Leap Ahead founder Divya Multani is redefining international growth by enabling businesses, investors and innovation ecosystems to expand across borders—not just from India to the world, but from the world to India and beyond. 

From Local roots to the World: Leap Ahead Founder Divya Multani is Building India’s Global Business Gateway

In a startup ecosystem often dominated by metropolitan cities, a young entrepreneur from Jodhpur is proving that global ambitions can emerge from anywhere.

Founded in April 2026 by Divya Multani, Leap Ahead has rapidly established itself as a platform dedicated to helping Indian startups, MSMEs, exporters, and growth-stage businesses access international markets, investors, strategic partners, and innovation ecosystems. In a remarkable achievement, the company secured strategic investment from prominent investors and industrialists within just one month of its launch.
 

The company’s journey reflects a larger story of India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape, where founders from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are increasingly building ventures with global aspirations from day one.

Since its inception, Leap Ahead has already facilitated and participated in business delegations and strategic engagements across India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, China, and London, enabling Indian businesses to promote exports and merger and acquisitions and explore international expansion opportunities, global partnerships, investment avenues, and new markets.

The organization is also working closely with influential global and industry institutions including the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI), SCO Business Incubator, and the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), helping Indian businesses connect with international ecosystems and cross-border opportunities.

A Founder’s Journey from Local to Global Business Networks 
A dropout post graduate from Jodhpur, Divya Multani was drawn to the startup ecosystem while interacting with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders. 

Through these experiences, she observed a recurring challenge: while businesses from smaller cities possessed immense potential, they often lacked access to international markets, global networks, and strategic opportunities available to larger companies in metropolitan regions. 

To bridge this gap, she founded Leap Ahead with a mission to ensure that geography never limits ambition and that Indian businesses from every corner of the country can confidently participate in the global economy.

Building Global Bridges in Record Time
Within just a few months of its launch, Leap Ahead has built relationships across multiple international markets and created opportunities for startups, MSMEs, and business leaders to engage with global innovation ecosystems.

Its international engagements have included participation in major business and innovation platforms, meetings with industry leaders, investors, trade organizations, and ecosystem stakeholders across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company’s recent participation in London’s technology and innovation ecosystem further strengthened its international network and reinforced its commitment to creating global opportunities for Indian businesses.

The confidence shown by strategic investors and industry leaders at such an early stage has been one of the defining milestones in Leap Ahead’s journey. The company’s ability to attract investment before generating revenue reflects strong belief in both the market opportunity and the team’s capability to execute its vision.

Speaking about the journey, Divya Multani Jain, Founder, Leap Ahead, said, “Coming from Jodhpur, I understood that ambition exists everywhere, but access doesn’t. Leap Ahead is building a global platform that connects businesses with international markets, strategic partners, investors, and new opportunities—regardless of where their journey begins.”

Khurshed Dordi, Independent Director- State Bank of India, ex-MD Deutsche Bank, Advisor- Leap Ahead, says, “The future belongs to businesses that can build trusted global connections. Leap Ahead is creating that bridge, enabling meaningful cross-border collaborations and international growth.”

Ankita Sachdeva, Joint Director- BRICS CCI and Strategic advisor in Leap Ahead, says, “Leap Ahead combines a strong vision with decisive execution. Its ability to identify a market opportunity and build credibility so quickly gave us the confidence to support its journey from the very beginning.”

Sushil Sharma, Chairman, Marwari Catalysts Group, says, “India’s next generation of globally successful businesses will increasingly emerge from Tier 2 and Tier-3 cities. What these businesses need is access—access to networks, markets, investors, and international ecosystems. Leap Ahead is addressing this need with remarkable speed and clarity. We are proud to support initiatives that help Indian businesses compete on the global stage.” 
 

About Leap Ahead
As Leap Ahead continues to expand its global network, the company aims to become one of India’s leading international business acceleration platforms. Through strategic partnerships, global delegations, investor access programs, trade collaborations, and market-entry initiatives, the organization seeks to empower startups, MSMEs, and growth-stage companies from across India to scale beyond borders.

For Leap Ahead, the mission remains clear: ensuring that the next globally successful Indian business can emerge not only from major metros, but also from small cities that can be entrepreneurial hubs across the country.

EuroKids Pre-Schools, one of India’s leading preschool networks, has partnered with Kauvery Group of Hospitals, a leading multispeciality healthcare chain in Tamil Nadu. The partnership is aimed to strengthen awareness around child health, wellbeing, and early childhood development. The collaboration brings together expertise from healthcare and early childhood education to support children during their most formative years.

(L-R) Mr KVS Seshasai, CEO, Pre-K Division, Lighthouse Learning Group and Dr Aravindan Selvaraj Co-Founder and Executive Director Kauvery Group of Hospitals

At EuroKids, the belief that a child’s wellbeing is shaped by health, safety, emotional security, and early learning experiences has been central to its philosophy of Child First. Safety First. for over 25 years. Through this association with Kauvery Hospital, EuroKids aims to create greater awareness among parents and caregivers about the importance of nurturing strong developmental foundations in the early years.

The partnership aligns with EuroKids’ Sariyaana Thodakkam (Right start) movement, a nationwide awareness initiative focused on educating families about the critical importance of the early years, particularly between the ages of 1 and 6, in shaping lifelong learning, wellbeing and development.

Research continues to show that the earliest years play a significant role in a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. With this shared belief, EuroKids and Kauvery Hospital will work together to encourage conversations around child health, nutrition, growth milestones, emotional wellbeing, and age-appropriate development.

As part of the initiative, health and wellness programs, awareness sessions and health camps will be conducted across select EuroKids centres. These sessions will provide parents with access to expert guidance from healthcare professionals on key aspects of child health and overall wellbeing.

Speaking on the partnership, KVS Seshasai, CEO, Pre-K Division, Lighthouse Learning Group, said, “At EuroKids, we have always believed that a child’s earliest years are their most defining and that a truly Right Start encompasses not just learning, but health, safety and emotional wellbeing. Our partnership with Kauvery Hospital brings together two deeply complementary areas of expertise with a single shared purpose which is to give every child the strongest possible foundation for life. Through the Sariyaana Thodakkam movement, we hope to inspire a broader national conversation about what children truly need in their first six years and this collaboration is a meaningful step in that direction.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said, “The foundation for lifelong health is laid in the early years of childhood. At Kauvery, we believe that empowering parents with the right knowledge on nutrition, growth, preventive care, and developmental wellbeing can make a meaningful difference in a child’s future. Our collaboration with EuroKids is an opportunity to bring healthcare expertise closer to families and support children in growing healthier, stronger and more confident during their most important developmental years.”

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building stronger support systems around young children. Through the Sariyaana Thodakkam movement, EuroKids seeks to encourage a broader societal conversation around what children truly need in their early years – safe environments, positive relationships, good health, proper nutrition, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences. The partnership with Kauvery Hospital further strengthens this vision by bringing medical expertise into the early childhood development ecosystem.

As part of Lighthouse Learning, India’s leading Early Childhood and K-12 Education group, EuroKids has been at the forefront of early childhood education for 25 years. With a network of more than 2,000 preschools across 560+ cities and having nurtured over 1 million children, EuroKids continues to champion initiatives that support children’s holistic development. Guided by the HEUREKA – The Visible Thinking Curriculum, grounded in Harvard Project Zero – and backed by TÜV Nord safety certification across every centre, EuroKids believes that every child deserves a Right Start, one that supports not only learning outcomes but also physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

By combining healthcare awareness with early childhood education, EuroKids and Kauvery Hospital aim to contribute towards healthier childhoods and better developmental outcomes for the next generation.

PayGlocal, India’s leading cross-border payments platform, announced the launch of Google Pay Card Payments on its International Payment Gateway, making it one of the first payment platforms in India to enable Google Pay for international transactions.

PayGlocal strengthens its international payment gateway with Google Pay Card Payments, giving Indian merchants access to trusted global payment experiences

With this launch, and Apple Pay already live on PayGlocal’s gateway, Indian merchants can now collectively reach over one billion customers across the world’s largest consumer markets – the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the UAE, Singapore, and across Western Europe. This means, an Indian merchant’s global customer can reach checkout and pay in a single tap, in their own currency, using Google Pay Card Payments on PayGlocal. 

Outside India, Google Pay is the card-linked NFC and online checkout wallet for hundreds of millions of Android users worldwide. It operates across 86+ countries, supports 60+ currencies, and is integrated with over 6.4 million merchants globally. In the US, 87% of merchants accept it at checkout. In the UK, Australia, and across Europe, it is the default tap-to-pay experience for a generation of consumers who have never reached for a physical card at checkout.

These are exactly the consumers Indian exporters have been trying to reach – high-intent, digitally native buyers in high-purchasing-power markets who, until now, often hit friction at an Indian merchant’s checkout. A foreign card declined, a payment form that felt unfamiliar, a sale lost.

Google Pay Card Payments on PayGlocal eliminates that entirely.

“Google Pay is how hundreds of millions of people across the world’s biggest markets pay every day. Bringing it to Indian merchants is not just a feature addition – it is a fundamental shift in who Indian brands can sell to and how seamlessly they can do it,” said Yogesh Lokhande, Co-founder and CTO, PayGlocal. “Combined with Apple Pay, we have now built the payments stack that puts every major global consumer within reach of every Indian merchant on our platform. This is what it means to take India to the world.”

PayGlocal anticipates a nearly 40% increase in merchant activations following the Google Pay launch, as Indian businesses move quickly to eliminate checkout friction for their global customers.

What This Unlocks for Indian Merchants

• One billion+ users reached: Google Pay and Apple Pay together span 90+ countries -both available through a single integration on PayGlocal’s International Payment Gateway.

• Full Android coverage: Google Pay serves the hundreds of millions of Android users in key export markets, a segment complementary to Apple Pay’s iOS user base.

• Up to 40% higher conversion: Payment methods like Google Pay and Apple Pay consistently outperform manual card entry at checkout – consumers are more likely to complete a purchase when their preferred payment method is available.

• Secure by design: Every Google Pay transaction is tokenized and biometrically authenticated at the device level – no card details are ever exposed, no credentials stored on merchant servers.

• 60+ currencies: Customers pay in their local currency. Merchants settle in theirs. PayGlocal handles everything in between.

The Checkout Experience Global Buyers Expect
For a shopper in London, Sydney, or San Francisco, buying from an Indian brand should feel no different from buying from a local one. With Google Pay Card Payments now live on PayGlocal’s gateway, it does. PayGlocal’s intelligent routing and fraud prevention layer works underneath every transaction, combining Google’s global security framework with PayGlocal’s deep expertise in cross-border payment flows, ensuring every checkout is fast, secure, and seamless, wherever in the world the customer is.

India Is Ready. The World Can Now Pay
India recorded over 208 billion digital payment transactions in 2024, among the highest of any country in the world. The country has not just adopted digital payments; it has set the global benchmark for what fast, seamless, and trusted payments look like.

PayGlocal exists to carry that standard across borders. Because the same trust, speed, and confidence that an Indian consumer feels tapping their phone to pay should be exactly what a customer in London or Sydney feels when they buy from an Indian brand. With Google Pay now live alongside Apple Pay, and a payments stack purpose-built for cross-border commerce, PayGlocal is giving India’s best businesses everything they need to go global, and making sure the world can pay for them.

About PayGlocal
PayGlocal is India’s leading cross-border payments platform, purpose-built for Indian businesses selling to global customers. Founded in 2021 by payments veterans from Visa, PayGlocal offers international card processing, multi-currency accounts, alternate payment methods, and advanced fraud detection – all engineered to maximize payment success rates for Indian businesses operating globally. PayGlocal is RBI-authorized as a Payment Aggregator, both cross-border (inward and outward), and domestic (online).

At Mars Pet Nutrition India, pets are not occasional visitors to the office. They are part of the everyday culture, bringing warmth into corridors, joy into busy days, and a living connection to the company’s purpose.

Maya and Mia, Mars Pet Nutrition India’s two adopted pet associates

Commenting on the initiative, Manish Syag, Managing Director, Mars Pet Nutrition India, said, “At Mars Pet Nutrition India, pets are at the centre of what we do every single day. Our purpose of creating A Better World for Pets comes alive through our brands, our campaigns and, most meaningfully, through the culture we build inside our own workplace. Our office in India has always welcomed pets, and Maya and Mia, our two pet associates, remind us of our purpose every single day. They bring people together, create moments of joy, and keep us deeply connected to the reason we exist as a pet nutrition business.”

That purpose comes alive every day through Maya and Mia, Mars Pet Nutrition India’s two adopted pet associates.

Maya’s story began when she was adopted into the Mars Pet Nutrition India family and made the office her home. What started as an act of care soon became something much larger. Maya became part of the rhythm of the workplace, greeting associates, bringing teams together, encouraging moments of pause and reminding everyone of the powerful bond between people and pets. Over time, she became a daily expression of Mars Pet Nutrition India’s purpose, not just a companion in the office but a much loved pet associate.

More recently, Mia was also adopted into the Mars Pet Nutrition India family, adding even more warmth, energy and joy to the workplace. Together, Maya and Mia are living reminders of why Mars Pet Nutrition India exists: to create A Better World for Pets.

This year, Bring Your Pet to Work Day celebrations turned that everyday belief into a full workplace takeover.

From workstations to LinkedIn profiles, pets took over Mars Pet Nutrition India. In the office, they joined associates across workspaces, sparked conversations, became instant mood lifters, and brought teams together through moments of joy, play and connection. The day was filled with the kind of energy only pets can create: spontaneous, warm, playful and deeply human.

The takeover also came alive on LinkedIn, where Mars Pet Nutrition India associates handed over their professional profiles to their pets. Profile photos were replaced. Professional identities were reimagined. Job titles got a four legged upgrade.

Across the Mars Pet Nutrition India network, pets introduced themselves as Chief Barketing Officers, Treat Acquisition Experts, Chief Entertainment Officers, Chief Executive Floof Officers and Global Leads for Food Detection and Recovery. Through these pet personas, associates celebrated the often unseen role pets play in their lives as companions, stress busters, routine setters, joy givers and silent supporters behind every workday.

The LinkedIn takeover was more than a playful digital moment. It was a creative expression of a deeper truth: while people bring their professional selves to work, pets often help them bring their best selves to work.

Mars Pet Nutrition’s recent Pet Friendly Advantage 2026 Workplace Report, based on a survey of more than 16,000 workers across 16 European markets, reinforces this shift. The research found that 55% of workers would consider switching jobs if it meant they could bring their pets to work, while 81% said pets create a more relaxed workplace atmosphere. The findings point to a growing global belief that pet friendly workplaces can positively influence wellbeing, culture, belonging and talent retention.

For Mars Pet Nutrition India, these insights are not theoretical. They reflect a culture the organisation has been living for years, one where pets are at the centre of what the business does every single day.

The initiative also connects with growing evidence around the positive impact pets have on everyday wellbeing. According to the Mars x Calm study in India, 93% of Indian pet parents say their pets encourage them to take breaks from work, 92% say pets help them unplug from screens, 88% say pets help reduce anxiety and overthinking, and 79% report a positive impact on their mental wellbeing.

Veronika Kraus, Director P&O, Mars Pet Nutrition India, added,“Culture is built through what people experience every day. At Mars Pet Nutrition India, pets are a natural part of that experience. They help associates connect more openly, bring warmth into the workplace and create small but powerful moments of belonging. Bring Your Pet to Work Day brought this alive beautifully in the office, and the LinkedIn takeover extended that same spirit online in a way that was joyful, authentic and deeply personal for our associates.”

For associates, the day was both exciting and emotional. It gave pet parents an opportunity to bring an important part of their lives into the workplace, while also allowing colleagues to experience how pets can transform the mood, pace and energy of a shared space.

Sharing the experience, Jagadeesh Konathala,​ Chief ​Digital ​Information ​Officer, Mars ​Pet ​Nutrition, ​Rapid ​Growth ​Markets , said, “I am delighted to be part of an organization where pets are celebrated every day. At Mars Pet Nutrition India, we are in service of pets, not only through the right nutrition we create for them, but also by celebrating them and making them a meaningful part of our daily lives at work. I have brought my pet to work on multiple occasions, so today felt like another beautiful expression of a culture we already live every day. Watching pets take over our workstations and LinkedIn profiles was joyful, but it also reminded me why this workplace feels so special. Here, pets truly belong.”

The initiative is part of Mars Pet Nutrition India’s continued commitment to creating A Better World for Pets and setting an example for how pets can be meaningfully integrated into workplaces, not as a one day celebration, but as part of a more connected, empathetic and purpose led culture.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com

Rising electricity costs have made energy-efficient appliances a priority for many households, and ceiling fans are no exception. Atomberg’s BLDC ceiling fan range in 2026 combines lower power consumption with modern convenience features such as remote control, timer functions, boost mode, and smart app connectivity. The lineup spans blade sweeps from 900 mm to 1400 mm across the Renesa, Efficio, Erica, and Studio series, with models priced between Rs. 5,190 and Rs. 9,270. Choosing the right fan depends on room size, airflow requirements, design preferences, and the level of smart functionality required.

Best Atomberg ceiling fans for bedrooms, living rooms, and smart homes in India in 2026

During the Bajaj Finance Summer Sale, shoppers can purchase their preferred Atomberg ceiling fan at a highly competitive price, thanks to limited-time offers and discounts at Bajaj Finance partner stores. Models can be browsed on Bajaj Mall, compared by blade sweep, series, and smart features, and purchased at any of the 1.5 lakh+ partner stores across 4,000+ cities. With an Easy EMI Loan of up to Rs. 5 lakh and repayment tenures ranging from 3 to 60 months, the cost can be split into manageable monthly instalments. Select models also come with a zero down payment offer.

Top-selling Atomberg ceiling fans to explore in 2026
The following models cover a range of room sizes, design styles, and smart features available across the Atomberg lineup: 

1. Atomberg Renesa 1200 mm BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote

Price: Rs. 5,190
EMIs starting from: Rs. 830 per month

Why it works: A practical option for bedrooms and medium-sized living rooms. The BLDC motor helps reduce electricity consumption, while the remote control makes everyday operation more convenient.

2. Atomberg Renesa 1400 mm 28 W BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote (Matte Brown)

Price: Rs. 5,590
EMIs starting from: Rs. 830 per month

Why it works: The wider 1400 mm sweep provides stronger air circulation across larger rooms and halls while maintaining the energy efficiency associated with BLDC technology.

3. Atomberg Efficio Plus 1200 mm BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote (Sand Grey)

Price: Rs. 5,850
EMIs starting from: Rs. 830 per month

Why it works: Designed for bedrooms, study rooms, and workspaces, this model combines quiet operation with practical features such as a timer and remote control.

4. Atomberg Erica 1200 mm BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote (Snow White)

Price: Rs. 6,750
EMIs starting from: Rs. 830 per month

Why it works: A stylish option for modern interiors, combining a minimalist design with the energy-saving benefits of a BLDC motor.

5. Atomberg Studio Plus 1200 mm 32 W BLDC Ceiling Fan (Earth Brown)

Price: Rs. 7,410
EMIs starting from: Rs. 830 per month

Why it works: Integrates LED lighting and cooling in a single fixture, making it suitable for rooms where both functions are required without additional fittings.

6. Atomberg Renesa Smart Plus 1200 mm BLDC Ceiling Fan with Remote (Pearl White)

Price: Rs. 8,860
EMIs starting from: Rs. 830 per month

Why it works: Adds app-based and voice control, allowing users to adjust speed, create schedules, and manage settings through a connected home ecosystem.

Disclaimer: EMIs and prices may vary by partner store, offer period, location, and variant. Please check the latest information at the partner store before purchase.
 

How to buy an Atomberg ceiling fan from Bajaj Finance partner stores?
Splitting the cost of a new Atomberg ceiling fan into monthly instalments makes the upgrade significantly more manageable. Shoppers can follow these steps to complete the purchase:

• Browse on Bajaj Mall: Compare Atomberg ceiling fan models by blade sweep, series, and smart features before visiting a store.

• Check pre-approved eligibility: The pre-approved loan limit can be verified on the Bajaj Finance website using a registered mobile number and OTP verification.

• Find a partner store: Shortlisted models can be checked at 1.5 lakh+ Bajaj Finance partner stores across 4,000+ cities.

• Check the model in person: In-store staff can assist with evaluating blade sweep, design, and key features.

• Choose an EMI plan: Financing of up to Rs. 5 lakh is available through the Bajaj Finance Easy EMI Loan, with zero down payment on select models and tenures from 3 to 60 months.

• Complete the purchase: Once approved, the transaction is processed immediately and the Atomberg ceiling fan can be taken home the same day.

With limited-time offers during the Bajaj Finance Summer Sale, now is an ideal time to upgrade to an energy-efficient Atomberg ceiling fan that matches both room requirements and design preferences.

Bajaj Finance Limited
Bajaj Finance Ltd. (‘BFL’, ‘Bajaj Finance’, or ‘the Company’), a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). BFL is engaged in the business of lending and acceptance of deposits. It has a diversified lending portfolio across retail, SMEs, and commercial customers with significant presence in both urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate deposits and offers a variety of financial services products to its customers. BFL, a thirty-five-year-old enterprise, has now become a leading player in the NBFC sector in India and on a consolidated basis, it has a franchise of 69.14 million customers. BFL has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and CRISIL AAA/Stable & [ICRA]AAA(Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global ratings.

To know more, visit www.bajajfinserv.in.

• UnboxingBLR joins the record-breaking plantation drive on June 27th announced by the state government.

• Spread across 8 kms and 6,000+ saplings, UBLR’s drive focuses on avenue roads, round-abouts in the new Kempegowda Layout

• Thrust on native, colour-sequenced flowering species to ensure that some part of the corridor is always in bloom round the year

• The plantation drive’s two-pronged approach keeps both aesthetics and environment in mind while boosting Bengaluru’s green heritage
   

UnboxingBLR joins forces with the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) plantation drive with its uniquely designed Bloom Avenue project on the Major Arterial Road connecting Mysuru Road and Magadi Road.
 

UBLR planting the first sapling for Bloom Avenue on Major Arterial Road
 

On June 27th, as part of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanthi celebration, the Karnataka government announced a single-day plantation drive with over 50,000 volunteers planting 1.5 million saplings in Bengaluru – targeting a spot in the Guinness World Record.
 

The city-focused not-for-profit UBLR participated in the initiative with its Bloom Avenue project. Along the major arterial Road in Kempegowda Layout and roundabouts, UBLR has begun planting 6000+ saplings across 8 kms.
 

UBLR’s plantation drive is at least partly inspired by the city’s green historical legacy. Bengaluru’s identity as India’s Garden City was never accidental, it was cultivated. The city’s most enduring botanical legacy traces to Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, the landscape architect who shaped its parks and avenues in the early twentieth century. This received a major boost in the 1980s from the then Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) S. G. Neginhal who played a significant role in expanding Bengaluru’s urban tree cover and reinforcing its Garden City identity. Both Krumbiegel and Neginhal have given Bengaluru its defining character of tree-lined avenue roads and seasonal colour. That legacy has shaped how generations of residents relate to their city. Bloom Avenue is a conscious continuation of that tradition by restoring intentional, aesthetically considered greenery to a major urban corridor at a moment when the city’s green cover faces sustained pressure from rapid growth and densification.
 

Bloom Avenue concept visualised using AI
 

UBLR’s Avenue Bloom focuses on flowering species that are colour-sequenced and coordinated so that some part of the corridor is in bloom every month of the year. The initiative strikes a delicate balance between aesthetics and native species in its plantation drive. Bloom Avenue is a deliberate greening intervention on a Bengaluru arterial road in recent memory. Further, the green initiative is designed to attract birds and butterflies to the layout when the saplings mature and grow into trees.
 

The Project Bloom is being executed in partnership with BDA, which also supplied the flowering saplings through its Forest Division. UBLR has funded and executed all ground-level operations, including pit digging and planting. UBLR will undertake all protective measures during the growth period and will be responsible for watering and maintenance of these plants for the first three years. 
 

The corridor is divided into eight one-kilometre sub-zones, each planted with a distinct colour pairing drawn from complementary species ensuring that at least one sub-zone is in full bloom at any point in the year. Species selection prioritises indigenous varieties deeply adapted to Bengaluru’s climate; where naturalised non-native species are included, they carry strong cultural and botanical ties to the city’s history.
 

Phase 2 will extend planting to service roads alongside ongoing maintenance of Phase 1 saplings. The three-year maintenance commitment covers watering, monitoring, replacement of failed saplings, and upkeep to BDA standards.
 

“Long back, German botanist Krumbiegel made Bengaluru bloom all through the year. Decades later, the beauty of his work endures, enriching the city’s natural heritage and enhancing Bengaluru’s aesthetic appeal. Taking inspiration, Project Bloom focuses on both native species and flowering aesthetics to boost Bengaluru’s natural heritage for future generations. What makes this project special is the coming together of citizens, institutions, and government around a shared vision for the city,” Prashanth Prakash, Chairman, UnboxingBLR Foundation.
 

“We are very pleased to see Bloom Avenue move from concept to ground reality. The BDA has been glad to facilitate this, from providing the saplings and granting the necessary approvals, to supporting a model of civic collaboration that we hope will inspire many more such partnerships across the city. The Magadi Road–Mysuru Road corridor will be greener and more beautiful for it,” Major Manivannan P, Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority.
 

“Bloom Avenue is exactly the kind of initiative Bengaluru needs by being citizen-led, rigorously planned, and built for the long term. A green, blooming corridor along Magadi Road and Mysuru Road will benefit the residents and communities and serve as a model for how our arterial roads can be transformed. We are happy to have it as part of the plantation drive for Kempegowda Jayanthi celebration on June 27th,” N. A. Haris, Chairman, Bangalore Development Authority.

About UnboxingBLR Foundation

UnboxingBLR (UBLR) is a Bengaluru-focused not-for-profit platform working with multiple stakeholders to envision and execute city-scale projects. UBLR operates at the intersection of content, culture, and city-building, documenting the city’s journey, shaping its civic agenda, and building programmes designed to last. Founded in 2023 by Prashanth Prakash and Malini Goyal, UBLR brings together people, communities, and institutions to co-create Bengaluru’s story, serving as a city champion, catalyst and an enabler for a range of initiatives.
 

UBLR drives initiatives such as BLR Hubba, a city-wide festival celebrating art and culture; Namma Bengaluru Challenge, a city-focused accelerator program that supports startups and changemakers tackling urban challenges; WeAreCity annual data report that offers multi-dimensional data-led insights on India’s top eight cities; Code to Culture, a podcast focused on voices and stories from the city. UBLR in partnership with the Department of IT/BT/DoE is also building India’s first Museum of Innovation, Startup and Technology in Bengaluru.

In a significant moment for India’s social impact ecosystem, Mothers of Courage – Shifting Societal Norms, One Conversation at a Time, a project documenting a grassroots movement for girls’ education in Bihar through a powerful film, has earned India’s only shortlist in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Lions category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026.

From the villages of Bihar to the global stage at Cannes—celebrating the courage of mothers transforming girls’ education

The project, submitted by Bengaluru-based organisations Mantra Social Services and ShikshaLokam, both part of the broader Shikshagraha movement, stands alongside some of the world’s most impactful campaigns driving measurable social change.

The recognition places a community-led education initiative from rural Bihar on one of the world’s most prestigious stages for creativity and impact.

At the heart of the project is the Shiksha Chaupal, a community engagement model developed through years of grassroots work that brings together mothers, fathers, youth and local leaders to openly discuss the barriers preventing girls from completing their education. Through collective dialogue and public pledges, communities commit to ensuring girls remain in school and are protected from child marriage.

To date, the initiative has facilitated more than 28,000 community gatherings across 14 districts in Bihar, mobilising over 800,000 citizens around girls’ education and gender equality.

The eight-minute documentary Mothers of Courage, directed by Vandana R and produced by Butterfly Effect Media, chronicles these conversations and the women leading change within their communities.

“The women featured in this film are not activists in the conventional sense. They are mothers and mothers-in-law who chose to challenge deeply entrenched social norms — some fighting for their daughters, others breaking convention to send their daughters-in-law back to school,” said Khushboo Awasthi, Co-founder of Mantra4Change and Chief Curator, Shikshagraha.

“This recognition belongs to them and to the thousands of communities across Bihar that have demonstrated how collective action can create lasting change. To see that work acknowledged on a global platform like Cannes Lions is both humbling and encouraging.”   

The Sustainable Development Goals Lions category recognises work that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through demonstrable social impact. The category is among the festival’s most competitive, with a strong emphasis on measurable outcomes and real-world change.

For director Vandana R, the power of the film lay in documenting an existing movement rather than creating a narrative around it.

“Everything audiences see in Mothers of Courage emerged from real conversations taking place in villages across Bihar,” she said. “Our role was simply to listen, observe and document. The courage and conviction came from the women themselves.”

The shortlist adds to a growing list of recognitions for the project, including the Best Inspirational Film award at the Los Angeles Film Awards 2026 and a Silver at the ABBY Awards 2026 in the Sustainable Development Goals category.

For Shikshagraha, the recognition highlights the growing visibility of community-led approaches to public education reform and gender equality.

Championed by S.D. Shibulal (Co-founder and Former CEO of Infosys) and Bengaluru-based non-profits ShikshaLokam and Mantra4Change, Shikshagraha works with more than 30 partner organisations across 16 states to strengthen public education systems and improve outcomes for children in government schools.

About Shikshagraha
Shikshagraha is a people-powered movement to improve all 1 million public schools in India, so that every child experiences enriching learning and is ready for the future.

Real change begins with the child at the centre — their learning, confidence, well-being, and aspirations, and with those closest to the child. The movement enables parents, women and youth to demand and support quality education, and equips teachers, school leaders, and officials with tools for micro-improvements towards systemic change.

Currently, 30+ civil society, industry and philanthropic partners in the Shikshagraha network are collectively strengthening 1,17,000+ schools across 35 districts across 16 states & UTs. This includes enabling education leaders to lead need-based school improvements and amplifying women, youth and community participation in the public education system.

Shikshagraha works towards improving schools where the need is greatest, supports leadership on the ground, and shifts the norms that hold education back. Through visible practice change and collective action by communities, governments, civil society, and markets, it reimagines what public schools can and must deliver.

Visit shikshagraha.org/ for more details.

Reinforcing its commitment to developing globally employable hospitality professionals, Chennais Amirta International Institute of Hotel Management celebrated the graduation of over 800 students at its Graduation Ceremony held in Chennai on June 24, 2026.
 

Prof. G. Ravi confers degrees at Chennais Amrita International Institute of Hotel Management graduation ceremony with Chairman R. Boomee Naathan, COO Bhanumathi and Dean Suren
 

The event marked another significant milestone for one of South India’s leading hospitality education institutions, with graduates set to embark on careers across India and international destinations. The degrees were conferred by Hony. Con. Prof. G. Ravi, Vice-Chancellor of Alagappa University, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
 

More than 800 students were awarded degrees in programmes offered under the academic collaboration between Chennais Amirta and Alagappa University, including B.Sc. Catering and Hotel Administration, Diploma in Hotel Administration, B.Sc. Lateral Entry, and MBA in Hotel Management.

Addressing the graduates, Prof. Ravi underscored the importance of continuous learning, innovation, ethical leadership, and skill development in today’s rapidly evolving global economy. He encouraged students to embrace lifelong learning and remain adaptable to the changing demands of the hospitality and service industries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. R. Boomee Naathan, Chairman, Chennais Amirta Educational Group, said, “A graduation is not the culmination of education, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning, leadership, and professional excellence. At Chennais Amirta, our mission is to create industry-ready professionals through career-focused education in Hotel Management, Aviation and Airport Management, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management across our campuses in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kochi, and Delhi. We are proud to have facilitated 31,651 national and international placements, enabling our graduates to build successful careers with leading organisations across India, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Maldives, Mauritius, and several other countries.”

He further added, “Our recently signed MoU with the Malaysian Association of Hotels further expands global career opportunities for our students by providing access to employment opportunities across 1,100 member hotels in Malaysia. This reinforces our commitment to preparing graduates for success in an increasingly global hospitality industry.”

The graduation ceremony was attended by Mrs. Bhanumathi, Chief Operating Officer; Mr. Suren, Dean; Mr. Paul, Chief Academic Advisor; and the principals of the institution’s Nursing, Bengaluru, Balkampet, Vijayawada, and Aviation colleges, along with faculty members, graduating students, parents, and distinguished guests.

For more details, surf: www.chennaisamirta.com | 9393600700.

Medicine quality has become one of the country’s most closely watched health stories – and Medkart Pharmacy says the right response is not to fear generics, but to demand proof. The generic-medicine retail chain is putting its Medkart Assured quality program at the centre of a new transparency push, including a commitment to publish what it tests, what it rejects, and how.

Only Schedule M compliant WHO GMP certified medicines at Medkart

The backdrop is hard to ignore. Data from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) shows that 1,879 drug samples were declared Not of Standard Quality in 2025 — more than double the 877 reported in 2024 – prompting the regulator to tighten its sampling and reporting rules. The monthly alerts have spanned widely used categories, including antibiotics, cardiovascular and anti-diabetic medicines and injectables, alongside spurious and counterfeit batches. Officials have stressed that each finding relates to specific tested batches rather than the wider market, but the trend has understandably sharpened public attention on how medicines are vetted before they reach a patient.

That attention lands on an existing anxiety. A 2025 study published in a peer-reviewed clinical pharmacology journal found that patients often harbour doubts about the safety and effectiveness of generic medicines – particularly in oncology and cardiovascular care — with inconsistent communication and limited manufacturer-level visibility cited as key barriers to trust. It is precisely this gap that Medkart Assured was built to close.

We don’t ask patients to trust us – we show them why they can. Independent audits, two rounds of third-party testing, and only then the Medkart Assured tag. We would rather publish our rejection rate than hide behind a logo. – Parasharan Chari, Co-founder, Medkart Pharmacy.

Under the Medkart Assured program, procurement is aligned with Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act – the regulation that sets Good Manufacturing Practice standards for pharmaceutical production. Medkart independently audits the plants of its partner manufacturers, and every product undergoes compulsory dual testing at NABL-accredited third-party laboratories. Only after a product clears these thresholds does it earn the ‘Medkart Assured’ tag, shown both in-store and online. In parallel, the company’s pharmacists are trained not merely to dispense but to explain quality differences and answer patients’ doubts, and its in-app comparison tool helps patients make informed choices.

Building on that program, Medkart says it intends to publish a Medkart Assured Quality & Transparency Report – setting out the volume of batches tested, the proportion rejected, the therapy areas covered and the testing protocol followed. A quality disclosure of this kind from a pharmacy retailer is rare in India, and Medkart frames it as an open invitation to scrutiny rather than a request for blind faith.

The country is rightly worried about medicine quality. The answer is not to fear generics – it is to demand proof. We are putting our proof on the table and inviting everyone to raise the bar with us. – Ankur Agarwal, Co-founder, Medkart Pharmacy.

Medkart is careful to position the move as a standard for the category rather than a verdict on any individual manufacturer or competitor. Its message to patients, the company says, is simple: affordability and safety should never be a trade-off – and the way to prove it is to show the work.

Notes to editors – sources

• CDSCO – 1,879 NSQ samples in 2025 vs 877 in 2024; tightened sampling rules – Outlook India

• CDSCO monthly NSQ alert detail (categories affected) – Medical Dialogues

• Medkart Assured – Schedule M, plant audits, dual NABL testing; founder quotes – The Bengal