Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools across teaching, research, and academic administration. This collaboration aims to enhance learning outcomes, accelerate research productivity, and equip students and faculty with critical AI skills for a rapidly evolving global workforce. MAHE will implement AI-powered tools and resources across its academic programs to support personalised learning, boost critical thinking, and encourage ethical AI use. Faculty will also gain access to advanced AI tools for curriculum planning, research, and innovation.
 

MAHE Partners with OpenAI to Drive Responsible and Ethical AI in Higher Education
 

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, VSM (Retd.), MAHE, said, “MAHE has always been guided by academic excellence and innovation. Our partnership with OpenAI represents a strategic step toward embedding AI as a transformative enabler across teaching, research, and administration. By integrating advanced AI tools responsibly, we aim to enhance learning outcomes, accelerate research impact, and prepare our students for leadership in an AI-driven world.”
 

The collaboration will focus on building AI literacy across disciplines, ensuring that students from Health Sciences, Technology & Science, Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences, and allied fields gain practical exposure to AI applications relevant to their domains. MAHE will also promote interdisciplinary research and innovation using AI to address complex real-world challenges. MAHE will also establish structured AI governance guidelines to ensure responsible, ethical, and transparent governance use of artificial intelligence across academic functions.
 

The partnership aligns with MAHE’s long-term digital transformation roadmap and reinforces its commitment to innovation, industry relevance, and societal impact. With this collaboration, MAHE reinforces its vision of becoming a globally benchmarked, AI-enabled university committed to shaping responsible innovation and future-ready leaders.
 

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University, offering over 400 specialisations across Health Sciences, Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Technology & Science. MAHE operates through its constituent institutions across campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai.
 

Renowned for its academic excellence, world-class infrastructure, and impactful research contributions, MAHE has earned strong national and international recognition. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, conferred MAHE with the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE continues to be a preferred destination for students seeking a transformative learning experience and vibrant campus life, as well as for national and multinational organisations seeking top talent.

The 2026 ICC T20 World Cup kicks off on February 7 amid a lot of controversy regarding where Bangladesh’s matches would be played and whether the Bangla Tigers would end up participating in the tournament or would they get replaced by Scotland, who have miraculously found themselves in the reckoning after losing their qualification spot to debutants Italy.

Top 4 Favourite Win T20 World Cup 2026- South Africa, India, Afghanistan, England, and more…

A total of 20 participating teams would be competing in the upcoming tournament, with each team playing a minimum of four group stage matches. Group A contains favorites India, along with arch-rivals Pakistan, the USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands.

Group B is headlined by previous winners Sri Lanka and Australia, with Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman making up the rest of the group. Group C features England, West Indies, Scotland, Nepal, and Italy, with three European teams finding themselves in the same group after Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament.

Group D could prove to be the Group of Death as it boasts of 2024 edition runners-up South Africa, 2021 edition runners-up New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, and the UAE, with one of the three big-name teams a definite to crash out from the group stage.

Apart from co-hosts India, many teams would be hoping to lift the trophy and prove their credentials in the shortest format of the game. While New Zealand have lost both of the matches so far in the 5-match T20I series against India, the Black Caps could provide a formidable challenge and have a plethora of spin options which could come in handy on the surfaces of Colombo and Chennai.

Another team from down under, Australia are placed alongside Sri Lanka in Group B and the Kangaroos are packed with power from top to bottom, with skipper Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, and Marcus Stonis providing an enviable batting lineup. The presence of Cooper Connolly, Matt Short, and Maxwell, along with lead spinner Adam Zampa, would keep the 2021 T20 World Cup champions in good stead in the subcontinent.

Let’s have a look at the top four favorites to lift the trophy in the 2026 edition of the ICC T20 World Cup as the T20 extravaganza returns to India after a gap of 10 years:

#4 Afghanistan
Rashid Khan is the heart of the Afghanistan team and would be eyeing the trophy in 2026

The Afghans are the dark horses in a multi-lateral tournament yet again, as Rashid Khan and co. have had a disappointing time since the conclusion of the last edition of the T20 World Cup. Afghanistan has only defeated Zimbabwe, Qatar, and the West Indies in the last 18 months, but Rashid’s men have pressed the accelerator at the right time with the T20 World Cup less than a fortnight away.

Placed alongside New Zealand and South Africa in Group D, Afghanistan has the potential to knock out one of the juggernauts of international cricket in the group stage. The Afghans had a memorable campaign in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup as they eliminated Australia from the Super Eight stage, exacting revenge for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup heartbreak.

The legendary spin quartet of skipper Rashid, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi is arguably the best spin contingent amongst the 20 teams, and the quartet would love the opportunity of bowling on Chennai and Colombo’s spin-friendly pitches.

Full Squad: Rashid Khan ©, Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran

#3 England
Group C favorites England will kick off their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal, and Brendon McCullum will have a point to prove after the 4-1 drubbing in the Ashes at the hands of arch-rivals Australia. Harry Brook will be captaining the Three Lions for the first time in an ICC tournament, and all eyes will be on how England lines up with Jos Buttler set to take the No.3 spot in the batting line-up.

The 2022 T20 World Cup champions endured a tough time in the last edition as they lost to Australia, South Africa, and eventually to champions India in the semi-final, while rain protected them from a potential loss against neighbors Scotland in the group stage as well.

The spin quintet of Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, and Liam Dawson signifies a change in direction for the English side, who have usually been packed with out-and-out fast bowlers in recent editions.

Full Squad: Harry Brook ©, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt (wk), Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

#2 South Africa
Runner-ups of the last edition of the ICC T20 World Cup, South Africa finally ended their hoodoo and took off the chokers tag when they lifted the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Mace by defeating Australia in the final at Lord’s.

Skipper Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, and David Miller make up a batting order which is well-versed with Indian pitches, while the star-studded pace quartet of Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen would be supported by the spin duo of Keshav Maharaj and George Linde.

Heinrich Klassen and David Miller almost took South Africa over the line in 2024 T20 WC Final

In the wake of the recently concluded SA20 season, the Proteas have lost a few players to injuries, as Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickleton finally found their respective places in the squad after Donovan Ferreira and Tony de Zorzi were ruled out of the T20 World Cup. The inclusions of Stubbs and Rickleton could prove to be a blessing in disguise as both players are well-versed with the Indian conditions after representing Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, respectively.

Full Squad: Aiden Markram ©, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs

#1 India 
Defending champions and currently ranked No.1 in the ICC T20I Team rankings, India would bear the load of more than a billion fans yet again in home conditions. While the support of fans could prove to be a boost, as seen in 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions of the Cricket World Cup, none of the previous nine editions of the T20 World Cup, barring the 2012 T20 WC, have even seen the hosts qualify for the final, let alone lift the cup in home conditions.

Gautam Gambhir will once again be under the scanner despite the proven performances of his side in the T20 format, owing to Indian team’s poor run in ODIs and Tests. Suryakumar Yadav broke his 468-day jinx of not scoring a half-century in Indian colors, getting to the landmark in mere 23 deliveries in the second T20I of the 5-match T20 series against New Zealand.

After winning the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, India head into the 2026 edition of the tournament as firm favorites, after winning 8 consecutive bilateral series and one multi-lateral tournament, the 2025 Asia Cup.

Full Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav ©, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (vc), Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav.

Contributed By– Mohak Arora, Parimatch Sports analytics expert

The Global AI for Learning Alliance (GAILA) was formally launched on February 17 on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, bringing together frontier AI firms, governments, EdTech and education leaders to accelerate effective, responsible, and inclusive AI-enabled learning in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). GAILA will serve as a coordination and collaboration platform to solve the collective action challenge in AI for education. The initiative is co-led by UNICEF and partners, with the Secretariat operated by Dalberg, and initial support from the Gates Foundation. 
 

Frontier AI firms, NGOs, Governments and philanthropic organisations came together to launch GAILA
 

AI can improve learning outcomes, save teachers time, and expand equitable access to quality education. However, frontier AI investment remains concentrated in the higher income countries, and education systems in the LMICs face persistent barriers: limited infrastructure, affordability constraints, and weak alignment between technology and system needs. Unlocking AI’s potential in these contexts requires coordinated engagement between AI firms and education stakeholders, grounded in national priorities and local realities.
 

GAILA is working towards an Industry Compact to align AI firms and the global education community around measurable commitments on performance, safety, accessibility, affordability, and relevance. As an initial step, the AI for Learning Industry Call to Action outlines joint commitments across four areas: coordinated investment in shared public goods; improved model performance for education in LMICs; strengthened standards for safety, ethics, and contextual relevance; and expanded affordability and uptake of AI models. By convening diverse stakeholders, GAILA will align incentives and reduce fragmentation in response to national and local priorities, while supporting transparency, accountability, and shared learning across the ecosystem.

The Compact will be co-developed in 2026 with more specific, measurable, and time-bound commitments.

Pia Britto, Global Director Education & Adolescent Development at UNICEF, started the session by saying that, “GAILA is designed to go beyond dialogue. It aims to serve as a bridge from commitment to implementation, supporting collective action that translates innovation into measurable improvements in learning outcomes. Ultimately, GAILA is an invitation to all ecosystem stakeholders to lead together.”

“This ecosystem needs to work better and I am really excited about the progress made in this room,” said Benjamin Piper, Director, Global Education at Gates Foundation.

“At Anthropic, we’re already seeing what happens when AI is built with communities rather than deployed to them through partnerships with governments, educators, and non-profits in places like Rwanda and India,” said Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic. “GAILA gives that work a shared framework, and we’re glad to be part of it.”

“We have two key mandates: one is to build the talent pipeline, and the second is to use AI to deliver better educational services, like personalized learning,” said Rohit Tripathi, Deputy Secretary at India’s Ministry of Education. “For both mandates, we need everyone in the room: academia, researchers, evaluators, industry, philanthropy – all of us together.”

Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister for Communication Technology and Innovation said, “As we join GAILA, we are joining both a vision and a community. A vision because we believe the Global South must write the rules of how AI serves learning, not simply adopt the tools developed elsewhere. And a community, because no country can do it alone.”

 A spokesperson from Google and Google DeepMind, “Getting AI in education right requires cross-sector collaboration – with policymakers, educators, researchers and experts. It’s critical to create tools that are genuinely helpful to teachers and students in enhancing learning outcomes. That means using AI backed by research, built responsibly, distributed equitably and grounded in learning science principles.”

The launch event convened senior leaders from across government, AI firms, and education ecosystem actors. Discussions focused on real-world use cases, responsible and scalable deployment, and stronger global coordination across the education ecosystem. The event was co-hosted by Observer Research Foundation and Carnegie India, with participation from organisations including UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, the Government of Kenya, Pratham, Google, Anthropic, and Karya AI.

More information on GAILA is available here. Organisations can review and endorse the AI for Learning Call to Action: www.globalaiforlearningalliance.org/call-to-action-statement 

To date, more than 40 organisations have endorsed the Call to Action, including Africodia Foundation, Angaza Elimu, Anthropic, ARED, Boston Consulting Group, BRAC, Brink, Central Square Foundation, ConveGenius, Dalberg, Education Above All, Eedi, EdTech Hub, Eidu, EkStep Foundation, FabAI, FCDO, Gates Foundation, Global Partnership for Education, Global Schools Forum, Gooey.ai, Google, Government of Kenya, Government of Rwanda, Government of Sierra Leone, HundrEd, International Centre for EdTech Impact, International Rescue Committee, J-PAL, Karya, Khan Academy, MakerGhat, OpenAI, Pratham, Project Tech4Dev, Rising Academies, Rocket Learning, ShikshaLokam, SHOFCO, Spix Foundation, Teach For All, The Agency Fund, TUMO, UNICEF, VVOB, and WISE.

About Dalberg Advisors 

Dalberg Advisors is a global professional services firm that puts impact at the centre of decision-making.
 

Founded in 2001, Dalberg Advisors now has over 450+ full-time staff spread across 29 global locations, bringing global perspectives to local solutions for over 1600 clients. 
 

This includes local and international NGOs, governments, financial institutions, philanthropies and business leaders; and entities that sit at the intersections of these organisations. 
 

Link: Dalberg.com | LinkedIn: Dalberg 

India’s office market is experiencing steady expansion, with leasing activity remaining robust despite global economic uncertainty. Driven largely by the continued rise of GCCs, alongside sustained demand from technology, BFSI and consulting firms, the country’s commercial real estate sector has demonstrated stability in both absorption and rental trends. This domestic momentum has positioned India as a frontrunner in the Asia-Pacific region, where several markets continue to witness measured corporate expansion. 

Delhi-NCR takes center stage as India’s office sector outpaces regional peers to lead the APAC growth story in 2026

According to Knight Frank’s observation, India’s three largest office markets, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, collectively recorded approximately 50 million sq ft of leasing in 2025, marking a 21% year-on-year increase and the highest annual absorption ever recorded across these markets. 

Industry experts note that the projected growth is driven by structural factors rather than short-term optimism. The pipeline of global capability centres continues to expand, with multinational firms scaling their India operations beyond support functions into core business roles. At the same time, office demand is broad-based, extending beyond technology to sectors such as BFSI, consulting and manufacturing back offices. Institutional investors, too, have maintained their exposure to Grade A assets, reflecting confidence in long-term returns. Importantly, India’s rentals remain relatively competitive compared with several APAC hubs, reinforcing its appeal as a cost-efficient yet scalable corporate destination.

Moreover, among India’s leading office markets, Delhi-NCR is increasingly being seen as a significant contributor to this projected upswing. As per Cushman and Wakefield, Delhi-NCR recorded an all-time high office space leasing in 2025 of 15.8 million sq ft, a growth of 24% from last year. With the opening of Noida airport expected in the next few months, the city contributed a significant share in this growth, registering a 73% rise in annual leasing during 2025. The IT–BPM sector led the annual demand with a 37% share, followed by professional services firms (15%) and engineering & manufacturing firms (14%). During Q4 2025, Delhi NCR recorded a 2–5% QoQ increase in overall rentals. On a YoY basis, rents rose by 6–8% across the region, with Gurugram CBD outperforming at 12–15% growth over the same period.

Harinder Singh Hora, Founder Chairman, Reach Group, says, “Gurugram has long been an established corporate destination, supported by strong infrastructure and a mature business ecosystem. Today, occupiers are evaluating not just address value but long-term mobility, employee convenience, and the overall depth of the commercial environment. We are witnessing increased pre-commitment activity for Grade A office assets, reflecting greater planning visibility among corporates. Companies are clearly thinking three to five years ahead, aligning expansion with business growth rather than short-term market cycles. This forward-looking approach, combined with India’s cost competitiveness and talent ecosystem, is strengthening Delhi-NCR’s position within the broader APAC office landscape.”

Sandeep Chhillar, Founder and Chairman, Landmark Group, says, “Much of the incremental demand in Gurugram is clearly coming from GCC expansion, but what’s interesting is the nature of that expansion. These are not just back-office setups anymore; many businesses now house core functions, R&D, analytics, and leadership teams. That shift requires high-quality, future-ready Grade A environments with strong ESG credentials and large, efficient floor plates. Occupiers are consolidating into better assets rather than spreading across multiple buildings. This ‘flight to quality’ is reshaping absorption trends in Gurugram and strengthening the case for premium developments in established business districts.”

Besides, Noida is increasingly being viewed as the growth lever within the NCR office market, supported by a combination of competitive rentals and infrastructure-led confidence. Compared to some established business districts, the city continues to offer cost advantages without compromising on Grade A quality, making it attractive for both large occupiers and expanding mid-sized firms. The Noida–Greater Noida Expressway has emerged as a key growth corridor, drawing sustained leasing interest, while the upcoming international airport has strengthened long-term investor and occupier sentiment. An expanding pipeline of new developments along this belt further signals that Noida is positioning itself to capture the next phase of office demand in the region.

Dr. Amish Bhutani, Managing Director, Group 108, says, “The Noida–Greater Noida Expressway belt is entering a defining phase. With the upcoming Noida International Airport and enhanced connectivity across the corridor, we’re seeing significant interest from GCCs and global enterprises seeking long-term expansion hubs rather than short-term satellite offices. What’s working in Noida’s favour is the availability of large, contiguous Grade A floor plates at competitive rentals. For global businesses, scalability and infrastructure certainty matter more than ever. The airport, in particular, changes the perception of accessibility and positions this corridor not just as an NCR micro-market, but as a strategic North India business gateway.”

Viren Mehta, Founder & Director, ElitePro Infra, “What stands out in NCR is the balance in demand drivers. While GCCs remain dominant, we’re also seeing BFSI, consulting and domestic corporates expanding footprints. That diversification makes the market more resilient. However, the sustainability of growth will depend on supply discipline. If rental appreciation accelerates too sharply, mid-sized occupiers could begin exploring peripheral markets. The next few months will be about maintaining equilibrium, ensuring that new supply aligns with genuine absorption rather than speculative development.”

Ashwani Kumar, Pyramid Infratech, says, “Gurugram’s office market has matured significantly over the last decade. Today, it operates with institutional-grade assets and global occupiers who view India as a long-term base. The projected APAC growth outlook aligns with what we are witnessing on the ground: structured expansion plans, multi-year leasing discussions and growing interest from multinational firms. What differentiates Gurugram is the ecosystem: established infrastructure, corporate clustering and talent availability. If this momentum continues, NCR could consolidate its position as one of India’s most stable and scalable office markets over the next growth cycle.”

Therefore, much of India’s projected leadership in 2026 will hinge on how effectively markets manage supply alongside sustained expansion from global capability centres. For Delhi-NCR, the opportunity is evident, but so is the responsibility to maintain discipline in new launches and ensure that fresh inventory aligns with genuine occupier demand.

The ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026 concluded after two days of high-impact deliberations, positioning India at the centre of global economic and strategic conversations. Held under the theme “A Decade of Disruption. A Century of Change,” the summit brought together delegates, including policymakers, global business leaders, economists, investors and technology experts, making it one of the most influential business gatherings of the year.

The summit served as a high-level platform for candid conversations on the forces reshaping the global order. Policymakers and global business leaders discussed trade, technology, capital markets and regulatory frameworks amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty on day 1. Technology and AI emerged as key structural forces transforming industries and financial systems, while infrastructure, manufacturing and digital public infrastructure were highlighted as critical growth pillars. State-led growth strategies, execution-driven policy frameworks and enterprise transformation were also key themes.

Day 2 shifted the focus from macro themes to execution, with deep dives into digital infrastructure, ease of doing business, trillion-dollar state economies, urban transformation and artificial intelligence. Experts highlighted the need for predictive governance, technology-led urban planning and responsible AI frameworks as critical pillars for sustainable and inclusive growth. Cultural and business conversations added insights on brand trust, innovation and India’s evolving “Built for India” narrative in the global marketplace.

A defining moment of the summit was the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who delivered the Chief Guest address, setting the tone for India’s global ambitions and reform-led growth trajectory. His address underscored India’s resilience amid global disruptions, its expanding role in global growth, and its roadmap to becoming a developed nation by 2047, anchored in infrastructure expansion, manufacturing, digital public infrastructure and global trade partnerships.

The ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026 served as a powerful convening platform for global and Indian leaders, shaping strategic discourse at a time of unprecedented disruption and opportunity. As India advances into a decisive growth decade, the summit reaffirmed its role in driving conversations that will define policy, capital allocation and innovation pathways for a century of change.

TTK Prestige, India’s leading kitchen appliances brand, strengthened its connection with modern Indian consumers as a key partner of the HT City Unwind – Delhi Edition, held on 7 and 8 February 2025. A vibrant celebration of food, music, and lifestyle, the festival attracted an estimated 15,000+ visitors from across Delhi NCR, including young families, home cooks, celebrity chefs, content creators, and influencers.
 

TTK Prestige at HT City Unwind Delhi 2025 – where kitchen innovation met food, music, and immersive lifestyle experiences
 

Through high-visibility integrations, immersive brand experiences, and live culinary showcases, TTK Prestige reinforced its positioning as a contemporary lifestyle kitchen brand, engaging consumers through a range of interactive and fun-led activities.
 

The first half of the festival showcased the HT City Foodies Signature Kitchen, with TTK Prestige as the Presenting Partner. The brand amplified engagement through its “Prestige – Signature Kitchen” zone, which included live cooking demonstrations, interactive cooking challenges, and influencer-led activities supported by the brand’s digital marketing team. Over two days, the space came alive with MasterChef-led cookouts and food-tasting sessions, featuring celebrated chefs such as Chef Tarun Sibal, Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, Chef Suvir Saran, and Chef Nishant Choubey.
 

A key highlight of the event was the launch of TTK Prestige’s complete Triply range of cookware and cookers, including the Triply ByK Set, Triply Designer Range, Triply Cooker, and Triply Hexamagic, unveiled at the Signature Kitchen alongside Chef Nishant Choubey. The brand also executed a high-impact main-stage reveal of the Endura 6-Jar Mixer Grinder, which drew strong audience interest and engagement. Audiences were further engaged through exclusive chef interactions and a lively food trivia session hosted by Chef Nishant Choubey, with Prestige products awarded to winners.
 

Beyond the kitchen, the festival featured 30+ food stalls, gaming zones, and a high-energy music segment in the latter half of each day, making it a truly holistic lifestyle experience. TTK Prestige further enhanced engagement through immersive, interactive activities with influencers and young audiences at its brand zone, with participants winning exciting gifts. Product display zones showcased the brand’s latest innovations, while an immersive engagement area hosted fun, cooking-led competitions with Prestige cookware prizes. A specially curated “Kitchen Memories” wall invited visitors to share their most cherished kitchen moments, reinforcing the deep emotional connection Indian consumers have with their kitchens.
 

Through its presence at HT City Unwind Delhi 2025, TTK Prestige reaffirmed its belief that kitchens today are more than functional spaces – they are social, expressive, and central to modern lifestyles. By blending culinary expertise, product innovation, and cultural experiences, the brand continues to reimagine the kitchen as a space of inspiration, connection, and celebration.
 

About TTK Prestige (shop.ttkprestige.com)

TTK Prestige Limited is part of TTK Group. Over the past six decades TTK Prestige Limited, has emerged as India’s largest kitchen appliances company catering to the needs of homemakers in the country. Every Prestige brand product is built on the pillars of safety, innovation, durability and trust, making the brand the first choice in millions of homes. In April 2016, TTK Prestige bought UK based Horwood Homewares and launched Judge Brand in India in August 2017. 

Unitile has been recognised among India’s Top 30 Best Workplaces™ in Manufacturing – Mid-Size by Great Place To Work® India for the second consecutive year. The recognition is based on anonymous employee feedback as part of Great Place To Work® India’s research-led assessment of workplace culture across manufacturing organisations in India.

Celebrating the people behind the progress, Unitile proudly marks its Top 30 Best Workplaces™ recognition for the second consecutive year

The recognition reflects the Group’s continued focus on building high-performing, people-centric manufacturing environments across the building materials sector, spanning raised access flooring, structural solutions, and acoustic systems through its portfolio brands – Unitile, UFlex, and UniAcoustic.

In the building materials industry, manufacturing excellence is defined not only by output and scale, but by safety discipline, process reliability, quality consistency, and workforce capability. Workplace culture in this sector is shaped daily on the shop floor, through adherence to safety protocols, ownership of quality, and the confidence employees have to suggest and drive improvements.

With over three decades of experience in building materials manufacturing, Unitile and its group companies have scaled operations while making sustained investments in automation, modern manufacturing systems, and workforce capability development. As production becomes increasingly technology-driven, equal emphasis is placed on enabling employees to grow alongside these advancements through structured training, hands-on learning, and clearly defined career pathways. This ensures that automation strengthens operational capability while creating long-term opportunities for people.

Safety and quality remain non-negotiable across all manufacturing facilities. Employees across functions actively participate in safety audits, quality reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives, reinforcing a culture of shared accountability and operational discipline. These practices are critical in building materials manufacturing, where precision, consistency, and risk mitigation directly impact project outcomes and customer trust.

Commenting on the recognition, Idris Rajkotwala, Executive Director, Unitile said, “This recognition holds special value because it is based on feedback from our people. In manufacturing, trust is built through everyday actions – safe working environments, fairness, opportunities to learn, and respect for every role on the shop floor. As we continue to expand and adopt advanced manufacturing technologies across our brands, developing our people remains fundamental to how we operate.”

Employee feedback plays a central role in shaping workplace practices across the Group. In manufacturing-led organisations, engaged teams directly influence safety outcomes, product quality, delivery reliability, and operational efficiency. Listening to employees ensures that cultural improvements translate into tangible performance improvements on the shop floor.

As a building materials solutions manufacturer deeply embedded in its local ecosystems, Unitile and its group companies also contribute to employment generation and skill development in the regions surrounding their facilities. By offering stable employment, structured training programs, and long-term growth opportunities, the Group supports local upliftment while building a skilled and future-ready manufacturing workforce.

As the Group continues its growth journey across Unitile, UFlex, and UniAcoustic, the focus remains on building future-ready manufacturing organisations that balance scale, efficiency, and technology with strong values and respect for people. The continued recognition from Great Place To Work® India reinforces the Group’s position as an employer of choice within the Indian building materials manufacturing sector.

About Unitile

With over three decades of experience, Unitile is India’s number one raised access floor brand and a leading manufacturer in the building materials sector. The company is known for its engineering-led approach, disciplined manufacturing practices, and consistent execution across large-scale projects.

Unitile operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with a strong focus on quality, safety, automation, and workforce capability, ensuring reliability at scale for data centres, commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects across India.

Recognised among India’s Best Workplaces™ in Manufacturing – Mid-Size Top 30 by Great Place To Work® India for the second consecutive year, Unitile’s people-first culture underpins its manufacturing excellence and long-term customer trust.

For more information, please visit: www.unitileindia.com

Contact

steffi.m@united-group.in

+91 77770 31920

For the second year in a row, the creative excellence of Push 360 has been recognized on the global stage. The agency’s latest campaign for Malayala Manorama’s Hortus 2025, titled “The Power of We,” has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious Luerzer’s Archive, the world’s ultimate barometer of creative achievement. This follows a landmark achievement last year, when the agency’s work was ranked as the number one print campaign in the world.

The ‘Power of We’ campaign by Push 360 for Manorama Hortus features an intertwined infinity loop, symbolizing the seamless merger of music, art, and literature

At the heart of this success is Jayaprakash Ponmala (Jepi), the agency’s Creative and Art Director. Known for weaving deep human connection into visual art, Jepi has once again proven that local creative insights can resonate globally. Following his 2024 campaign that envisioned a symbolic intersection of iconic historical figures, Jepi evolved the narrative for 2025 into “The Power of We”. This new work utilizes a playful, claymation-style visual metaphor of the infinity loop to represent the endless flow of ideas and joy that defines the Hortus festival.

The campaign visually captures the spirit of the event through intertwined characters from diverse worlds of expression. By pairing figures such as a theatre-masked boy with a girl flying a kite, or a book-loving intellectual with a noodle-eating foodie, Jepi illustrates the “Power of Infinite” creativity. These pairings symbolize the raw energy and visual exploration that occur when different personal expressions meet, creating a concept that is intentionally inclusive, joyful, and instantly memorable.

This global recognition is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the entire agency and its collaboration with Malayala Manorama on Manorama Hortus V. A. Shrikumar, CMD of Push 360, expressed his pride in the team, stating, “This win belongs to the entire team at Push 360, who worked with their heart and soul to bring this honor home. Jepi, Sunil Thoppil, Lasar Shine, Jasinther Rokefeller, P.S. Jaya, Sreerag Kakkan, and the entire team worked with everything they had for the agency to achieve this kind of global excellence. It is a proud moment for all of us to see our shared passion recognized on the world stage once again.”

The Manorama Hortus festival, inspired by the historical “Hortus Malabaricus,” serves as a vibrant platform where art, literature, and culture converge. It seeks to foster dialogue, celebrate creativity across various disciplines like art, literature, culture, and potentially more, and engage a wide audience. 

Smart Home Expo, India’s largest smart tech event for residential and commercial spaces, returns for its 7th edition from April 28–30, 2026, at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai.

450+ Tech brands will exhibit at Smart Home Expo 2026

Building on the strong momentum of the previous edition, Smart Home Expo 2026 is set to bring the smart living and intelligent buildings ecosystem under one roof, with a 15,000 sqm gross exhibition area and 450+ exhibitors, in a format designed specifically for trade visitors.

The three-day show brings together 450+ leading brands showcasing solutions across smart home technology, home automation, lighting technologies, audio-video solutions, smart security systems, smart building solutions, and consumer electronics, creating a focused platform for decision-makers to explore what’s next and build business across the channel.

Smart Home Expo 2026 is supported by a strong lineup of partners across key categories. The show features Havells Crabtree as the Title Partner, Electronics Mart India Limited as the Powered By Partner, and KNX Association as the Technology Partner.

The Platinum Partners include Sonos, Cinebels, ProFX, Miantic AV, Vinshek, Smato, CP Plus, Cavitak, and  KEI, while the Premium Partners lineup includes Aero Digital, RTI, Marantz, Basalte, GM Modular, BenQ, Epson, Optoma, Focal Powered by Naim, ViewSonic, Raylogic Control Systems Pvt. Ltd., Klipsch, Theory, Loewe, Smart Node Automation, James Loudspeaker,  Dorset, LG, CasaDigi, B.E.G., Origin Acoustics, Gallo Acoustics, Crestron, Rako Controls, Sonus Faber, JBL, Digilux AI, Krix, L-Acoustics, Sound & Vision, MDT Technologies, Moorgen, Lafit, EverGlow, JR Automation Technology, Nice Group, Quba Architectural Products, and Modo.

Smart Home Expo 2026 is also backed by key industry organisations, like the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) and the Z-Wave Alliance, supporting the show as Supporting Partners, and the Council of Architecture coming on board as a Knowledge Partner.

A key highlight for 2026 is the return of the AV Demo Rooms, created as purpose-built, acoustically treated environments where professionals can experience high-end home cinema and audio performance exactly as intended, across reference-grade speakers, immersive formats, premium projection, and integrated AV control.

Curated with leading global and Indian brands, the AV Demo Rooms are designed to support serious evaluation, deeper product understanding, and high-quality conversations for the audio-video and custom integration community.

Smart Home Expo 2026 will also feature the dedicated KNX Pavilion, returning as a focused showcase for KNX manufacturers, with the pavilion expected to host leading KNX brands as part of the show’s core automation ecosystem.

Beyond the exhibition floor, Smart Home Expo continues to expand its experience-led and knowledge-led formats through Lighting Connect, Smart Space Awards, and the Smart Building Summit, giving visitors multiple ways to engage with design, technology, and real project thinking across the built environment.

Lighting Connect brings the lighting design and technology community together to explore smart lighting, lighting controls, and human-centric design through focused conversations and practical insights.

The Smart Space Awards continue to recognise excellence where design and technology come together across residential and commercial projects, celebrating the teams shaping modern smart spaces.

The Smart Building Summit is positioned as a dedicated forum exploring the future of intelligent buildings and connected spaces, bringing together perspectives on how innovation, strategy, and design are redefining the built environment.

Entry is free for trade visitors, and visitor registration for Smart Home Expo 2026 is live: smarthomeexpo.short.gy/AsZ2cR