JAIPUR, India, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Rajasthan state government-run maternal nutrition programme that paired conditional cash transfers with nutrition counselling and community outreach was associated with meaningfully better birth outcomes for mothers and newborns, according to a large-scale study published today in Nature Health, part of the Nature Portfolio, published by Springer Nature.

The evaluation analysed routine health records of 90,732 newborns and 60,899 mothers across four predominantly tribal districts of southern Rajasthan, where maternal undernutrition and limited access to health services remain persistent challenges. Low birthweight affects roughly one in five babies born in India, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), and is linked to higher risks of infection, stunting and poor long-term health. Rajasthan’s tribal belt has historically reported some of the state’s weakest maternal nutrition indicators, making the findings especially significant for policymakers designing similar schemes elsewhere in the country.

What the study found

Rajasthan’s ‘Cash Plus’ programme targeted women in their second pregnancy between January 2021 and August 2024, combining conditional cash transfers with individual and family counselling, community engagement, and locally designed media campaigns carrying simple health messages.

Compared with the period before the programme, it was associated with:

• A 7.4 percentage-point reduction in the prevalence of low birthweight
• An average 3.4 kg increase in mothers’ pregnancy weight by the third trimester
• An increase of around 70 grams in mean birth weight

Why it matters for India

India carries one of the world’s highest burdens of low birthweight and maternal undernutrition, and successive national surveys have shown only gradual improvement despite decades of nutrition programming. While cash transfer schemes and behaviour-change campaigns have each been tried separately across Indian states, robust, large-scale evidence on what happens when the two are combined and delivered through existing government systems, at scale, outside a controlled trial has been limited.

“This study adds important real-world evidence from India on how a government-led cash-plus programme may be associated with improved maternal nutrition and birth outcomes in routine settings,” said Tanya Marchant, Professor of Implementation Science at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a co-author of the study.

“Cash assistance can help families overcome financial barriers in accessing nutritious food, but information, motivation and support are equally, and at times more, important,” said Raghwesh Ranjan, Senior Director at IPE Global and a co-author of the study. “The cash-plus approach combines financial assistance with counselling and contextual behaviour nudges, giving women both the resources and the knowledge to exercise real agency over their nutrition choices. Together, cash and knowledge empower women and their family members to make informed decisions and translate resources into healthier nutrition and care practices during pregnancy.”

The study was observational, using an interrupted time-series design, meaning it shows an association rather than proof of direct cause and effect. Factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitations of routine administrative data may also have influenced results. Even so, the authors say the findings offer rare, large-scale evidence from a government-run nutrition intervention in India, with relevance for similar schemes being planned or scaled up in other states.

The study was conducted by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and IPE Global and IIHMR, Jaipur in collaboration with the Government of Rajasthan.

The paper, ‘Effects of a cash-plus intervention combining conditional cash transfer with social and behaviour-change communication on pregnancy weight and birth weight in India’, is published in Nature Health.

Notes to editors

Article title

Effects of a cash-plus intervention combining conditional cash transfer with social and behaviour-change communication on pregnancy weight and birth weight in India

Journal

Nature Health

Article type

Original research published Open Access

DOI

10.1038/s44360-026-00143-9

Publication date

2 June 2026

Authors

Tanya Marchant, Christian Bottomley, Rupinder Sahota, Akash Porwal, Namita Wadhwa, Srei Chanda, Raghwesh Ranjan, Divya Santhanam, Mahendra Soni and Arindam Das

About Springer Nature:

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.

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BENGALURU, India, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Demonstrating strong real-world impact, the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system on the Mundka-Bakkarwala stretch of Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) has processed more than 3.04 million vehicle transactions since its launch. Enabled by Bosch Mobility Platform and Solutions (MPS) in partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank, this barrier-less model allows vehicles to pass through tolling points without stopping, averaging over 50,000 vehicles per day.

This uninterrupted flow of traffic has contributed to environmental and economic benefits, saving an estimated 152,129 litres of fuel and preventing approximately 395.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions. By replacing conventional stop-and-pay toll collection, MLFF tolling helps improve traffic movement, reduce congestion at tolling points and enhance the overall travel experience for road users.

“Barrier-less tolling is a clear example of digital infrastructure delivering visible benefits,” said Sandeep Nelamangala, Joint Managing Director, Bosch Limited and President, Bosch Mobility India. “With MLFF, Bosch brings together sensing, software and systems integration, enabling faster movement, lower fuel wastage, reduced emissions and more efficient highway travel.”

As a technology partner, Bosch Mobility Platform and Solutions’ integrated solution combines technologies including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), RFID/FASTag integration, radar and LiDAR capabilities for automated vehicle identification and real-time toll processing.

The deployment also showcases how technology-led collaborations can accelerate the adoption of India’s digital public infrastructure. By reducing physical bottlenecks, the system ensures continuous traffic flow along high-traffic corridors while offering highway operators automated processing and enhanced operational visibility.

As India continues to modernize its road infrastructure, Bosch Mobility Platform and Solutions remains focused on developing and deploying solutions that drive operational efficiency and build a more connected, sustainable transportation ecosystem.

The saving is calculated based on the estimated save of around 0.05 Liters of fuel per vehicle.

About Bosch in India

In India, Bosch is a leading supplier of technology and services in the areas of Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. Additionally, Bosch has in India the largest development center outside Germany, for end-to-end engineering and technology solutions. The Bosch Group operates in India through 14 companies: Bosch Limited – the flagship company of the Bosch Group in India – Bosch Chassis Systems India Private Limited, Bosch Rexroth (India) Private Limited, Bosch Global Software Technologies, Bosch Automotive Electronics India Private Limited, BSH Home Appliances Private Limited, ETAS Automotive India Private Limited, Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Private Limited, Bosch Mobility Platform and Solutions India Private Limited, Newtech Filter India Private Limited, Precision Seals Manufacturing Ltd, Robert Bosch India Manufacturing and Technology Private Limited, MICO Trading Private Limited and Mivin Engg. Technologies Private Limited. Since commencing operations in 1951, we have steadily expanded our footprint across 17 manufacturing sites and 7 development and application centers, supporting both domestic and global markets. These facilities enable us to localize solutions, drive innovation, and respond with speed to dynamic customer and industry requirements drive innovation, and respond with speed to dynamic customer and industry requirements. In FY 2024–25, Bosch achieved consolidated sales of 2.7 billion euros and total net sales of 373,457 million INR (approximately 4.13 billion euros) in India. The company employed 38,655 associates as of March 31, 2025. Bosch Limited continues to anchor the Group’s India presence with a sharp focus on next-generation mobility, smart manufacturing, and digital transformation. 

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.in

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 413,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2025). The company generated sales of 91 billion euros in 2025. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence. In this context, Bosch’s broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in hardware, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture intelligent, user-friendly, and sustainable products. With technology that is “Invented for life,” Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 500 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch’s innovative strength is key to the company’s further development. Bosch employs some 82,000 associates in research and development.

The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant upfront investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-four percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a limited liability company with a charitable purpose. The remaining shares are held by Robert Bosch GmbH and by a company owned by the Bosch family. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG. It is entrusted with the task of safeguarding the company’s long-term existence and in particular its financial independence – in line with the mission handed down in the will of the company’s founder, Robert Bosch.Additional information is available online at www.bosch-press.com, www.bosch.com.

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The collaboration brings ZentrumHub’s connectivity infrastructure together with RateGain’s Smart Distribution platform. With 13,000+ customers and 700+ partners across 160+ countries — including 33 of the Top 40 hotel chains — RateGain’s distribution and channel management strength significantly expands the supply universe accessible through ZentrumHub’s ecosystem.

Travel agencies, DMCs, and wholesalers connected to ZentrumHub gain faster access to deeper hotel inventory through the single integration they already have, while hotel suppliers on RateGain’s network get a streamlined path to ZentrumHub’s demand ecosystem of 90+ enterprise travel companies across 30+ countries — without repetitive one-to-one integrations.

As travel distribution grows increasingly fragmented, the two companies are laying the foundation for a more connected, interoperable travel infrastructure — where supply and demand find each other in weeks rather than months.

“Fragmented connectivity continues to be one of the biggest operational challenges in travel distribution,” said Bhushan Tamhankar, Co-founder & COO, ZentrumHub. “This partnership removes the barriers that traditionally slow distribution, giving connected partners faster access to broader supply and demand, in weeks rather than months.”

“Travel distribution today is still heavily fragmented, with suppliers and demand partners managing multiple integrations, onboarding cycles, and disconnected connectivity layers,” said Anurag Jain, Executive Vice President – Revenue (APMEA), RateGain. “Our partnership with ZentrumHub is focused on simplifying that complexity through a more unified connectivity framework that enables faster access between global supply and demand ecosystems. Together, we are building a more scalable and interoperable foundation for the future of travel distribution.”

The partnership marks the latest step in ZentrumHub’s mission to become the connectivity backbone of global hotel distribution.

About ZentrumHub

ZentrumHub is an AI-powered travel technology company that simplifies how travel businesses connect with hotel suppliers worldwide. Through a single universal API, ZentrumHub connects OTAs, travel agencies, DMCs, and wholesalers to 100+ pre-integrated hotel suppliers and 10M+ properties, eliminating months of fragmented integrations.

Its two products, Zentrum Connect and the Zentrum Booking Engine, serve 90+ enterprise customers across 30+ countries, processing 50M+ API calls daily at 99.99% uptime.

ZentrumHub is a member of the Expedia $100 Million Club and was named a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup. Learn more at www.zentrumhub.com.

About RateGain

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited is a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality, working with 13,000+ customers and 700+ partners across 160+ countries. RateGain helps travel and hospitality businesses accelerate revenue generation through acquisition, retention, and wallet share expansion.

Today, RateGain is one of the world’s largest processors of electronic transactions, price points, and travel intent data, enabling revenue management, distribution, and marketing teams across hotels, airlines, destination marketing organizations, online travel agents, metasearch companies, package providers, car rentals, travel management companies, cruises, and ferries to drive better business outcomes.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in India, RateGain works with 33 of the Top 40 Hotel Chains, 4 of the Top 5 Airlines, 7 of the Top 10 Car Rental companies, and all leading DMOs, OTAs, and metasearch platforms, including 25 Global Fortune 500 companies, unlocking new revenue every day.

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CHENNAI, India, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Over 7,000 runners participated in the 15^th edition of the Dream Runners Half Marathon (DRHM) in Chennai on July 19, 2026, with Hexaware returning as title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. The event remains one of the city’s largest and reflects Hexaware’s continued focus on health, community, and social impact.

Race preparation began several months before the event with free, structured training programs conducted across 14 Dream Runners chapters in Chennai. The sessions covered endurance, strength, recovery, nutrition, and injury prevention for participants in the 10K and 21.1K categories.

Serving personnel from the defense, police, and civic services were part of the event, which has become one of its hallmarks. The run is AIMS-certified and professionally timed, providing a competitive race experience while remaining equally welcoming to first-time runners. Volunteer ploggers covered the route through the morning to keep it clean.

“Seven years into Hexaware’s association with DRHM, the scale of participation tells only part of the story,” said Nidhi Alexander, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexaware. “The race provides sustained support to organizations that work with individuals and families across Tamil Nadu throughout the year. The commitment of the runners, volunteers, and organizers has helped DRHM develop into an important part of the city’s annual sporting calendar.”

This year’s event raised over INR 50 Lakhs, with the proceeds distributed among three nonprofit organizations. Freedom Trust works mostly in rural India, fitting amputees with prosthetics and mobility aids. Vijay Human Services has spent decades with children and young adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, running everything from early intervention to special education to vocational training. The International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC) stands with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, acid-attack survivors among them, staying with them from the crisis through the long recovery that follows.

“Delivering the 15th edition took months of planning and coordination,” said Rajeev Prasad, Race Director, Dream Runners. “Our heartfelt thanks to every runner, volunteer, partner, sponsor, and city authority who helped make race day a success again.”

Read more about the event here: https://dreamrunners.in/

About Hexaware

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose; to create smiles through great people and technology. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://hexaware.com.

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MUMBAI, India, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EnKash, India’s leading business payments and spend management platform, today announced the launch of UPI-based payments on its Meal Card. With this addition, employees can make payments directly from their meal card balance by scanning eligible UPI QR codes at food and grocery merchants.

This makes EnKash the first provider in India to enable UPI payments directly from a meal benefit balance.

The new capability extends the UPI infrastructure that EnKash already offers across its Prepaid Payment Instrument portfolio. It brings the familiarity and convenience of UPI to structured meal benefits, allowing employees to use their meal allowance through a payment method that has become a part of everyday life in India.

The timing is also significant. Under the revised Income-tax reforms, eligible meal benefits of up to ₹200 per meal are available under both the old and new tax regimes, subject to prescribed conditions. Employees can receive up to ₹1,05,600 annually as a tax-free meal benefit. For HR teams, this makes meal benefits more inclusive, valuable and easier to offer across the workforce.

The solution combines:

• UPI-based scan-and-pay convenience
• Largest acceptance infrastructure of RuPay
• Merchant category-based spending controls
• Physical and virtual meal cards
• Real-time transaction visibility
• Centralised card issuance, loading and management for employers

Employers can issue cards, load meal balances, set spending controls and track transactions through a centralised platform. Merchant category controls help ensure that the meal balance is used only for eligible expenses.

“Employee benefits should be as seamless as everyday payments. By bringing UPI to meal benefits, we’re enabling employees to pay the way they already do while helping employers deliver a simpler and more digital-first experience,” said Priya Sharma, Head of Product at EnKash.

“This launch brings together the power of RuPay, the familiarity of UPI and the tax efficiency of meal benefits. It also reflects the strength of the payments stack EnKash has already built across its PPI products.”

The UPI-enabled Meal Card is supported by EnKash’s existing payments and prepaid infrastructure. The company already provides UPI-based payment capabilities across its prepaid products and also offers businesses a wider payments suite covering prepaid cards, employee benefits, expense management, petty cash, corporate payments, payment gateway, and rewards.

About EnKash

EnKash is India’s first full-stack payments and spend management platform, empowering 5,000+ businesses to automate payments, expenses, and employee benefits. Holding PA, PPI, and Bharat Connect (BBPOU) licenses, EnKash offers a unified financial orchestration suite backed by $23M in funding. By partnering with leading banks and networks like NPCI and Visa, EnKash delivers secure, scalable solutions that make enterprise financial operations faster, smarter, and fully compliant.

For media inquiries, email: marketing@enkash.com

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As a part of the partnership, AutomationEdge’s portfolio of AI Agents and automation solutions is now available through the Redington AI Exchange Marketplace, enabling partners and customers to easily discover, evaluate, and deploy enterprise-ready AI solutions. This availability significantly reduces the time required to adopt AI-driven automation and provides organizations with access to proven use cases that can deliver measurable business outcomes.

The partnership is focused on delivering solution-led automation offerings that simplify adoption for enterprises and channel partners. By combining Redington’s go-to-market reach with AutomationEdge’s 10x automation capabilities, the two organizations aim to help businesses move from fragmented automation initiatives to enterprise-wide orchestration—driving efficiency, agility, and operational excellence.

Through this collaboration, both companies will jointly promote pre-built automation and AI Agent solutions across key business functions, including banking operations, insurance processes, IT / HR operations, customer service, and finance functions. These solutions include ready-to-deploy workflows, AI Agents, demonstration environments, and implementation frameworks designed to accelerate deployment and reduce complexity.

The partnership will also include joint go-to-market initiatives such as partner enablement programs, co-branded workshops, solution showcases, and proof-of-concept (PoC) engagements. These initiatives are designed to equip Redington partners with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to successfully position, sell, and implement AI-powered automation solutions for enterprise and mid-market customers.

Sayantan Dev, Global Head, Software Solutions Group, Redington, said, “The next phase of AI adoption will be defined by execution. Through the Redington AI Exchange Marketplace, we are bringing together the technologies and ecosystem needed to help partners deliver real business outcomes at scale. AutomationEdge’s Agentic AI and automation capabilities strengthen our ability to enable customers to accelerate AI adoption with greater speed, governance, and confidence.”

Prasad Likhite, Chief Sales Officer of AutomationEdge, said, “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Redington and accelerate the adoption of next-generation enterprise automation and Agentic AI solutions across the market. The availability of AutomationEdge AI Agents through the Redington AI Exchange Marketplace marks an important milestone in democratizing AI-led transformation, enabling enterprises to rapidly scale intelligent automation initiatives with speed, agility, and measurable business impact. At the same time, it creates significant opportunities for partners to drive innovation, unlock new revenue streams, and deliver greater value to their customers.“

The collaboration also emphasizes localized support, implementation expertise, and customer success services, ensuring that organizations can seamlessly deploy, manage, and scale automation initiatives. By leveraging Redington’s strong partner ecosystem and AutomationEdge’s deep expertise in automation and Agentic AI, the partnership is well-positioned to address the evolving needs of modern enterprises.

As organizations increasingly prioritize productivity, operational efficiency, and AI-led transformation, this partnership marks a significant step toward making enterprise automation and Agentic AI more accessible, scalable, and impactful across industries.

 About Redington

Redington Limited (NSE: REDINGTON) (BSE: 532805), a leading technology solutions provider, empowers businesses in their digital transformation journeys. Guided by its brand narrative “Unlock Next”, Redington goes beyond distribution to remove barriers, accelerate digital adoption, and unlock access, growth, trust, efficiency, and impact—helping businesses, communities, and societies embrace what’s next in technology

About AutomationEdge

AutomationEdge is a leading Agentic Process Automation platform for global enterprises. Its platform enables organizations to automate complex business processes, deploy AI Agents at scale, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives across industries.

Media Contact:

Rahul Wandile

rahul.wandile@automationedge.com

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Lysins represent a next-generation class of precision antimicrobials – cell wall hydrolase enzymes that act rapidly, disrupt biofilms, and selectively target pathogens without contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Unlike conventional antibiotics, lysins offer a distinct mechanism to address high-burden, drug-resistant infections, including those associated with chronic and hospital-acquired conditions.

Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., said, “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing modern healthcare. At Apollo, we are committed to advancing precision medicine approaches that go beyond conventional therapies. Our collaboration with Precisio Biotix represents a shift towards targeted, biology-led solutions such as lysins, which hold promise in addressing resistant infections while preserving the effectiveness of existing treatments. This is not just a scientific advancement – it is a necessary step towards safeguarding the future of patient care.”

This collaboration will focus on publishing a white paper on lysin-based therapies and AMR management in India and on implementing compassionate use/expanded access clinical programs, including those for prosthetic joint infections.

Mark Engel, Precisio Founder & CEO, stated that “When it comes to treating difficult antibiotic-resistant patients, Apollo Hospitals has some of the best clinicians in Asia. We cannot think of a better partner than Apollo Hospitals to help advance our science. Our novel lysin products are designed to treat infections in a very different way than chemical antibiotics. Our products work by targeting and rapidly breaking the cell wall of bacteria. Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, our lysins specifically kill the identified pathogen – without disturbing the healthy microbiota and causing antibiotic resistance.”

The collaboration marks an important step toward advancing next-generation engineered lysin therapeutics for antimicrobial-resistant infections in India and globally.

About Apollo Hospitals

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL) revolutionised healthcare when Dr Prathap Reddy started the first hospital in Chennai in 1983. Today, AHEL is the world’s largest integrated healthcare platform with over 10,400 beds across 76 hospitals, 6,600+ pharmacies, 264 clinics, 2,182 diagnostic centres, and 800+ telemedicine centres. It is one of the world’s leading cardiac centres, having performed over 3,00,000 angioplasties and 2,00,000 surgeries. AHEL’s 1,20,000 family members are dedicated to delivering exceptional care and leaving the world better than we found it. 

About Precisio Biotix Therapeutics Inc. (https://www.precisiobiotix.com/): Precisio is an American biotech company creating lower-cost novel precision engineered biological antibacterials, with an initial focus on respiratory, skin, and prosthetic joint infections. Precisio is a platform-plus-product company (Rx and consumer). The Company has additional R&D operations in India, China, and the UK. Management has had multiple previous successful exits and currently seeks strategic partners for all aspects of the business.

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BENGALURU, India, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CARD91, an NPCI-certified partner and payments infrastructure provider, has provided its Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) stack to Indian Overseas Bank. The Bank has gone live with RuPay National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) and Gift Card capabilities.

As banks look to make prepaid programs more relevant to everyday life, the opportunity is not just to issue a card, but to design one around real usage scenarios while ensuring smoother rollout and easier servicing. For Indian Overseas Bank, the objective was to introduce an immediately scalable prepaid card program that could support customers across routine mobility and gifting needs while offering a convenient, seamless, and digital experience.

CARD91 provided its modern technology stack, fully compliant with recent regulations, along with execution support to help take the program live after necessary approvals, testing, and compliance validation. The launch reflects how banks can bring practical prepaid programs to market with faster time to market, stronger launch readiness, digital servicing support, and customer experiences designed for day-to-day needs.

The RuPay NCMC capability is designed for day-to-day mobility use cases such as metro, bus, and parking payments, enabling tap-based transactions for seamless travel. It supports easier access for eligible users seeking a ready-to-use prepaid mobility option, while ensuring that usage remains aligned with the Bank’s defined program conditions.

Alongside the mobility use case, the program also includes Gift Cards. Together, the two offerings allow Indian Overseas Bank to address multiple customer needs through a prepaid portfolio available in multiple variants.

Cardholders can also manage their cards through the mobile app, available on both the Play Store and App Store. Depending on applicable program terms, supported capabilities include balance checks, transaction history, reload or top-up functionality, and customer support.

Ajay Pandey, CEO of CARD91, said:

“Prepaid programs become more meaningful when they are built around real customer needs and supported by the right technology foundation. We are pleased to support Indian Overseas Bank in taking its PPI program live with RuPay NCMC capability and Gift Cards within an accelerated timeline. This launch reflects CARD91’s ability to help banks move from product design to market readiness with speed, control, and operational efficiency.”

Indian Overseas Bank is further expanding its prepaid variant portfolio using CARD91’s highly configurable and secure stack.

About Indian Overseas Bank

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) is a public sector bank founded on February 10, 1937, by Shri M.Ct.M. Chidambaram Chettyar. Established with a focus on foreign exchange banking, the Bank has evolved into a full-service institution serving customers across India. IOB offers a wide range of banking products and services, including deposit accounts, loans, cards, forex, and digital banking solutions.

About CARD91

CARD91 is a payments and onboarding risk infrastructure provider, enabling regulated entities to launch and scale customer programs with ease. The platform supports seamless onboarding journeys, fraud detection, credit decisioning, card issuance across credit, prepaid, and forex, and UPI stack capabilities across issuance and acquiring.

Through its NPCI-certified capabilities and technology stack, CARD91 helps institutions design bespoke customer payment programs and  market them with speed, security, and a seamless digital experience. Built by a team of bankers and technologists and proudly made in India, CARD91 operates across key financial hubs, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Chennai.

For more information, visit https://card91.io/ or contact sales@card91.io.

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The one-day academic meeting featured expert lectures, scientific discussions, panel deliberations, and hands-on programming sessions centred around Adaptive DBS, an intelligent technology capable of automatically adjusting stimulation based on a patient’s brain activity, enabling more personalised therapy and improved symptom control.

The scientific session was inaugurated by Deepak Venugopal, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Hospitals. He commented, “Academic collaboration plays a vital role in advancing patient care. At Manipal Hospitals we are committed to creating platforms that bring together the best clinicians from across the country to share knowledge, discuss emerging technologies and collectively shape the future of healthcare. This commitment to ongoing learning and clinical excellence is embodied in the Adaptive DBS Summit.”

The session was led by experts including Dr. Shiva Kumar R, Head and Senior Consultant – Neurology, Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, who presented Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road’s experience with Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS). The summit also featured participation from distinguished neurologists and neurosurgeons including Dr. Nishchit Hegde, Dr. Milind Deogaonkar, Dr. Anurag Saxena, Dr. Sathwik Shetty, Dr. Pramod Pal, Dr. Sanjeev CC, Dr. Ravi Gopal Varma, Dr. Dwaraknath Srinivas, Dr. Vikram Holla, Dr. Swati Nair, Dr. Guruprasad and Dr. Raghuram G, who contributed to insightful discussions on the evolving role of Adaptive DBS in clinical practice and its growing impact on the management of movement disorders and esteemed dignitaries of Manipal Hospitals, Mr. Arnab Mondal – Zonal Director, Dr. Suja Vinay – Cluster Director, Dr. Aditya – Hospital Director, Dr. Kshitija Kulkarni – Regional Head of Medical Services.

Highlighting the strength of the Manipal Hospitals network in neurosciences, Dr. Raghavendra S, Director Epilepsy Services and Senior Consultant – Neurology at Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, said, “Manipal Hospitals has developed centres of excellence across Bengaluru, with each hospital contributing specialised expertise. While Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road has established itself as a leader in Deep Brain Stimulation and movement disorders, Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur has built strong expertise in epilepsy surgery, and Manipal Hospital Millers Road continues to excel in comprehensive stroke care. Together, these centres strengthen our ability to deliver highly specialised neurological care across the spectrum.”

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Shiva Kumar R, Head and Senior Consultant – Neurology, Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, said, “Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation represents the next milestone in the evolution of neuromodulation. Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road has emerged as one of India’s leading centres for Adaptive DBS, with one of the country’s highest numbers of patients receiving this advanced therapy. Our experience has demonstrated its clinical efficacy in delivering more personalised treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. Hosting India’s first dedicated Adaptive DBS summit reflects our commitment to advancing neuroscience through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.”

Discussing about the event, Dr. Ajay Hegde, Consultant – Functional Neurosurgeon , Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road pointed out that, “Advancements in neuromodulation are redefining the way we approach complex neurological disorders. Platforms like the Manipal DBS Summit provide an invaluable opportunity for neurosurgeons and neurologists to exchange clinical experiences, discuss evolving technologies such as Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation, and collectively enhance patient care. Continuous academic collaboration is essential to ensuring that patients benefit from the latest evidence-based innovations in neuroscience.” 

This was the first dedicated summit on Adaptive DBS (aDBS) in India and was a landmark event for the field of neuromodulation in India. The summit, with the gathering of experts from leading institutions, the focus on clinical outcomes and the promotion of hands-on learning, further reinforced Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road’s standing as one of India’s foremost centres for Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation and its dedication to advancing the science of movement disorder care through innovation and academic excellence.

For more information, please visit: https://www.manipalhospitals.com/

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“Patchwork upgrades are no longer enough for sugar mills. Lokshakti Sugar has chosen a bold path — modernization driven by efficiency, reliability, and margin protection. At SED, we engineer integrated process solutions that reduce energy consumption, improve plant performance, and strengthen long-term competitiveness in an industry where every percentage point of efficiency matters,” said Mr. Vivek Verma, Managing Director, SED.

At the heart of this modernization is SED’s Tubular Falling Film Evaporator, a high-performance system built to deliver superior heat transfer, faster evaporation of heat-sensitive juice, and a decisive reduction in steam consumption. By combining precise juice distribution, automated process control, and exceptional thermal efficiency, the technology is designed to push steam economy higher, tighten process consistency, and protect product quality even under demanding operating conditions.

Supporting the evaporation stage are two 100 T/Strike Honeycomb Calandria Batch Pans with Mechanical Circulators, a key part of SED’s integrated boiling solution. Engineered for improved circulation, faster crystal growth, superior massecuite handling, and consistent crystal quality, the system also improves heat transfer while reducing power consumption across varying production loads.

To improve crystallization efficiency and sugar recovery, SED will supply a 450 MT Twin Vertical Crystallizer and a 110 MT Air-Cooled Crystallizer. The systems are designed to deliver controlled cooling, sharper crystal growth, and greater process stability, helping Lokshakti Sugar maximize sugar recovery while delivering more consistent plant performance.

SED’s Air Ejector complements the package by delivering fast, reliable vacuum generation with low water consumption and minimal maintenance. Its stable performance supports uninterrupted plant operation and strengthens overall process efficiency.

Together, these technologies go beyond individual equipment supply — they create a fully integrated solution for sugar manufacturing. From evaporation and boiling to crystallization and vacuum generation, the package is designed to drive higher energy efficiency, better recovery, stronger reliability, and improved operating economics.

For over three decades, Spray Engineering Devices (SED) has helped sugar manufacturers improve efficiency, maximize recovery, and strengthen profitability through advanced process engineering solutions. As competitive pressures intensify, integrated plant modernization is becoming a business necessity. Lokshakti Sugar’s investment reflects this shift, reaffirming the SED’s role in engineering smarter, more sustainable, and future-ready sugar manufacturing.

About Spray Engineering Devices Limited (SED)

SED is a global engineering and technology company delivering high-performance, energy-efficient solutions for sugar, ethanol, wastewater treatment, evaporation, drying, and renewable energy industries. Backed by four decades of expertise, SED develops patented technologies that boost efficiency, conserve energy, recover resources, and cut environmental impact. Headquartered in Mohali, India, SED serves customers across 40+ countries worldwide with proven results.

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CHANDIGARH, India, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A student of MBA Digital Marketing at Chandigarh University, Tanish Sharma has founded an e-commerce platform, ‘The Banjara’ (https://thebanjara.in/), connecting traditional artisans across 28 states of India to preserve heritage crafts and empower rural communities by bringing authentic Indian craftsmanship to buyers in modern markets.

Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local initiative, ‘The Banjara’ is selling more than 250 products of over 40 traditional artisans from 18 states including J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.

“From Punjab’s most celebrated craft Phulkari to Jharkhand’s Sohrai and Khovar wall paintings, Andhra Pradesh’s Kondapalli wooden toys, Bihar’s Madhubani paintings, Gujarat’s tie-dye Bandhani fabrics, Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnauri shawls, Kashmir’s hand-knotted carpets, Karnataka’s gold-zari Mysore silk, Kerala’s mural paintings, Madhya Pradesh’s Chanderi and Maheshwari silks, Maharashtra’s Paithani silk sarees, Odisha’s Pattachitra scroll paintings, Rajasthan’s Blue Pottery, Tamil Nadu’s Kanjivaram silk sarees and Uttar Pradesh’s Banarasi sarees, our each product is thoughtfully handcrafted with skill, care, and cultural depth a true testament to India’s artistic legacy and timeless design sensibilities,” said Tanish, Founder, The Banjara.

“India is one of the richest countries in the world — not in money, but in culture, craft, and tradition. But the people who create that heritage often struggle the most. The purpose of our platform ‘The Banjara’ is to revive, preserve and celebrate India’s rich craft heritage. Our Mission is to keep centuries-old traditions alive and preserving traditional handicrafts from all 28 states of India. The Banjara will serve as a platform where artisans gain recognition and a brand that makes culture profitable because culture shouldn’t just be preserved in museums. It should be worn, used, gifted, and celebrated,” he added.

Tanish said while running his travel venture during college, he used to meet incredibly skilled artisans in villages, local markets, and craft clusters who had been practicing their craft for generations. “But those artisans were selling their work to middlemen for almost nothing. At the same time, I saw urban customers paying huge prices for ‘ethnic’ products in fancy stores. That gap bothered me. Not because it was unfair, but because it was avoidable. That’s when I decided to build The Banjara — a platform that connects the makers directly with the buyers and help them get fair value for their products,” he said.

“We work directly with artisans and local vendors. Every purchase supports fair wages, sustainable livelihoods and the revival of disappearing art forms making our customers an active part of India’s cultural preservation movement. Through dedicated state chapters, we showcase the unique traditions, craftsmanship, and cultural stories of each Indian state. Our business model works in two ways. First like any e-commerce platform, we make available products of artisans at their market price of which 65 % goes to the artisans and 35 % to The Banjara which covers operational cost of onboarding products of artisans by our team members because most artisans need help to list their products and profit. Working directly with artisans and local vendors, we add design thinking, packaging, storytelling and digital reach to each product. At present, we are onboarding first 100 artisans without a charge. But we are also working on a second model in which artisans will be able to list their products on The Banjara with a monthly subscription of Rs 399. We are selling all products at prices less than all our competitors in India. We are selling products ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1.50 lakh. We intend to deliver our products in the foreign markets also and have applied for the license to export.”

“The MBA in Digital Marketing from Chandigarh University has equipped me with the knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in this dynamic field. This specialized Industry-oriented course has helped me in implementing a combination of strategies and tools in the fields of Social Media Marketing, E-mail marketing, and PPC advertising, Search Engine Optimization, Web development, Public relations and more. Pursuing this program at Chandigarh University has helped me in strategising entrepreneurial marketing challenges and provide a streamlined pathway to bring recognition and promote their sales and growth in the digital world,” Tanish said.

Congratulating Tanish Sharma on his entrepreneurial journey and extending best wishes for the success of his startup, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, said, “Chandigarh University’s promotes the culture of creating the jobs by nurturing entrepreneurship skills among students. The industry-collaborated and futuristic program of the Apex Institute of Management at Chandigarh University are meticulously designed to equip students with the latest industry insights, practical skills, and hands-on experiences, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the modern business landscape.”

“Besides offering globally benchmarked curriculum co-created with industry giants like IBM, SAS, NSE, CII, SBI, Tally, Moody’s and AON, cutting-edge research chances, and world-class industry integration, Chandigarh University’s student-centric 360° approach with its holistic model combining inclusivity, leadership development, industrial visits, SDG mapping, international benchmarking and start-up incubation to prepare students for global careers. Our students learn from acclaimed academicians and industry leaders to gain global perspective and real industry expertise. International live projects, internships, and specialized workshops build critical thinking, creativity, and strategic decision-making skills to solve real problems. CU’s Advanced labs like IBM Lab, NSE N-Smart Lab, Digital Marketing Lab, and SAS Lab offer hands-on experience with the latest tools to prepare students for modern tech and business environments. Our well-connected alumni network supports students through mentorship, career guidance, and networking, giving them access to professionals across industries,” Sandhu added.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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The company’s latest platform data shows that more than 90% of bookings are for local experiences, with consumers increasingly choosing activities located within driving distance of their cities over conventional entertainment or short-haul travel. Rather than travelling farther, people are looking for experiences that help them disconnect, learn something new or celebrate occasions in more memorable ways.

This shift has translated into strong business momentum for Alive. Since November 2025, the company has seen more than double growth in its Bengaluru business, alongside rapid expansion of its creator ecosystem and growing adoption across both consumers and enterprises. Bengaluru continues to be Alive’s largest and first profitable market, while Hyderabad and Mumbai have emerged as its fastest-growing cities.

Adventure, outdoor and DIY experiences continue to attract the highest demand, while wellness has emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories. The platform also records significant spikes during Valentine’s Day and long weekends, reflecting how experiences are increasingly replacing traditional dining, gifting and weekend outings.

Unlike conventional activity marketplaces that primarily aggregate listings, Alive works with creators to conceptualise, build and launch original experiences. Today, more than 95% of experiences available on the platform are exclusive or curated specifically for Alive, spanning everything from sailing, surfing and pottery to perfume-making, tea blending, heritage walks and artisan-led workshops.

The creator ecosystem has also expanded significantly, with Alive witnessing strong growth in the number of experience partners joining the platform while maintaining high retention. By combining AI-powered discovery, operational tools and personalised recommendations with human curation, the platform enables creators to focus on designing unique experiences while simplifying everything from customer support and scheduling to content creation.

The corporate segment is emerging as another strong growth engine. Alive is seeing increasing demand from companies looking to move beyond traditional team outings and offsites towards more immersive experiences that encourage collaboration, creativity and employee engagement. Interest from businesses has grown steadily over the past several months, reflecting a broader shift in how organisations are investing in workplace culture.

Commenting on the trend, Vivek Kumar, Founder & CEO of Alive App, said:

“When we started Alive, we believed people weren’t looking for more things to buy, they were looking for more ways to live. Over the last several months, we’ve seen that play out across the platform. People are choosing to spend their weekends learning pottery, sailing, making perfume or exploring a farm instead of doing the same things they’ve always done. That’s a behavioural shift, not a seasonal trend. At the same time, creators are building sustainable businesses around these experiences and companies are rethinking how they bring people together. We’re seeing the foundations of a completely new lifestyle category take shape.”

As Alive expands across more cities and categories, the company believes India’s experience economy is moving beyond early adoption and becoming an integral part of urban lifestyles, driven by consumers who increasingly value discovery, connection and memorable experiences over conventional leisure.

About Alive App

Alive App is India’s first tech startup dedicated to creating new and original, emotionally driven experiences across adventure, art, food, wellness, and culture. With over 450+ curated experiences across four cities, Alive App helps people rediscover the joy of living and connect more deeply with the world around them. Founded by Vivek, Alive App has achieved 90x growth in under a year and is at the forefront of shaping India’s fast-emerging experience economy.

Website: www.iamalive.app

Instagram: @iamalive.app

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