Marking ten years of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, Bengaluru-based The Association of People with Disability (APD), in partnership with the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), convened Purple Manthan: Decade of Disability Inclusion – Reflecting on the RPwD Act 2016 on February 20, 2026.
 

More than a commemorative milestone, Purple Manthan was positioned as a strategic stock-taking, asking a critical question: Have we moved from rights on paper to inclusion in practice?
 

APD’s Resource Book on Accessibility in Educational Institutions unveiled at Purple Manthan 2026, marking 10 years of the RPwD Act
 

At the heart of the conclave was the launch of APD’s ‘Resource Book on Accessibility in Educational Institutions’, a first-of-its-kind, practice-oriented guide designed to help schools, colleges, and universities embed accessibility across infrastructure, digital systems, pedagogy, and campus life.
 

Developed by APD, the resource book distils over a decade of the organisation’s on-ground implementation experience, policy engagement, and institutional partnerships. It provides institutions with actionable frameworks, checklists, and design pathways to translate statutory mandates into measurable, everyday inclusion.
 

Launching the book, Mrs Manmeet Nanda, Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), said, “The RPwD Act laid the legal foundation for accessibility, but its true impact depends on how consistently and thoughtfully it is implemented on the ground. This resource book is a timely and valuable contribution, offering institutions a clear, practical roadmap to translate policy into everyday practice. By bridging the gap between legislation and lived experience, it has the potential to significantly strengthen inclusive education in India.”
 

Dr N. S. Senthil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, APD, said, “A decade after the RPwD Act, we must shift the conversation from compliance to commitment. Inclusion cannot remain a checklist; it must become a design principle. Through this Resource Book, APD seeks to equip institutions not just to meet legal standards, but to reimagine learning spaces where accessibility is foundational, not an afterthought. Purple Manthan is our call to action for the next decade, one anchored in accountability, collaboration, and measurable change.”
 

Purple Manthan 2026 featured high-level discussions on policy, practice, and innovation, with a strong emphasis on translating rights into real-world outcomes. Three thematic sessions, on Livelihoods, Accessibility, and Governance & Data, explored the structural and intersectional barriers that continue to limit full participation.
 

APD anchored the accessibility-focused session, moderated by Dr Bhumika Modh, Head – Policy Advocacy and Collaborations, APD, which examined the shift from legal mandates to mainstream implementation. The session explored how inclusive design, community-based approaches, and technological innovation can collectively build enabling environments for participation across physical and digital spaces. The conclave concluded with The Manthan, an interactive strategy articulation session led by Prof. Anil Suraj of IIM Bangalore, consolidating cross-sector insights into forward-looking recommendations for the next decade.

With surround view, smart safety systems and strong warranties, the VF 6 helps drivers, especially women, manage India’s roads with a little more ease and a lot more confidence.

With surround view, smart safety systems and strong warranties, the VF 6 helps drivers, especially women, manage India’s roads with a little more ease and a lot more confidence

On a humid Tuesday evening in Chennai, Ananya crawls along Cathedral Road, negotiating what can only be described as a live-action obstacle course. Scooters skim past her mirrors. An auto rickshaw darts in like it owns the lane. A delivery van brakes abruptly, because of course it does.

She taps a button, glances at the 360-degree surround view on her screen, and slides neatly into a tight parking slot outside her daughter’s dance class.

“I used to circle the block three times before parking,” she says. “Now I just park.”

Ananya drives the VinFast VF 6, which was a gift from her husband on their sixth wedding anniversary. For her, the switch was initially just a chance to try something new. But over time, it has become something more, almost as if it were designed for the kind of daily negotiations Indian women drivers make on the road.

Safety In Numbers, And More
In January, the VF 6 earned a full 5-star rating from India’s Bharat NCAP, the country’s official crash test programme, scoring 27.13 out of 32 in Adult Occupant Protection and 44.41 out of 49 in Child Occupant Protection. In side impact tests, it delivered full marks for adult and child occupants.

For many women, safety is not an abstract concept. “If I am driving my six-year-old across the city, I want reassurance that the car is safe,” says Ananya. “Crash ratings matter. A lot.”

The VF 6 backs that up with 7 airbags, including curtain airbags, and a reinforced structure that showed its mettle in the Bharat NCAP frontal impact test.

Safety also means surviving what is outside the car: Delhi’s winter smog. Bengaluru’s construction dust. Mumbai’s humidity. The VF 6 addresses this with a PM1.0 air filter and air ionizer on select variants. It sounds technical, but the effect is immediate. For women driving with children or elderly family members, cabin air quality is part of everyday health management, less coughing, fewer complaints from the back seat.

For the long term, the VF 6 offers a 7 year or 160,000 km vehicle warranty and an 8 year unlimited kilometre battery warranty in Asia markets. Long coverage reduces financial anxiety, especially for first-time EV buyers.

See Everything With 360-Degree View
If one feature comes up again and again, it is the 360-degree Surround View Monitor. 

In dense traffic, spatial awareness is survival. The bird’s eye view stitches together feeds from multiple cameras, showing scooters, stray dogs, low boundary walls, and unpredictable pedestrians. In practical terms, this reduces stress and the likelihood of minor scrapes that turn into major repair bills. Add Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Automatic Emergency Braking on higher variants, and the car quietly compensates for what Indian traffic throws at you. A VF 6 owner may not control the biker who appears out of nowhere, but the car certainly helps level the playing field.

The VF 6 offers selectable drive modes and a steering system tuned to be light at low speeds and stable at higher speeds. In city conditions, that lighter steering reduces fatigue during parking and tight U turns. It also comes with 190 mm ground clearance and a compact 4.2 metre length, a sweet spot for navigating broken roads and narrow lanes without feeling oversized.

Recognition Beyond the Showroom
In December 2025 and early 2026, the VF 6 kept showing up on India’s automotive awards lists, which is usually a good sign that something is working. At the Autocar India Awards 2026, it won “Value for Money Car of the Year,” recognised for its strong balance of pricing, equipment and everyday usability. At the Auto9 Awards 2026, the VF 6 was honoured again for its overall proposition, alongside VinFast’s brand win for “New Entrant of the Year.” More recently, at the Auto Excellence Awards 2026, it secured “Value for Money EV of the Year,” further cementing its reputation as a smart, well-equipped electric SUV at an accessible price point.

These awards, from respected Indian industry programmes, underscore the VF 6’s ability to combine practical appeal with real-world performance and competitive positioning across multiple independent evaluations.

A Shift in Who Is at the Wheel
As the ones who hold up half the sky, women can and should be part of the EV adoption curve, ideally as the ones asking the tough questions at the showroom. In that context, and in line with VinFast’s vision of “EV for all,” the VF 6 does not sideline women. It makes its case not with a single headline feature, but with a combination of safety credentials, 360 degree visibility, adaptive steering, air filtration, and a long warranty that come together as a coherent daily tool.

Ananya sums it up as she pulls out of her parking spot with a quick glance at the surround view.

“I do not feel like I am managing the car,” she says. “I feel like it is helping me manage the road.”

About VinFast
VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses. The company is rapidly expanding its global distribution network and manufacturing capabilities with facilities in Vietnam, India, and planned operations in the United States.

The company’s Thoothukudi facility in Tamil Nadu represents a $500 million investment and will produce 150,000 vehicles annually when fully operational, creating approximately 3,500 direct jobs.

Learn more at: vinfastauto.in

The inspirational documentary “Hemraj Shah: A Life of Dedication” received a prestigious honour at an international film festival held in New Delhi, where director Manisha Sharma was presented with a Special Award. The film, which chronicles the extraordinary journey of social leader Dr. Hemraj Bhai Shah, also won the award for Best Original Screenplay.

Dr. Hemraj Bhai Shah, founder of the Maharashtra–Gujarati Mandal

Based on the life of Dr. Hemraj Bhai Shah, founder of the Maharashtra–Gujarati Mandal, the documentary earned widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics. The festival featured participation from filmmakers representing over sixty countries, making the recognition particularly significant.

Dr. Shah’s life reflects an inspiring journey from the deserts of Kutch to Mumbai, where he made notable contributions across social service, education, journalism, and public life.

The film has been co-directed by Saraswatichandra Acharya. Additionally, a stage play titled “Hemudada,” inspired by Dr. Shah’s life, is set to be staged soon. Written by Vasant Mara and Kavan Savla, the production will be performed five times over the next two months. Senior journalist Kishor Vyas has also written about the documentary’s artistic significance, while theatre enthusiasts can look forward to performances celebrating Kutch’s rich cultural heritage as part of the programme.

Dr. Hemraj Shah is also the founder of Navneet Bhavan, a seven-storey institution established as a major contribution to community service. Renowned for his impactful work across multiple fields, Dr. Shah’s remarkable life has now been brought to the screen through this documentary directed by Manisha Sharma and Saraswatichandra Acharya, which was officially screened in New Delhi as part of the festival showcase.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has announced the Digital Commerce Dialogue, scheduled to be held on February 24, 2026, at The Leela Palace, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

The one-day event will bring together senior government representatives, industry leaders, and ecosystem stakeholders to deliberate on enabling the next phase of India’s e-commerce expansion. A report titled $300 Billion Connected Commerce: How Clicks and Bricks Are Defining the Future of India’s E-Commerce, prepared by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), based on a survey of more than 12,000 consumers across urban and rural India, will be launched at the conference.

Speaking on the upcoming Dialogue, Dr. Subho Ray, President, Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said, “The next phase of India’s digital commerce growth will be defined not just by scale, but by sustainability, trust, and regulatory clarity. The Digital Commerce Dialogue seeks to bring together government and industry to deliberate on investment, logistics efficiency, technological innovation, and consumer protection, ensuring that India’s e-commerce ecosystem remains resilient and globally competitive.”

The one-day conference will focus on presenting the current market landscape and emerging trends in e-commerce, identifying key opportunities in investment and innovation, examining the role of AI, logistics, and technology as growth enablers, strengthening customer safety, digital trust and shopper protection, and promoting enabling regulatory approaches that support innovation.

India’s digital economy matures, e-commerce has emerged as a key pillar attracting investments, transforming how businesses operate, how consumers access goods and services, and how markets are connected across the country. Recently, Amazon had committed to invest $35 billion by 20230 in the country and Flipkart is planning to do an IPO. Both the developments help position India as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital commerce markets. 

For more information on the Dialogue, please visit eventsites.iamai.in/DigitalCommerceDialogue

About Internet and Mobile Association of India
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is a not-for-profit industry body with more than 770 members, including Indian and multinational corporations, as well as start-ups. IAMAI has been instrumental in shaping India’s digital economy. IAMAI advocates free and fair competition, and progressive and enabling laws for businesses as well as for consumers. The overarching objective of IAMAI is to ensure the progress of the internet and the digital economy. Its major areas of activities are public policy and advocacy, business to business conferences, research, promotion of start-ups and promotion of consumer trust and safety. 

The India–France Economic Report 2026, the latest flagship assessment of bilateral trade and economic engagement, was unveiled on the sidelines of the India–France CEOs Forum in New Delhi, in the context of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026.
 

French Minister Mr. Roland Lescure with IFCCI President Mr. Jean Touboul holding the India-France Economic Report 2026 at the India France CEOs Forum
 

Prepared over the past year by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) in partnership with the Regional Economic Department (SER) of the French Embassy in India, with contributions from Team France, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the Embassy of India in Paris, Invest India, and in close coordination with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the India–France Economic Report 2026 reaffirms the strong institutional alignment and strategic depth of the bilateral economic partnership.
 

The report was presented to Mr. Roland Lescure, Minister for Economy, Finance, Industry, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, Government of the French Republic, on the sidelines of the India-France CEOs forum by Mr. Jean Touboul, IFCCI’s President and CEO of Pernod Ricard India.
 

The report features a Special Message each, by the French Minister, Mr. Roland Lescure and Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India respectively, and provides a comprehensive analysis of bilateral trade and investment flows, sectoral cooperation, employment generation, and the regional footprint of businesses across both economies.
 

It also highlights that bilateral trade reached approximately €17 billion in 2024, more than doubling over the past decade. France remains among India’s top ten foreign investors, with over €12.8 billion in FDI stock and more than 700 French companies operating in India, collectively supporting over 450,000 direct jobs.
 

Conversely, more than 150 Indian companies are established in France, contributing to employment generation and strengthening India’s industrial and technological presence within the European market.
 

The report highlights the expanding sectoral engagement between the two countries, particularly in civil aviation and aerospace, renewable energy and green hydrogen, urban mobility and infrastructure, digital technologies and AI, automotive manufacturing, and advanced industrial systems.
 

Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, stated, “The India–France economic partnership has matured into a strategic and future-oriented relationship. Our cooperation today spans innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and industrial resilience. This report reflects the confidence of French enterprises in India’s long-term growth trajectory and our shared ambition to shape global solutions together.”
 

Mr. Jean Touboul, President, IFCCI, remarked, “The India–France Economic Report demonstrates the structural depth of the India–France economic and trade relationship. Beyond trade volumes, we are witnessing sustained industrial integration, expanding research collaboration, and growing two-way investments that firmly anchor this partnership for the future.”
 

Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General, IFCCI, added, “The India–France Economic Report 2026 captures not only economic metrics but the institutional strength and industrial complementarity of this partnership. The scale of employment supported, the geographic spread of French companies across Indian states, and the increasing Indian footprint in France reflect a forward-looking bilateral relationship.”
 

Regional Footprint and Innovation Ecosystem

The report documents a strong French business presence across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi-NCR, and Gujarat, with growing engagement in emerging states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala, reflecting deeper regional integration and alignment with state-level industrial policies. It also highlights India’s position as a strategic R&D and innovation hub for French enterprises, hosting advanced engineering centres, digital hubs, and Global Capability Centres serving global markets.

Outlook

As India and France advance toward the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, the report concludes that the partnership is well-positioned for its next phase of growth, driven by sustainability, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, and strategic industrial collaboration. The full report is available through IFCCI. Please write to contact@ifcci.org.in a copy of the report.
 

About IFCCI
The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) is the official bilateral business chamber dedicated to promoting trade and investments between India and France. With a network of over 800 member companies, IFCCI facilitates strategic dialogue, sectoral cooperation, and institutional engagement across key industries.

Nykaa, India’s leading beauty and lifestyle company, announces the arrival of medicube, a brand that has redefined results-led skincare globally. Celebrated for its clinically proven formulations, medicube has set new standards in innovation while creating some of the most talked-about, viral skincare heroes across markets. Through a strategic partnership with APR Corporation, medicube now makes its much-awaited omnichannel debut on Nykaa and is now available across the platform and select retail stores.

medicube now availble on Nykaa

Driven by a results-first philosophy, medicube combines dermatologist-tested formulations with advanced skincare technology, delivering targeted solutions for real skin concerns from pores and pigmentation to elasticity, hydration, and glow. Its high-performance formulas and dramatic before-and-after results have earned it a loyal global following, with multiple ranges consistently going viral and selling out across platforms.

Nykaa continues to lead the charge in curating the most sought-after Korean innovations with the launch of medicube. Over the last decade, Nykaa has shaped India’s K-beauty revolution, building the country’s largest and most thoughtfully curated Korean beauty ecosystem across skincare, derma-cosmetics, and haircare. Through its dedicated Korean Beauty Store online and an expansive network of 280+ retail stores pan-India, Nykaa has cemented its position as the exclusive launchpad for breakthrough disruptors. The arrival of medicube strengthens a category Nykaa has already scaled and mainstreamed, further expanding access to globally trending, performance-driven Korean beauty for Indian consumers across markets.

Debuting with its most in-demand ranges – Zero, PDRN, Collagen and Deep Vita C—medicube introduces a comprehensive, results-focused routine designed to address multiple skin concerns while elevating overall skin health and radiance.

Shop the bestsellers now-

Collagen Night Wrapping Mask, Priced at INR 2600: The internet’s favourite overnight treatment, this easy-peel sleeping mask wraps the skin in a firming, glow-boosting layer. Infused with Collagen Extract, Niacinamide, and Ceramide NP, it works overnight to improve elasticity, deeply moisturise, and reveal plump, luminous skin by morning.

Collagen Niacinamide Jelly Cream, Priced at INR 1600: A bouncy, lightweight gel-cream that hydrates, firms, and boosts glow in one step. Powered by soluble and hydrolyzed collagen, it delivers long-lasting moisture while improving skin elasticity and smoothness.

PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask, Priced at INR 2500 : One of the brand’s most viral products globally, this glow-enhancing mask is enriched with Salmon PDRN, Hydrolyzed Collagen, and Niacinamide to visibly brighten, balance skin tone, and restore radiance.

PDRN Pink Peptide Serum, Priced at INR 2300: A high-performance treatment formulated with Salmon PDRN and a 5-type peptide complex, designed to improve elasticity, refine uneven skin tone, and support skin regeneration for a firmer, clearer complexion.

Zero Blackhead Deep Cleansing Oil, Priced at INR 1900: A brand favourite, the 3-in-1 pore-clearing cleansing oil with 90% plant-based oils that melts away makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while targeting blackheads and excess sebum without stripping the skin.

PDRN Hydrating Gel Cleanser, Priced at INR 1900: A refreshing daily cleanser that removes excess sebum and impurities while helping improve overall skin tone and texture for a brighter, more balanced complexion.

PDRN Pink Niacinamide Milky Toner, Priced at INR 2300: A multi-layer hydration for plump, dewy skin with a soft pink glow, while helping strengthen the skin barrier even for acne-prone skin. Its lightweight, milky texture absorbs instantly without any stickiness, leaving the complexion smooth, calm, and radiant.

medicube is now available on Nykaa.com, the Nykaa app, and select Nykaa stores across India.

Parul University today announced the launch of India’s first New Zealand Centre of Excellence at a private university, marking a significant milestone in deepening India–New Zealand academic collaboration. The launch took place in the presence of Matthew Ayers, Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, alongside senior leaders and academics from six of New Zealand’s eight universities.

Preeti Nair, Kshitij Garg, Dr Geetika Nair and H.E. Matthew Ayers launch INSPIRE NZ – New Zealand Centre of Excellence at Parul University

The Centre of Excellence has been launched following three years of sustained academic, student, and research engagement led by Parul University in partnership with Estero Education Services and New Zealand universities. Unlike traditional models where centres are established first, and programs follow, this initiative is outcome-driven, consolidating collaborations that are already active and delivering measurable results.

Parul University has emerged as a leading Indian institution in internationalisation, embedding global collaboration across faculties, curriculum design, student mobility, and research engagement. Through this Centre of Excellence, the University aims to scale structured student pathways, faculty exchange, joint research, sustainability-led initiatives, and long-term academic capacity building with New Zealand partners.

Dr Devanshu Patel, President, Parul University, said, “This Centre of Excellence reflects Parul University’s long-term commitment to building meaningful, structured, and outcome-focused global partnerships. Our vision is to ensure that international collaboration strengthens academic depth, research relevance, and student opportunity.”

Dr Preeti Nair, Director – Centre of International Relations & Research (CIRR), Parul University, added, “INSPIRE NZ is the result of sustained academic alignment and collaborative execution. It provides a cohesive platform that integrates student mobility, faculty engagement, and research dialogue into one scalable and future-ready framework.”

Speaking at the launch, Kshitij Garg, Managing Director, Estero Education Services, said, “What makes this Centre of Excellence truly distinctive is that it is built on outcomes, not intent. Parul University has demonstrated what it means to commit institutionally—through leadership support, faculty engagement, and a student-first approach. INSPIRE NZ brings structure, visibility, and long-term direction to a collaboration that was already delivering real impact.”

The initiative received strong endorsement from New Zealand university partners. Djhoanna Lambert, Associate Director – Global Engagement & Partnerships at Victoria University of Wellington, said, “Incredible energy at the launch of INSPIRE NZ. This partnership—uniting Parul University, Estero Education Services and six of the eight New Zealand universities, including Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington—creates a dynamic platform for connecting academics, researchers, and students across mobility programmes, entrepreneurship, innovation and research. It was a privilege to present two new articulation agreements between Victoria University of Wellington and Parul University in Design Innovation and Computer Science during this auspicious event.”

Estero Education Services has played a strategic facilitation role in conceptualising and enabling the collaboration, aligning institutional priorities, ensuring continuity, and supporting the translation of academic intent into sustained outcomes.

The launch of the Centre coincides with growing momentum in India–New Zealand bilateral relations, including the recent conclusion of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, under which education has been identified as a key area of cooperation.

With the establishment of this Centre of Excellence, Parul University and its New Zealand partners aim to create a long-term, integrated academic ecosystem that strengthens people-to-people ties, advances research and innovation, and positions New Zealand as a preferred destination for Indian students.

About Estero Education Services

Estero Education Services is a New Zealand–India education management organisation specialising in student guidance for higher education in New Zealand, as well as ethical, outcomes-driven international education partnerships and institutional collaboration.

Email: info@estero.co.nz