• New Material Recovery Centre to streamline plastic collection and recycling

• Features a first-of-its-kind Plastic Recycling Museum

Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading packaged drinking water company under its flagship sustainability initiative Bottles for Change, has partnered with the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) to roll out a holistic plastic waste management project across the city.

Bisleri and MBMC unveil a first-of-its-kind Plastic Recovery and Sustainability Experiential Centre in Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra

This initiative includes a dedicated Plastic Recovery centre & a Sustainability Inspiration Centre that is a unique Plastic Recycling Museum. Together, the two facilities will help raise awareness and sensitize people on responsible plastic disposal, while enabling an efficient system for the collection and recycling of plastic waste from hotels, restaurants, corporates, institutions, and housing societies. 

The Plastic Recovery Centre is a state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF) set up to strengthen the city’s recycling infrastructure and ecosystem. Equipped with a conveyor belt, baling machine, and other essential machinery provided by Bisleri, the centre will streamline collection, segregation, and processing of plastic waste for recycling.

This marks a significant step toward the shared vision of achieving “Zero Plastic to Landfill” and building a cleaner, greener Mira Bhayandar.

The newly developed Plastic Recycling Museum, known as the Sustainability Inspiration Centre is a first-of-its-kind for the region. Built entirely from recycled materials, the museum offers an experiential learning environment for children and citizens. Its main attraction, “Binny the Bird”, a striking installation created using 2,000 recycled plastic bottles. The museum also features interactive exhibits showcasing the journey of plastic from waste to valuable products. Additionally 70 public benches built entirely from recycled bottle caps will be installed across the city, serving as lasting symbols of community driven recycling and responsible environmental practices.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International, said, “At Bisleri, our commitment to sustainability is about creating systems that inspire action. Our collaboration with the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation is a significant milestone in strengthening community participation and advancing circular economy at the city level. With the Plastic Recovery facility & the Sustainability Inspiration Centre, along with public benches made from recycled caps, we aim to pave responsible pathways for plastic usage and disposal. Together, we are working toward a future where every citizen becomes an active partner in achieving a cleaner, greener Mira Bhayandar.”

Shri Radhabinod Sharma, IAS- Municipal Commissioner & Administrator, MBMC, added, “Effective plastic waste management is a key focus area for the Municipal Corporation. The Plastic Recovery & Sustainability Inspiration Centre supports our efforts to build a more organized and responsible system for the city. The centre, along with the Recycling Museum, will help improve awareness about segregation and recycling among citizens, especially students. We value this partnership with Bisleri International, as it strengthens our ongoing initiatives and helps Mira Bhayandar move toward a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment.”

The event was also graced by K Ganesh, Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International, Dr Sachin Bangar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Dr Sambhaji Panpatte, Additional Commissioner and Assistant Municipal Commissioners: Yogesh Gunijan and Priyanka Bhosale.

Together, these efforts represent a pioneering step toward building a robust circular economy model, one that inspires, educates, and empowers citizens to manage waste effectively. This collaboration underscores Bisleri’s long-standing commitment to promoting responsible plastic use, recycling, and community participation. 

With medical inflation rising steadily and healthcare needs changing as one ages, consumers are looking at options outside the standard one-size-fits-all health policies. They are keen on plans that offer long-term value, deeper protection, and the flexibility to adapt to sudden changes. This is driving demand for sharp, focused health insurance solutions that offer meaningful customisation, continuity benefits, and greater control over coverage.

A fully customizable health insurance product with industry-first features like 10x Cumulative Bonus, Gym & Sports Injury Cover along with other Special Covers like Endless Sum Insured

This is why forward-looking health insurance plans like SBI General Health Alpha, with flexible personalisation options, a variety of add-ons, and customizable sum insured choices, are getting increasingly popular among customers seeking adaptable, and comprehensive protection. 

Here are five key reasons why one should choose SBI General Health Alpha: 

1. Build-Your-Own Health Plan – A customizable Approach
Health Alpha moves beyond the traditional model. A fully customizable health insurance product, designed for unlimited flexibility and over 50 coverage options. Health Alpha embodies the ethos of Your Health. Your Cover. Your Way, empowering customers to create personalized health plans that suit their lifestyle and healthcare requirements. 

It allows customers to adjust coverage limits within offered benefits, and modify waiting periods, ensuring complete flexibility to customize their health plan to individual needs.

2. High-Cover Protection, Including Unlimited Sum Insured
With rising healthcare costs, large medical bills, especially for critical illnesses or long hospital stays, are becoming more common. Health Alpha offers a solution with sum insured options starting at ₹5 lakh and extending up to an Unlimited Sum Insured, providing families with strong, long-term financial protection. Additionally, the Endless Sum Insured benefit adds an extra layer of security by covering one major hospitalization claim beyond the base coverage, ensuring customers remain protected even during high-cost medical emergencies.

3. Strong Continuity Benefits for Life Milestones
The Plan Ahead optional cover allows families to expand their cover for major life events. This unique benefit provides Waiting Period continuity earned by the policyholder to newly married spouse (age up to age 35 years) and/or newborn children (maximum 2 children), provided they are enrolled under the Policy within 120 days of marriage or birth. 

4. Industry-First Gym & Sports Injury Cover
Recognising India’s growing focus on fitness and wellness, Health Alpha offers industry’s-first and exclusive add-on which provides OPD benefits for injuries sustained during hobby sports or daily fitness activities, covering specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, prescribed medicines, and physical therapy.

5. Up to 10x Cumulative Bonus for Claim-Free Years
Health Alpha features one of the most rewarding bonus structures in the industry with its 10x Cumulative Bonus benefit. For every year a customer remains claim-free, this benefit increases their coverage by up to 10 times the base sum insured. This means families get significantly more protection over time, creating a strong safety net as healthcare needs grow. This benefit helps customers build long-term financial security confidently, ensuring their health coverage keeps pace with rising medical costs.

As health needs become more diverse and financial risks rise, customers are seeking health insurance plans that offer depth, flexibility, and lasting protection. SBI General Health Alpha captures this trend perfectly by combining customizable options with high coverage limits, milestone continuity, and wellness-focused features. The product also offers few industry-first features like 10x Cumulative Bonus, Gym & Sports Injury Cover along with other Special Covers like Endless Sum Insured. Together, these benefits make it an attractive choice for families who want a strong, future-ready health protection plan that adapts to their evolving needs and ensures peace of mind.

About SBI General Insurance
SBI General Insurance, one of the fastest-growing private general insurance firms, backed by the robust support of SBI, upholds a legacy of trust and security. We position ourselves as India’s most trusted general insurer amidst a dynamic landscape. Since our establishment in 2009, our expansion has been substantial, growing from 17 branches in 2011 to a nationwide presence in 146 branches. In FY 2024-25, SBI General Insurance reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of INR 14,140 crores, recording a YOY growth of 11.1%.

The company received numerous prestigious accolades, showcasing its excellence across various domains. Key honors include being named as the Domestic General Insurer of the Year – India and Claims Initiative of the Year – India at Insurance Asia Awards 2025 Singapore, Large General Insurance category at the Mint BFSI Summit & Awards, the 3rd InsureNext Awards 2024 for Best Claims Settlement, and India’s Best General Insurer of the Year at the 7th Insurance Conclave Awards. At the India Insurance Summit & Awards 2024, the company secured titles for General Insurance Company of the Year and Leading Implementer of Analytics Technology in Insurance. Additionally, it was honored as the Best BFSI Brand at the ET NOW Best BFSI Brands Conclave 2024 and included in BW BusinessWorld’s India’s Most Respected Companies. Certified as a Great Place to Work in 2024, the company also excelled at the ETBFSI Exceller Awards 2024 with recognition for Best Claims Management in Insurance and Best CSR Campaign of the Year, further highlighting its commitment to social responsibility and innovation.

With a team of over 9,000+ employees and our multi-distribution model covering Bancassurance, Agency, OEM, Broking, Retail Direct Channels, and Digital collaborations, we are committed to providing both Suraksha and Bharosa to all our consumers. Leveraging a vast network that includes over 22000+ SBI branches, plus agents, financial alliances, OEMs, and digital partners, we extend our services to even the most remote areas of India. Our offerings cater to Retail, Corporate, SME and Rural segments, and our diverse product portfolio ensures accessibility through both digital and physical channels.

Padma Shri Dr. P. T. Usha, Hon’ble MP and President of the Indian Olympic Association, inaugurated the Vels Football Residential Academy and Vels Swimming School at Vels University’s Thalambur campus (OMR), Chennai. Established by the Vels Group of Institutions with an investment of  Rs 25 crores, the sports campus aims to position Tamil Nadu as a rising centre for football and aquatic sports.

Vels FC was inaugurated by Indian Olympic Association President Dr. P. T. Usha in the presence of Vels Group of Institutions Chairman Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh

The academy features a FIFA-standard football turf, a modern residential training complex, and international-level coaching led by experienced Spanish trainers. More than 200 players from across India are currently enrolled in structured football programmes. In a significant step towards international exposure, Vels FC has sponsored a student with Rs 20 lakh for advanced football training in Spain.

The campus also includes the Vels Swimming School, which houses Olympic-standard swimming lanes, a three-level diving platform, and a pool with depths ranging from 3 to 12 feet making it among the most advanced aquatic training centres in the region.

During the event, Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, the President of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association and Founder Chancellor of Vels University, felicitated Tamil Nadu’s Kabaddi gold medalists Karthika and Abinash with scholarships worth Rs 1 lakh each. He also announced that 80 talented students from rural Tamil Nadu have been offered free training, accommodation, nutrition, and education as part of the institution’s commitment to grassroots sports development.

Dr. P. T. Usha praised Dr. Ganesh for offering 500 free seats every year 200 of which are dedicated to sports achievers and congratulated him on being re-elected unopposed as the President of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association. TAOA General Secretary Adhav Arjuna appreciated Dr. Ishari K Ganesh initiative and urged more institutions to contribute to grassroots sports. He also appealed to the IOA  President to allow Tamil Nadu to host the National Games for the first time.

The launch of the Vels Football Residential Academy and Vels Swimming School marks a major milestone in Tamil Nadu’s sporting landscape, providing young athletes with world-class infrastructure, international coaching, and opportunities to pursue excellence at national and global levels.

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

BairesDev®, an award-winning nearshore software development company, just released a new edition of the Dev Barometer, a quarterly global survey that dives into the minds of software engineers and project managers. This edition focuses on how AI impacted their jobs in 2025 and is changing software work and team structures heading into 2026, gathering insights from 501 developers and 19 project managers across 40 countries, including 75 participants from India.

How Indian developers expect their roles and responsibilities to evolve in 2026

AI Redefines Work and Skills for Indian Developers:

• 63% of Indian developers say AI-generated code is currently “somewhat reliable,” requiring continued validation to ensure quality, accuracy, and security. Only 12% believe AI code can be used without human oversight.

• 79% say AI has strengthened their technical skills, 52% say it improved their work-life balance, and 52% say it has expanded their career opportunities in 2025. 

• 7 in 10 (72%) Indian developers believe their role will be redefined in 2026. Of those: 

• 81% expect to shift from coding to designing technical solutions

• 70% expect to integrate AI-generated code into their workflows

• 52% anticipate a greater focus on strategy and architecture

“At the start of the year, many asked how AI would change developers’ roles. It’s clear now: developers are the first professionals to reinvent their jobs in real time,” said Nacho De Marco, CEO and Co-Founder of BairesDev. “They’re using AI to boost productivity, learn faster, and drive innovation. What’s happening in software today will soon happen across every knowledge industry: people will think bigger, break old limits, and redefine what productivity means.”

How Will the Developer Role Be In 2026?
As AI reshapes their day-to-day work, Indian developers see 2026 as a turning point for how software teams are structured, managed, and the skills required to stay competitive: 

• 67% expect new career opportunities to emerge. 

• 6 in 10 (63%) predict that AI will create more specialized roles in 2026.

• 53% foresee smaller, leaner teams as automation reduces entry-level tasks.

While Indian developers expect AI to continue transforming the industry in 2026, they are divided on how it will affect early-career roles: 31% expect these positions to shift in quality, requiring stronger analytical and AI-assisted coding skills; 28% anticipate growth as AI creates new products and markets, and 11% predict a decline in traditional junior roles.

Five in Ten Indian Developers Unlocked New Career Opportunities in 2025
Indian developers are increasingly operating in AI-integrated environments: 6 in 10 say AI accelerates project delivery, shortening time-to-market, and saving 10 hours a week. While enthusiasm is high, developers are also realistic about its current capabilities.

Overall, Indian developers still spend most of their time on writing code and building features (64%), debugging and fixing bugs (52%), and reviewing code and pulling requests (32%). 15% of Indian developers said they focus primarily on creative problem-solving and innovation, a figure expected to grow as AI continues to automate routine coding tasks.

Where Will Tech Jobs Grow in 2026?
As software teams become smaller and leaner in 2026, there is a shift toward more specialized structures, AI-integrated workflows, and human oversight in design and delivery.

• 67% of Indian developers warn that those without AI skills risk falling behind. Global PMs identified AI/ML specialists (76%) as the biggest upcoming talent gap, followed by data engineers and prompt engineers. 

• Indian developers expect AI/ML (76%), data analytics (49%), and prompt engineering (43%) to be the fastest-growing areas in 2026. 

• 63% of global PMs said developers will require more training in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity.

The Dev Barometer Q3 2025 edition showed AI had already become standard practice: 92% of Indian developers were using AI-assisted coding, saving an average of 10 hours per week. This new Q4 Edition points to an industry defined by AI integration: Indian developers foresee their core work evolving into a strategic role. Teams get leaner and more specialized, and upskilling in AI, data, and security becomes mandatory. In short, the role changes, the team structure follows, and human oversight remains central, turning individual AI gains into a repeatable way to build software in 2026.

About Q4 Dev Barometer survey
The survey was conducted in October 2025 among 501 developers, 53% of whom had 8+ years of experience, and 19 project managers working across 92 projects. India was the country with the second-highest participation in the Dev Barometer survey, with 75 developer respondents.

About BairesDev
BairesDev provides nearshore software development services to some of the world’s largest and most respected companies like Abbot, Adobe, Coca-Cola, eBay, Google, HP, and Rolls-Royce. Backed by 4,000+ engineers across LATAM, BairesDev has delivered high-quality software in over 130 industries. 

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, hosted a special felicitation ceremony honouring startup founders from the graduating Batch of 2025 as part of its 33^rd Convocation. The event honoured the entrepreneurial successes of young innovators whose ventures are enriching India’s growing startup ecosystem.

Mr Bikram Singh Bedi, MAHE alumnus and Vice President, Asia Pacific Strategic Initiatives, Google Cloud, felicitates young startup founders during the 33rd Convocation of MAHE

Mr Bikram Singh Bedi, MAHE alumnus and Vice President, Asia Pacific Strategic Initiatives, Google Cloud, New Delhi, honoured the student entrepreneurs on Saturday in Manipal, Karnataka. In his address, Mr Bedi emphasised the need for continuous reinvention in a rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence. He stated that graduates were entering a defining moment in history, as AI is transforming every sector. He urged them to approach technology responsibly and consider its societal implications, advising, “Do not just build or use technology, do it responsibly. Always ask not only whether something can be built, but whether it should be built.”

The Innovation Centre, MAHE, organised the event, which recognised six student entrepreneurs from the graduating Batch of 2025.

Dr Mahima Mishra, Founder, InfiniClinickart Supplies LLP, and MCODS alumna, was recognised for her contributions to dental health innovation. Her work has earned national and international accolades, including the Manipal COVID Challenge, the MAHE Business Idea Competition, and the ESOT Hackathon in Europe. She has also secured the 7 lakh NIDHI-PRAYAS grant, with notable products such as Sterident and ClinicKart.

Arjun Sanjiv Kohli, Founder, Instrumus Technologies Pvt. Ltd and MIT Manipal alumnus, was honoured for establishing a DeepTech enterprise focused on industrial digitisation and advanced manufacturing. His company collaborates with institutions such as BITS and MAHE, supports over 50 manufacturing clients, and consistently records monthly revenues above 5 lakhs.

Tushar Raj, Founder of PhotonSilica | PHSI Technologies & Research Pvt. Ltd., was acknowledged for his rapid progress in the DeepTech sector. Listed among the Top 100 Desi DeepTech Startup Founders, he has secured DLI beneficiary status under MeitY and achieved 45 lakhs in revenue within four months. His earlier startup also achieved a successful exit.

Mr Ryan Bantu, Founder, GoPerch Innovations Pvt. Ltd, was recognised for his contributions to AI-driven and hardware-based product development. The company has generated 45 lakhs in recent months, served over 13 clients, and created employment for eight professionals. His team also secured the runner-up position at the Forbes Marshall Competition.

Arnav Agrawal, Founder, Thapy Technologies Pvt. Ltd, was appreciated for his work in the mental health domain. With over 100 active users, recognition as an On-Campus Hult Prize Finalist, and the creation of 10 employment opportunities, the venture is emerging as a promising mental health platform.

Mithilesh B, Founder of Your Lyf, was honoured for advancements in nutrition technology. The company’s products are available in over 50 retail outlets, with its oat topping product selling over

5,000 units within three months. With revenues surpassing 20 lakhs, the brand is gaining strong market traction.

Senior MAHE leadership, including Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd); Vice Chancellor, Dr Narayana Sabhahit, Pro Vice Chancellor, Technology & Science, Dr Sharath Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, Dr Dilip G. Naik, Pro Vice Chancellor, Mangalore Campus, Dr P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, Dr Anand Venugopal, Chief Operating Officer, Operations, Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Rana, Director, MIT Manipal and Dr Gopalakrishnan Dharmarajan, Dean, MCODS Manipal, attended the ceremony.

In his concluding address, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), the Vice Chancellor, highlighted MAHE’s growing startup ecosystem and the rising number of student-led ventures. He emphasised that MAHE is shaping graduates who create opportunities and contribute to industries, communities, and national development as future job creators.  

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

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

Sundaram Alternates today unveiled its ESG & Impact Report 2024–25 at Day 2 of the IVCA GreenReturns Summit, highlighting how disciplined private credit, responsible governance, and sustainability-aligned investment frameworks can reshape India’s built environment and long-term economic resilience.

The report captures a comprehensive view of the firm’s real estate private credit portfolio, its ESG integration practices, measurable environmental and social outcomes, and the expanding role of private capital in accelerating India’s sustainability transition.

At a time when climate risks, rapid urbanisation, and widening socio-economic gaps are reshaping investment priorities, Sundaram Alternates’ report demonstrates how responsibly deployed private credit can deliver both risk-adjusted returns and meaningful community-level impact.

“Private credit can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable change. At Sundaram Alternates, we are focused on financing businesses and projects that combine performance with purpose. The launch of our Impact Report at the IVCA GreenReturns Summit highlights how disciplined lending and responsible investing can accelerate India’s transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient economy.” said, Karthik Athreya, Managing Director, Sundaram Alternates.

Sundaram Alternates Launches its ESG & Impact Report at IVCA GreenReturns Summit 2025

A Data-Backed View of Impact: Environment, Social and Governance Outcomes

The report provides verified performance and impact metrics across Sundaram Alternates’ portfolio, showcasing how the firm integrates ESG at every stage—from investment screening to monitoring, stewardship, and exits.

Key Highlights from the Report

Environmental Impact

• ~20 million sq. ft. of green-built projects

• ~837,000 tCO₂e in embodied carbon savings

• ~268,000 tCO₂ in lifetime operational carbon savings

• ~579,000 MWh in lifetime energy savings

• ~28.9 million m³ in lifetime water savings

• Green homes designed to meet globally recognised certification standards

• Focus on heat-resilient construction, water security, and waste circularity

Social Impact

• 50,000+ jobs created (direct + indirect)

• 1.32 million people positively impacted

• 1,000+ women positively impacted

• Over 50% of residential units designed with universal accessibility features

• Emphasis on worker safety, fair wages, skilling, and community-level inclusion

Governance Excellence

• 100% of projects undergo ESG due diligence

• ~25,000 site workers trained in safety & environmental awareness

• Zero tolerance towards labour rights violations

• Annual ESG reporting and strong oversight through a dedicated ESG governance framework

A Structured Framework for Responsible Private Credit

The report outlines Sundaram Alternates’ integrated ESG policy anchored in five core principles:
sustainable construction practices, workforce health & safety, climate and environmental resilience, corporate governance, and transition to low-carbon pathways.

The firm’s governance architecture — comprising its ESG Steering Committee, independent advisors, fund managers, analysts, and board oversight — ensures that ESG obligations are embedded across term sheets, monitoring processes, green-building certifications, and sustainability reporting.

This structured approach helps investors evaluate not just financial performance but measurable outcomes aligned with SDGs, global ESG standards (GRI, SASB, EDGE), and India’s national climate goals.

Positioning India for a Climate-Resilient Future

The report emphasises that India stands at a generational inflection point: the built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global emissions and over a third of natural resource consumption. Sundaram Alternates’ work demonstrates how sustainable real estate, backed by private credit, can drive measurable climate outcomes and equitable urban development.

Across projects, the portfolio has delivered stronger tenant demand, enhanced operational efficiencies, reduced long-term risk exposure, and strengthened local supply chains—while channeling capital to underserved markets where the need is greatest.

About Sundaram Alternates
Sundaram Alternate Assets Ltd., part of the Sundaram Finance Group, manages approximately Rs. 7,000 crores across private credit, corporate credit, and thematic equity funds. A rapidly growing alternate asset management platform, Sundaram Alternates specializes in differentiated investment solutions spanning private credit, fixed income, PMS equity strategies, and bespoke equity portfolios. Built on the core values of transparency, governance, and long-term value creation, Sundaram Alternates is actively expanding its footprint in India’s dynamic investment ecosystem.

For more details, visit: www.sundaramalternates.com

International Architecture and Design firm UHA today announced the appointment of Zachary Dominitz as Senior Director and Head of India, a sign of the firm’s focus on international growth with emphasis on sustainability and design innovation.

Zachary Dominitz, Senior Director and Head of India for UHA

The firm, with offices across Europe and Asia, is approaching its 15 year anniversary—13 of those active in India—and recently expanded into SE Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The appointment of Mr. Dominitz, who has extensive experience developing brands and growing sustainable business, marks a bold strategic shift for UHA.

“We have an extremely talented design team, and Zachary brings a wealth of experience in working with creatives and designers. He understands how to balance growing the business with nurturing our people, which has always been a priority for us,” said Jonas Upton-Hansen, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner. “Hiring Zachary to run and grow our operations will allow us as designers to be focused on the architecture and delivering excellence to our clients.”

Dominitz, who has an MBA from London Business School and a BA from UCLA, has lived and worked in the US, the UK, Australia and Argentina. His background includes building global brands as part of Omnicom’s premiere brand design firm Siegel+Gale, and designing sustainability initiatives for hundreds of the world’s largest organisations as Global Head of Accounts for TerraCycle. He also has extensive marketing and communications experience which includes running agencies in New York and London, managing Media Affairs for Bill Clinton’s White House, and serving as a columnist for The Huffington Post.

“I worked with the UHA team last year to help roadmap their future and it was immediately evident the keys to success were all there: a remarkably progressive, sleek, human-centred design language, a dedicated core team who have been with the firm a long time and support each other, and the appetite and talent to grow,” Dominitz said. “When UHA approached me about joining the firm to lead the change we’d programmed, it felt like the right pairing.”

“We’ve started work on new projects in Argentina, Mexico, Oman, Taiwan and Thailand, with upcoming projects in China, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, and across the Middle East, so it’s exactly the right time for us to solidify our foundations and streamline our business processes to support this growth,” Co-Founder Ricardo Mateu added. “Having Zachary in Mumbai to anchor what is now the fastest growing of our seven international offices makes perfect sense and adds a great balance to our global management team.”

The move comes in conjunction with a restructuring of the UHA team designed to bolster its global skillset, empowering regional Directors, and diversifying its offerings. UHA has invested in Landscape and Interior Design teams and is rotating staff across offices to ensure its multi-nodal, always-on approach is supported with the talent and creativity that clients seek to stand-out in a growing market.

UHA has more than 60 active on-site across 3 continents, ranging from small villa communities in the Mediterranean and the tallest residential towers in New Delhi and Mumbai to an award-winning 53 hectare masterplan in Moscow and Mexico’s first delivered LEED-certified residential development. Their presence in India runs deep, built over more than a decade of delivering work in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore and NCR

“The energy in India isn’t just in the market, it’s in the people,” said Dominitz. “It’s evident immediately; the passion, the creativity, the hunger to create something extraordinary. This isn’t about arriving and observing; it’s about becoming part of a story already in motion. The design community here is expanding its reach and confidence, shaping cities, neighbourhoods and possibilities. India is vast, complex, deeply human, and the chance to help design spaces that belong to that rhythm, that optimism, that future… it’s a privilege we take seriously, and an adventure of which we’re proud to be a part.”

About UHA

UHA designs and delivers projects that vary in context, function, and scale, encompassing architecture, masterplanning, landscaping, environmental services and interior design. From concept design to turnkey challenges, we have projects on-site from London to Taipei, covering boutique residential towers and luxury villas to high-tech workspaces and educational institutions.

Our asynchronous approach means that somewhere we are always open. Distributed across 7 time zones, our team of architects, designers, urbanists, visualisers, sustainability consultants, and project managers design and deliver projects around the clock. As office hours draw to a close in Tokyo, work continues in Mumbai and construction sites open in London. With multiple projects currently under construction across 3 continents, our multi-nodal studio provides a variety of services within an accelerated timeline. 

For more information visit www.uha.global

The rapid acceleration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses the most significant challenge yet to gender equity in the workforce and wealth creation. This was the central focus at the TalentNomics India’s 10th Annual Conference, ‘Power. Pixel. Parity.,’ where top corporate leaders, investors, and innovators gathered to move beyond fear to build a proactive roadmap for Responsible AI and gender equity in India’s future of work, wealth and wellbeing.

CP Gurnani, Manoj Chugh, & Jagdish Mitra joined Ipsita Kathuria at the 10th Annual TalentNomics Conference: Equity in the Age of Automation

The day was anchored by powerful insights from three of India’s most respected leaders:

• CP Gurnani underscored that the path to AI equity requires deliberate, ethical design. “What can we do to keep our power of curiosity, our power of creative thinking, our power of learning and applying data in our everyday life. Because to me AI is all about training the data, and if AI is all about training the data, then I need to pick up instances where I can power it.”

• The pivotal question from industry veteran Manoj Chugh served as a call to action: “Are we interrupting the bias? If not, we are not doing good.” The core message was that since AI learns from historical, often biased, data, the responsibility lies with human leaders to interrupt these patterns through sponsorship and intentional design.

• Suparna Mitra highlighted the necessity of intentional gender equity strategies in leadership and consumption. “At the Talentnomics India 10th Annual conference, I had the privilege of addressing the good people who had gathered to discuss how the AI revolution will impact gender dynamics. Whenever a new technology comes, the existing norms get re-shaped. The AI revolution does not just belong to the people who work on the technology, but all of those who use the technology. The moral and ethical dimensions need to be examined for us to ensure that the gender gap is balanced, rather than get worsened.”

The Future of Work & The Disruption of Income

The session, ‘Work Rebooted – Breaking the Digital Ceiling,’ moderated by Lata Singh, dissected the differential impact of AI on the workforce, highlighting the urgent need for task-level reskilling.

• Task-Level Disruption: Jagdish Mitra emphasized that AI disruption occurs at the task level, not just the role level. He noted that while women make up 35% of the IT workforce, nearly 70% of their roles are task-heavy and highly exposed to automation. His guidance: HR teams must champion diversity, and individuals must perform a task-based analysis of their job to identify what to reskill for.

• The Investment Risk of Inequity: Dr. Archana Hingorani connected workforce gender equity to the balance sheet. She argued that ignoring the displacement of women creates systemic market instability and limits the available talent pool, making ignoring gender equity a bad business decision for the investor.

• Owning the AI Ecosystem: Shalaka Verma outlined the three key opportunity domains: Builders of AI, Maintainers of AI, and Users of AI, urging women to seize the early-mover advantage in this transition and actively define their space before others define it for them.

The Infrastructure of Wealth & Wellbeing

These panels addressed how AI impacts the fundamental structures of wealth creation and care, from investments to healthcare access.

• Code to Capital: Reducing the Wealth Gap: The deeply insightful session on the gender wealth gap, led by Soumya Rajan and Anita George, concluded that the gap stems from structural issues and behavioral biases. They affirmed that AI is a powerful ‘copilot’ capable of de-biasing financial planning and nudging women from mere savers to active investors. Anita George stressed that “Investing is self-care” and emphasized the need for trust, governance, and security in the financial sector to ensure women become true capital creators.

• Rebalancing Care & Rural Healthcare: The sessions highlighted that both urban and rural women face unique barriers to wellbeing. Partha Dey showcased how the shift of services from hospital to home significantly improves access for women. Furthermore, the session on “Beyond the Grid: AI and the Future of Rural Healthcare” with Jyotsna Krishnan & Priyadarshi Mohaparta highlighted how a hybrid “phygital” model using Community Champions (primarily women) can be the viable solution for India’s large rural market, ensuring the entire loop of diagnostics and medicine is closed and reducing time burdens for women caregivers.

• The Human Heart of Empathy: Dr. Dev Brar addressed the limits of AI in mental health, noting: “AI heard my words, but not my silence.” Bhavana Issar also emphasised that while AI can enable wellbeing, it cannot replace the Human touch. Shilpa Ajwani concluded that Human and technical review must go hand in hand to ensure AI works for everyone.

Governance and Guardrails: The Mandate for Equitable AI

The consensus across the conference was that AI is not inherently biased, but rather amplifies the bias already present in the human data it learns from, necessitating strong guardrails.

• Bias Amplification: The session on ‘Unbiased by Design’ concluded that AI models are inherently prone to perpetuating historical human biases because they learn from flawed data, making simply removing gender labels insufficient. The core consensus of the panel, featuring Kiran Chhabra, Renu Menon, Uma Rani, and Arjun Venkatraman, captured by the motto “Nothing About Us Without Us,” is that achieving equitable AI requires active, sustained oversight.

• Policy and Accountability: This includes enforcing mandatory AI audits and governance frameworks to ensure equal error rates across demographic groups, and critically, involving women and underrepresented groups as data stewards to reduce bias at the source of data collection and annotation. As observed by L Venkata Subramanian and Aneesh Patnaik, we need technological solutions, diverse policy input, and active user feedback.

• Societal Movement: Sunaina Kumar emphasized that patriarchal structures are mirrored in digital spaces, and without robust governance, AI risks weakening women’s economic security. Ratnesh Jha concluded that fixing this requires a societal “movement,” stressing that companies must be held accountable by consumers, and organizations must commit to not allowing bias in their own systemic decisions.

Conclusion: Sponsorship and Concrete Action

The conference underscored that fixing the future starts with fixing the present. The most potent advice from the floor was the need to move from mentorship to sponsorship. Sponsorship is the action—the advocacy and the intentional door-opening—that ensures women are in the rooms where AI decisions are being shaped.

Neeta Boochra, member of the TalentNomics Advisory Board, rekindled the room’s momentum with her vote of thanks, reinforcing that influence must translate into opportunity and conversation into measurable change. The conference’s success lay in its commitment to translating high-level dialogue into concrete, actionable steps toward a gender-equitable Digital future.

About TalentNomics India

TalentNomics India is a non-profit organisation working to create a world where gender equity is the norm. Since 2016, the organisation has operated leadership development programs for women and convened annual conferences featuring multi-stakeholder dialogues on barriers to equity in work, wealth, wellbeing, and welfare. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration with corporate, government, and civil society partners, TalentNomics India advances systemic approaches to gender equity.

Website: www.india.talentnomics.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/talentnomicsindia/

LinkedIn: in.linkedin.com/company/talentnomicsindia

At IGDC 2025, India’s biggest gaming conference, TILTEDU and DATSI School for Storytellers unveiled GameCraft Pro – a flagship one-year professional program in Game Design & Development launching January 2026 at DATSI’s Trivandrum campus.

DATSI School and TILTEDU sign the GameCraft Pro MoU at IGDC 2025, strengthening Kerala’s game-design ecosystem

The MoU was signed in the presence of senior government officials Seeram Sambasiva Rao (IT Special Secretary) and Anoop Ambika (CEO, Kerala Startup Mission), alongside industry leaders Ashish Kulkarni, Nikhil Chandran, Veerendra Patil, Venkataramanan K, and Michael Joseph.

This marks one of Kerala’s strongest pushes to position itself as India’s next creative-tech hub, where storytelling meets technology.

A New Professional Program for Game Development in Kerala: Designed by game developers and studios

Unlike traditional game courses focused only on software, GameCraft Pro embeds students directly inside working creative studios.

Students learn:

• Game Mechanics & Systems Design

• Narrative Design & Storytelling

• Game Programming & Prototyping

• 2D/3D Asset Creation with production discipline

• Level Design inside professional engines

In the final 3 months, every student builds a full-fledged original game IP – complete with documentation, gameplay systems, audio, FX and investor-ready pitch materials.

This approach transforms students into creators who can design, build, and publish rather than just entry-level operators.

GameCraft pro program – your gateway to a gaming career

India’s gaming market is projected to reach $4–4.5 billion by 2025, yet the majority of talent still clusters around metros like Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.

Kerala, with its design-oriented youth and strong education ecosystem, has the right ingredients but lacked:

• Industry integration

• Storytelling-led game design

• Exposure to publishing pipelines

• Hands-on project-based curriculum

GameCraft Pro directly solves this gap. “This isn’t a course launch – it’s a movement. We want Kerala to export original stories through gaming,” Veerendra Patil, CEO, Zebu Animation & Founder, DATSI.

To learn more about the course: www.datsischool.com/courses/gamecraft-pro

Industry Voices Endorsing the GameCraft Pro Vision

On building world-class IP from Kerala, “Kerala has incredible creative talent. GameCraft Pro bridges the gap between idea and commercially viable game IP,” Ashish Kulkarni, FICCI AVGC Forum Chair.

On building creators, not just coders, “We’re nurturing entrepreneurs who can build the future of India’s gaming economy,” Nikhil Chandran, CEO, TILTLABS & TILTEDU.

Government Support Strengthening the Movement

Kerala has introduced a forward-looking AVGC Policy to boost animation, gaming, immersive media, and digital content creation.“This partnership directly aligns with Kerala’s vision to create strong, consistent talent pipelines and original content from the state,” Seeram Sambasiva Rao, IT Special Secretary.

GameCraft Pro is housed inside KINFRA Film & Video Park, supported by ASAP Kerala, making it one of India’s most policy-aligned creative-education launches.

What Students Will Graduate With

According to the program brochure, students gain:

Programme Outcomes

• Design and analyse games as rule-based systems

• Build playable spaces with real engine workflows

• Script core and advanced gameplay systems

• Produce 2D/3D assets with production discipline

• Publish a capstone game with professional documentation

Career Prospects

• Game Designer

• Unity Game Developer

• Level Designer

• Gameplay Scripter / Systems Designer

• 3D Game Artist

• Technical Artist

This directly answers what most media outlets (like CollegeDekho, Careers360, India Today Education, BW Education) look for when covering new programs.

What Makes GameCraft Pro Different (Media-friendly Angles)

These are the lines NewsVoir will love — they speak to the whole TML list:
 

1. Studio-integrated learning

Students learn inside the culture of working animation, VFX, and game studios.

2. Story-first game design

The program treats games as a storytelling medium — not just technology.

3. Original IP creation

Every student graduates with one publishable prototype that can be pitched to investors/publishers.

4. Kerala as a new gaming hub

Strong angle for Times of India, The Hindu, Indian Express, regional Malayalam media.

5. Government + industry partnership

This significantly boosts credibility for national financial and business press (Mint, Business Standard, BW Businessworld).

Call to Action (Strong admissions focus)

GameCraft Pro begins January 2026. Limited seats.
Admissions are now open for students, gamers, storytellers, and creative-tech aspirants.

For Admissions & Curriculum Details:

+91 73060 71754
 datsischool.com / TILTEDU.com
 On-campus program at KINFRA Film & Video Park, Trivandrum

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s healthcare landscape, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Art of Living Social Projects to implement Project SWASTHYA KIRAN – an initiative aimed at enhancing diagnostic healthcare services in Odisha.

A step towards better healthcare in Odisha, blessed by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Signing the MoU for Project SWASTHYA KIRAN

The MoU was signed by Shri Chaman Jaggi, Vice President, HR & CSR, HURL, and Br. Pragyachaitanya, Chairman, The Art of Living Social Projects and witnessed by Dr Siba Prasad Mohanty, MD, HURL. The moment was blessed by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose commitment to accessible, compassionate healthcare continues to inspire service initiatives across the nation.

Revolutionising Diagnostics with Advanced CT Imaging

Under the partnership, a proposal has been rolled out for the procurement and installation of a state-of-the-art Revolution™ Aspire Select CT Scanner at the Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research Hospital (SSCASRH) in Cuttack, Odisha. Operating from the Sri Sri University campus in Bidyadharpur, SSCASRH is poised to evolve into a key diagnostic centre for the region.

The introduction of this advanced CT system will dramatically expand the hospital’s capacity to diagnose and treat critical conditions, supporting specialties such as neurology, cardiology, oncology, trauma care, emergency medicine.

This transformative upgrade is expected to benefit thousands of patients annually, particularly those facing life-threatening conditions like stroke, trauma, and cancer – situations where time is often the deciding factor.

Addressing Odisha’s Urgent Diagnostic Gaps

Odisha continues to grapple with serious gaps in diagnostic healthcare, including:

• Limited availability of CT scanners

• Long waiting times for diagnostic imaging

• One of India’s lowest hospital-bed ratios

• Patients traveling 2 to 4 hours for essential scans

For emergency cases, these delays can escalate risks dramatically.

Project SWASTHYA KIRAN seeks to bridge these gaps by creating timely, accessible, and affordable diagnostic services for more than 1.5 lakh residents across 50+ surrounding villages.

Impact at a Glance

The installation of the Revolution™ Aspire Select CT Scanner will:

• Reduce waiting time and travel.

• Patients will receive faster access to essential imaging – especially vital for emergency scenarios such as stroke and trauma.

• Provide affordable, high-quality diagnostics

• The facility will offer cost-effective CT scanning services, minimising financial strain on rural and underserved communities.

• Strengthen hospital readiness for emergencies.

• Enhanced imaging capacity will empower doctors to diagnose swiftly, intervene earlier, and improve patient outcomes.

A Step Toward Health Equity

Through this collaboration, HURL and The Art of Living Social Projects reaffirm their shared commitment to community well-being. SWASTHYA KIRAN marks a new chapter of reassurance – bringing cutting-edge diagnostic healthcare closer to the people who need it most.

About The Art of Living Social Projects

The Art of Living, founded by humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is committed to transforming lives through community-centred initiatives. Working across healthcare, conservation of water resources, education, women’s empowerment, and environmental restoration, it partners with governments, NGOs, corporations, and local communities to bring meaningful change. Through its compassionate, service-driven approach, The Art of Living continues to strengthen well-being and nurture a culture of peace and responsibility worldwide.

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