senior government leaders, industry executives, global institutions, researchers and policymakers to explore how data and artificial intelligence can accelerate India’s sustainable development agenda. The symposium marked the launch of three major knowledge initiatives the book Data Science for Sustainable Development Goals: Indian Case Studies, an ESG whitepaper developed with Development Alternatives and Pierag Consulting, and an open-source Sustainability Index developed by the institute’s Data Lab using satellite nightlight data, GHG emissions data and soil moisture data to map economic activity and regional development.

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon hosts the Data, Governance & the SDGs: A Sustainability Symposium in New Delhi

The symposium was inaugurated by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India; Ms. Eunsong Kim, Programme Specialist and Chief of Sector for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO; and Ms. Anna Roy, Senior Advisor & Head, Women Entrepreneurship Programme, NITI Aayog.

Opening the symposium, Dr. Saurabh Garg emphasised the importance of making data more timely, granular and interoperable for effective policymaking. “If data is too dated, no one wants to use it. It’s fresh data that everyone wants to use,” he said, adding that better data systems would be critical to making development decisions more targeted and effective as India works towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

Ms. Eunsong Kim emphasised the need to ensure that technological progress contributes to inclusive and sustainable development. “The question before us is not simply how much AI we can develop, but whether and how AI can accelerate progress towards the SDGs without reproducing and deepening existing inequalities,” she said.

The symposium also marked the launch of Data Science for Sustainable Development Goals: Indian Case Studies, edited by Dr. Bappaditya Mukhopadhyay, Professor, Analytics, Great Lakes Gurgaon, and Dr. Avik Sarkar, Visiting Faculty & Senior Researcher, ISB. The book brings together Indian case studies demonstrating how data science can be applied to address development challenges and support evidence-based decision-making.

The event featured a session on data-driven governance, with experts from government, academia, philanthropy and civil society examining how data can improve public policy and service delivery. Ms. Anna Roy highlighted the need to make public data more accessible and usable, saying, “Data is a whole ecosystem. We get enamoured by the platforms and the nice tools, but we forget the tragedy of data collection and the drudgery of maintaining quality.”

The newly launched ESG whitepaper is based on a closed-door CXO roundtable held on May 22, 2026, on International Biodiversity Day, in collaboration with Development Alternatives and knowledge partner Pierag Consulting. The subsequent ESG fireside chat, moderated by Dr. Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya, Great Lakes Gurgaon, brought together Kunwar Himmat Singh, Director – Corporate Affairs, ESG & CSR, Nestle India, and E. Nagachandran, Deputy Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The discussion examined the evolution of ESG beyond compliance and disclosure, with a focus on business resilience, responsible governance, sector-specific approaches and long-term value creation.

Kunwar Himmat Singh highlighted the growing business relevance of ESG, saying, “ESG is no longer a gesture of compliance. It is a business resilience agenda, it is about the very survival of an organization.” E. Nagachandran emphasised the need for a calibrated regulatory approach, noting, “You cannot have the same set of guidelines governing a company that manufactures plastic and one that mines coal.”

Dr. Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya, Great Lakes Gurgaon, said: “The discussion reinforces the need for multiple actors to work in partnership national and civil society organisations, ministries and corporates so that we can work together in synergy to achieve these outcomes.”

The Sustainability Index, developed by the Great Lakes Gurgaon Data Lab, uses satellite data to map three indicators – nightlight, GHG emissions and soil moisture – with economic activity and regional development across India. The underlying datasets and code have been made publicly available, enabling researchers and users to analyse other environmental indicators and contribute to the repository.

The symposium concluded with a panel on “Importance of Data in Driving Sustainability,” bringing together experts from academia, industry, government affairs and the energy and climate sector to discuss how reliable data can strengthen sustainability measurement and decision-making.

Through the symposium and its research initiatives, Great Lakes Gurgaon continues to build collaboration between academia, government and industry to apply data and technology to real-world sustainability and development challenges.

About Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon
Established in 2010, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon is a premier business school dedicated to shaping business-ready leaders for the dynamic corporate landscape. In 2019, Great Lakes Gurgaon received the AMBA UK accreditation and in 2026 it received the AACSB US accreditation – making it the youngest B-school in India to receive this ‘double crown’ of global accreditations. The institute has swiftly risen to prominence by being the first in India to introduce full-time specializations in Analytics, AI, and Machine Learning, preparing professionals to lead effectively in today’s evolving global business environment.

Learn more at www.greatlakes.edu.in./gurgaon.