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Medanta to Invest ₹550 Crore in 400-Bed Multi-Specialty Hospital in Varanasi

/ Health & Wellness Community

Medanta has announced plans to establish a 400-bed multi-specialty hospital in Varanasi, marking a significant expansion of its healthcare footprint in Uttar Pradesh. The upcoming facility will be developed under a built-to-suit lease agreement with Shripal Hospitality and its associates. While the partner will handle the construction of the hospital’s civil infrastructure according to Medanta’s standards, the hospital chain will invest approximately ₹550 crore towards medical equipment, interiors, and fit-outs. This new project is expected to further strengthen Medanta’s presence in the state. The group already operates a 950-bed flagship hospital in Lucknow and recently launched a 550-bed facility in Noida. With the addition of the Varanasi hospital, Medanta’s total bed capacity in Uttar Pradesh will increase to around 1,900. Commenting on the development, Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta, stated that the expansion reflects the organisation’s commitment to improving access to advanced and patient-centric healthcare in densely populated regions. Echoing this, Pankaj Sahni, Group CEO of Medanta, highlighted that Varanasi remains an underserved market in terms of quality tertiary healthcare. He noted that most existing hospitals in the city operate at a smaller capacity of 50–150 beds, often forcing patients to travel to other cities for specialised and complex treatments. Source: Economic Times

Medanta to Invest ₹550 Crore in 400-Bed Multi-Specialty Hospital in Varanasi Read More »

Delhi Economic Survey 2025–26 Highlights Higher School Enrolment Among Girls Across All Levels

/ Education Community

The Economic Survey of Delhi 2025–26 reveals a significant trend in school education, with girls consistently outnumbering boys in enrolment across all academic stages. The gap ranges between 8–10% at key levels and exceeds 10 percentage points compared to national averages. At the primary level, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for girls in Delhi stands at 107.2, notably higher than 97.4 for boys, pushing the overall GER to 101.8—well above the national average of 90.9. A similar pattern is observed at the upper primary stage, where girls recorded a GER of 122 compared to 113.1 for boys, significantly surpassing the all-India figure of 90.3. This upward trend continues across other levels. At the elementary stage, girls achieved a GER of 112.8 versus 103.4 for boys. In secondary education, girls recorded 104.7 compared to 98 for boys, while at the higher secondary level, the figures stood at 87.2 for girls and 78.7 for boys. The Net Enrolment Ratio (NER), which measures age-appropriate school participation, also reflects stronger participation among girls. At the primary level, girls reached full enrolment with a NER of 100, compared to 90.5 for boys. At upper primary and elementary levels, girls nearly achieved universal enrolment, maintaining a clear lead over boys and outperforming national averages. At the secondary level, girls recorded 82.5 NER compared to 72.5 for boys, while at the higher secondary level, the figures were 68.8 for girls and 58.8 for boys. The survey further indicates that school attendance rates in Delhi are higher than the national average across all stages, based on data from the 75th National Sample Survey (NSS). In terms of academic performance, results are mixed. At the Class 3 level, Delhi students scored slightly below the national average in language (62% vs 64%) and mathematics (57% vs 60%). However, by Class 6, students in Delhi outperformed the national average in language (60% vs 57%) and matched it in mathematics (47%). Environmental studies scores were also marginally better at 51% compared to the national average of 49%. By Class 9, Delhi students demonstrated stronger performance across most subjects. Language scores reached 65% against the national average of 54%, while mathematics stood at 40% compared to 37%. Science and social science results were also higher at 46% and 44%, respectively. Overall, the findings highlight Delhi’s strong performance in school enrolment and attendance, with girls leading across all levels, while academic outcomes show steady but varied progress. Source: PTI

Delhi Economic Survey 2025–26 Highlights Higher School Enrolment Among Girls Across All Levels Read More »

India’s Media & Entertainment Industry Set to Hit ₹3.3 Lakh Crore by 2028

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

FICCI and Ernst & Young have projected strong growth for India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector, estimating it will reach ₹3.3 lakh crore by 2028, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. According to their latest report, the industry recorded a 9% year-on-year growth in 2025, reaching a total market size of ₹2.78 lakh crore. Digital media emerged as the dominant segment, surpassing the ₹1 lakh crore milestone. A major contributor to this surge was digital advertising, which grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore. The broader advertising ecosystem also witnessed robust expansion, growing 13.5% to ₹1.5 lakh crore, accounting for 0.41% of India’s GDP. Meanwhile, the live events segment experienced remarkable momentum, registering a 44% jump in 2025. This growth was driven by increased spending on concerts, weddings, government programs, and religious gatherings. Subscription-based digital content saw significant traction, with revenues rising 60% to ₹16,300 crore. The country recorded 21.6 crore paid video subscriptions across 14.3 crore households, largely fueled by premium sports and movie content moving behind paywalls. Music streaming platforms also saw improved monetization, with paid subscriptions increasing 37% to 1.44 crore users, supported by strategic efforts to shift users toward paid services. Despite global headwinds, the print segment in India remained steady, with advertising revenues inching up by 2%, particularly in premium editions targeting affluent readers in both metro and non-metro regions. However, the video gaming segment faced a downturn, declining 17% following the implementation of restrictions on real-money gaming introduced in August 2025. Source: PTI

India’s Media & Entertainment Industry Set to Hit ₹3.3 Lakh Crore by 2028 Read More »

India’s GCCs Rapidly Rise to Global Leadership Roles, Driven by AI and Strategic Expansion

/ Human Resource Community

India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are increasingly stepping into influential global roles, reflecting a significant shift in how multinational companies leverage their India operations. According to insights from ANSR and Deloitte India, nearly 20% of GCCs now hold strategic authority—up sharply from just 5% a decade ago. The number of global leadership positions based in India has surged dramatically, rising from just 115 in 2015 to over 6,500 today. This figure is projected to reach 30,000 by 2030, with artificial intelligence expected to further accelerate this trend. Major global corporations are already entrusting their India centres with critical functions. Walmart oversees its global retail technology operations from Bengaluru and Chennai, while Target manages key aspects of its digital commerce and supply chain from Bengaluru. Similarly, Microsoft develops core components of Azure in India, and Amazon builds technologies for Alexa and Prime Video within the country. A study by Ernst & Young highlights that 45% of GCCs in India now participate in global decision-making. However, the transformation remains uneven. Around 40–45% of centres still focus on back-office and IT support, while another 35–40% contribute to engineering and product development but lack control over pricing, market entry, or customer engagement. Industry experts point out that while technical capabilities are strong, true strategic ownership is still limited. Many GCC leaders do not yet have full authority over budgets or product direction, keeping them more aligned with execution than decision-making. That said, newer GCCs are being established with clearly defined strategic mandates from the outset—such as leading cloud transformations or global AI deployments—allowing them to mature faster. These account for 30–35% of new centres today, a significant rise from under 10% a decade ago. Companies like Samsung are already empowering their India teams with ownership of product lines and innovation. Similarly, Alstom and Wabtec have assigned product responsibilities for local markets to their India operations. Meanwhile, the engineering depth in India has made centres of Google and Microsoft increasingly indispensable. Despite this momentum, experts caution that not all business decisions will shift to India. Strategic choices tied closely to local markets—such as retail merchandising or financial services decisions—are likely to remain near headquarters. However, the growing role of AI is reshaping this dynamic. As much of the development and deployment of AI systems happens in India, influence is gradually shifting closer to where the work is executed. The next phase of evolution for GCCs will depend on whether global headquarters are willing to extend greater decision-making power alongside this technological leadership. Source: Economic Times  

India’s GCCs Rapidly Rise to Global Leadership Roles, Driven by AI and Strategic Expansion Read More »

Temasek-Backed Manipal Health Enterprises Files for IPO to Capitalise on Rising Healthcare Demand

/ Health & Wellness Community

Manipal Health Enterprises, a hospital network backed by Temasek, has filed draft papers for an initial public offering (IPO), aiming to raise ₹8,000 crore (approximately $852 million) through a fresh issue of shares. As part of the offering, existing investors are also planning to offload around 43.2 million shares, according to the company’s prospectus. The Bengaluru-headquartered healthcare provider is positioning itself to benefit from the growing demand for specialised medical services in India. Industry experts suggest that this segment is expected to drive significant growth in the country’s healthcare sector, which continues to attract strong interest from global investors such as Blackstone, Novo Nordisk, and KKR. Over the past few years, Manipal Health has expanded aggressively, emerging as a major consolidator in the healthcare space. One of its most notable recent acquisitions includes Sahyadri Hospitals, which it purchased for $700 million. The company plans to utilise the proceeds from the IPO to reduce its existing debt and fund the acquisition of Sahyadri Hospitals. However, the IPO comes amid challenging market conditions. Indian equity markets have seen a decline recently, influenced by global risk aversion, tightening liquidity, and continued foreign investor outflows. Despite these headwinds, Manipal Health is banking on strong long-term fundamentals in India’s healthcare sector to drive investor interest in its public offering. Source: Reuters

Temasek-Backed Manipal Health Enterprises Files for IPO to Capitalise on Rising Healthcare Demand Read More »

India Emerging as Global Innovation Powerhouse, Says Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Innovates Pre-Summit

/ Education Community

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted India’s growing stature as a global innovation hub while addressing the concluding session of the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit held at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. During the event, the minister engaged in roundtable discussions with investors, industry leaders, and academic experts. He noted that the pre-summit serves as a precursor to Bharat Innovates 2026, scheduled to take place in Nice. The discussions focused on advancing deep-tech innovation, strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, and enhancing India’s startup ecosystem. Pradhan emphasised the importance of sustained funding for emerging ventures to help them scale, foster innovation, and promote research-driven entrepreneurship. He reiterated that Bharat Innovates aims to showcase India’s research and development capabilities on the global stage while facilitating international collaborations and unlocking investment opportunities. Underscoring India’s potential, he stated that the country is well-positioned to develop scalable and cost-effective solutions not only for domestic needs but also for the Global South. He described the initiative as a dynamic platform that brings together ideas, talent, and resources to accelerate innovation and deepen industry-academia partnerships. On the sidelines of the summit, Pradhan chaired a roundtable attended by around 175 investors and industry stakeholders. He also interacted with innovators working across key sectors such as energy, climate and sustainability, semiconductors, space and defence, healthcare, biotechnology, advanced computing, mobility, and smart cities. The pre-summit saw participation from 137 deep-tech startups selected from over 1,186 applications across the country. These startups showcased innovations in areas including artificial intelligence, advanced materials, clean technology, and next-generation manufacturing, drawing strong interest from investors. The event also enabled meaningful engagement between startups, venture capital firms, and industry representatives, paving the way for collaboration, commercialisation, and global expansion. Prominent dignitaries present included K. Radhakrishnan, Vineet Joshi, Abhay Karandikar, and Shireesh Kedare. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to innovation, Pradhan stressed the need to translate research ideas into market-ready solutions that create real-world impact. He expressed confidence that the innovations showcased at the pre-summit would significantly contribute to strengthening India’s position as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship. The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit marks an important milestone in India’s innovation journey, with selected startups set to represent the country’s deep-tech ecosystem at the international event in France in 2026. Source: DD News 

India Emerging as Global Innovation Powerhouse, Says Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Innovates Pre-Summit Read More »

Flipkart Announces 105% Bonus Payout for Employees Following Strong 2025 Performance

/ Human Resource Community

E-commerce giant Flipkart has declared a 105% bonus payout for eligible employees for the year 2025, reflecting the company’s robust growth and steady progress toward profitability. According to an internal communication accessed by PTI, employees up to the Senior Director level will receive their bonus payouts in March. Meanwhile, those at the Vice President and Senior Vice President levels will have their bonuses disbursed after the completion of the annual performance review cycle. In an email to staff, Chief Human Resources Officer Seema Nair highlighted that the company’s performance multiplier is driven by achievements across key business, financial, operational, and people-focused metrics. She emphasized that Flipkart has continued to build momentum while moving closer to sustainable profitability. Backed by Walmart, the company has also made notable progress in strengthening its core business segments while expanding new growth avenues. The bonus announcement aims to acknowledge the contributions of employees across all levels of the organization. Flipkart has not issued an official public statement in response to media queries regarding the development. Source: PTI

Flipkart Announces 105% Bonus Payout for Employees Following Strong 2025 Performance Read More »

PM Narendra Modi Becomes India’s Longest-Serving Head of Government, Surpassing Historic Milestone

/ Governance Community

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a new benchmark in Indian political history by becoming the longest-serving head of an elected government in the country. With a total of 8,931 days in office, he has surpassed Pawan Kumar Chamling, who previously held the record with 8,930 days as Chief Minister of Sikkim. This combined tenure includes Modi’s time as Chief Minister of Gujarat and his ongoing role as Prime Minister, marking his entry into the 25th year in public leadership. This achievement highlights decades of uninterrupted governance and sustained political relevance at both state and national levels. Over the years, Modi has also recorded several milestones, including being Gujarat’s longest-serving Chief Minister and the Prime Minister with the most extensive prior experience as a CM. He also holds the distinction of being the first Indian Prime Minister born after Independence and has won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024—underscoring continued public support. Modi began his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, serving for over 13 years before transitioning to national leadership. On May 26, 2014, he was sworn in as the 14th Prime Minister of India, becoming the first non-Congress leader to secure a full majority in the Lok Sabha. He later went on to complete two full terms and returned for a third consecutive term. Beyond governance, Modi has also expanded his digital footprint significantly. He recently crossed 30 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, making him one of the most-followed global leaders on the platform. Earlier this year, he became the first serving world leader to surpass 100 million followers on Instagram, where his following now stands at over 101 million. On X, he currently has more than 106 million followers, reflecting his strong digital engagement globally. Source: IANS

PM Narendra Modi Becomes India’s Longest-Serving Head of Government, Surpassing Historic Milestone Read More »

Climate Action Could Prevent 13.5 Million Air Pollution Deaths by 2050: Global Study

/ Health & Wellness Community

A new study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals that strong climate action aimed at limiting global warming to 2°C could prevent more than 13.5 million premature deaths caused by air pollution by 2050—primarily in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The research, led by experts including those from The University of Texas at Austin, highlights that the scale and distribution of health benefits depend significantly on how global climate mitigation efforts are shared among nations. According to the findings, a “least-cost” approach—where emissions are reduced wherever it is cheapest—places a heavier burden on LMICs. However, this model also delivers the greatest improvements in air quality in those regions, resulting in the highest number of lives saved. In contrast, an “equity-based” approach, where wealthier nations take on a larger share of emissions reduction, eases the financial burden on developing countries. But this could lead to nearly four million fewer lives saved, as emissions cuts may not occur in the most pollution-affected regions. Co-author Mark Budolfson noted a critical dilemma between climate justice and maximizing health outcomes, explaining that shifting mitigation responsibility to richer nations may unintentionally reduce life-saving air quality improvements in poorer countries. The study also evaluated a third scenario that combines equity with targeted air pollution controls in LMICs—such as reducing soot and sulphur dioxide emissions through advanced technologies in industries like power generation. This approach emerged as the most effective, balancing fairness with maximum health benefits. Another co-author, Noah Scovronick of Emory University, stressed the importance of designing climate policies that prioritize both justice and public health. He emphasized that developing nations must not miss the opportunity to achieve significant reductions in air pollution while transitioning to cleaner systems. The study underscores the need for global cooperation to craft climate strategies that are both equitable and life-saving. Source: PTI

Climate Action Could Prevent 13.5 Million Air Pollution Deaths by 2050: Global Study Read More »

Rajnath Singh Unveils 100 New Sainik Schools, Boosts NCC Strength to 20 Lakh Cadets

/ Education Community

Rajnath Singh has announced a major expansion of India’s military-style education ecosystem, revealing plans to establish 100 new Sainik Schools under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The announcement was made during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Sainik School Ghorakhal. In a parallel move, the Defence Minister also confirmed that the strength of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) will be increased from 17 lakh to 20 lakh cadets. This expansion aims to bring an additional three lakh युवाओं into a structured framework that emphasizes discipline, leadership, and civic responsibility. Highlighting the vision behind the decision, Singh noted that the expansion is not merely about numbers but about shaping future citizens equipped with strong values essential for nation-building. He further emphasized that Sainik Schools are not limited to preparing students for armed forces careers. Instead, they play a broader role in nurturing leadership qualities, resilience, and a sense of responsibility that can benefit multiple sectors. A key highlight of his address was the growing inclusion of girls in Sainik Schools. Singh praised the performance of girl cadets, stating that their achievements have effectively dispelled any doubts about their capabilities. Reinforcing the message of gender equality, he asserted that daughters are excelling alongside sons across all fields. The announcements reflect a continued push by the government to strengthen youth development initiatives while fostering leadership and inclusivity at the grassroots level. Source: PTI  

Rajnath Singh Unveils 100 New Sainik Schools, Boosts NCC Strength to 20 Lakh Cadets Read More »