Chennai, April , 2026: Shree Agarwal Sabha proudly celebrated the inaugural ceremony of its 75th year celebrations, marking its Platinum Jubilee, which was held on April 26, 2026, at the Lady Andal School Auditorium, Chennai.
This significant milestone stood as a testament to the Sabha’s enduring legacy of dedicated social service, preservation of cultural values, and the fostering of strong community bonds over the past seven and a half decades. Since its inception, Shree Agarwal Sabha had played a vital role in uplifting society through numerous welfare initiatives while nurturing unity among its members.
Platinum Jubilee Chairman, Shri Vijay Kumar Goyal, shared that the celebration was not merely ceremonial but a vibrant festival symbolizing togetherness, service, tradition, and harmony. Reflecting on the Sabha’s journey, he emphasized the organization’s consistent efforts toward societal betterment and strengthening communal ties.
He further noted that the primary objective of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations was to bring together individuals from all walks of life onto a common platform, inspire the younger generation to remain connected to their rich cultural heritage, and reinforce the values of mutual respect, unity, and brotherhood.’
“Platinum Jubilee inauguration of Shree Agarwal Sabha was graced by the Chief Guest, Thiru Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu.”
The inaugural program was a memorable and engaging event, featuring captivating cultural performances by “Miracle on Wheels” from Bangalore, along with a special felicitation ceremony honoring distinguished contributors and community members.
The event was organized under the leadership and guidance of President Sri Sitaram Goyal, General Secretary Sri Bal Govind Gupta, Event Chairman Sri Arun Kumar Sultania, Smt. Sunita Khemka, President, Shree Agarwal Mahila Samiti, Smt. Urmila Saraf, President, Agarwal Mahila Mandal, Smt. Pooja Agarwal, President, Junior Agarwal Mahila Mandal, Sri Saurabh Khemka, President, Shree Agarwal Youth Association and with the team of Shree Agarwal Sabha in Chennai.
Yearly orders grew from 91 in 2019 to over 33,247 in 2025
Brand now spans 10+ restaurants and 20+ food trucks across Coimbatore, Trichy, Erode, and Palakkad
Coimbatore, 27 March 2026: Street Arabiya, a popular Mediterranean food destination from Coimbatore, has recorded a ~365x growth in yearly order volumes since onboarding on Zomato in 2019. What started as a single food truck has now grown into a widely loved regional brand, bringing Mediterranean flavours with a South Indian twist to customers across multiple cities.
Speaking about the journey, Ahamed Shahabath said, “When we started Street Arabiya with a single food truck, our goal was to introduce authentic Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine while adapting the flavours to suit South Indian tastes. Over the years, the response from customers has been incredible. What began as a small experiment has now grown into a multi-city brand, and Zomato has played a key role in helping us reach a wider audience while scaling our operations.”
Aditya Mangla, CEO, Zomato, said, “The trust customers place in Street Arabiya has been built plate by plate over the years. We’re glad to be part of their journey by supporting them with aggregated insights and platform connections that help them grow further.”
Founded by three engineers- Ahamed Shahabath N, Yasar Arafath, and Jansa Mohammed in 2017, Street Arabiya began its journey with a single food truck in Podanur, Coimbatore, with the aim of making Mediterranean food more accessible. Over the years, the brand has steadily expanded and today operates 10+ restaurants and 20+ food trucks across Coimbatore, Trichy, Erode and Palakkad.
The restaurant offers more than 20 varieties of shawarmas, along with popular dishes such as Alfahams, Kebabs, Mandhi, and other Mediterranean specialties. With a clear focus on quality, hygiene and innovation over the years, Street Arabiya has balanced authentic Arabic flavours with local preferences and successfully built a loyal customer base across the region.
Since onboarding on Zomato, the brand has:
Achieved 365x growth in yearly order volumes over six years, increasing from 91 in 2019 to 33247 in 2025
The brand generated ₹8 lakh in commissionable value last year. Owing to the positive impact and improved performance, the restaurant increased the investment and take a more aggressive growth approach. As a result, within four months, it reached ₹20 lakh in commissionable value driven by the following factors:Advertisement servicesMenu EngineeringPromo Codes Business insights via the RP (Restaurant Partner) app
To help small restaurants scale quickly, Zomato has introduced several initiatives in recent years. These include a DIY onboarding tool that helps restaurants get listed on the platform in just 15 minutes, and access to the Restaurant Services Hub, a curated marketplace of verified vendors offering licensing, staffing, and hygiene audit services. In select cities, new restaurants also benefit from 0% commission for the first 30 days, along with credits for ads and Hyperpure services. As of Q3 FY26, Zomato has an average of 336,000 monthly active food ordering and delivery restaurant partners on the platform.
Chennai , March 27, 2026: India doesn’t have a ‘pause’ button and neither do the people driving it forward. At TECNO, we believe technology should keep up with that pace. The TECNO SPARK 50 5G is built for the unpredictable flow of Indian life – where long days, constant movement and real-world challenges are the norm. From long commutes to dust, drops and sudden monsoon showers, the device is designed to keep up, bringing together style, endurance and everyday toughness so your digital life moves as consistently as you do.
This idea of resilience extends beyond everyday life and onto the cricket field. TECNO’s association with Chennai Super Kings is rooted in the same belief – consistency under pressure and unwavering support. With the #TECNOGotYourBack campaign, TECNO stands firmly behind both the team and the millions of fans who continue to show up, no matter the conditions.
Commenting on the launch and partnership, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TECNO Mobile India, said: “In a market as fast-moving as India, people aren’t just looking for a list of specs; they’re looking for a partner that can actually keep up with their day. With the TECNO SPARK 50 5G, we’ve moved beyond jargon to focus on what truly matters in the real world – dependability, endurance and performance that keeps up through long, demanding days and unpredictable conditions.
At TECNO, we don’t aim to be the trophy in your hand, we aim to be the spine that helps you stand tall enough to reach for it, which is the thought behind #TECNOGotYourBack – our commitment to being the ‘Backbone of Bharat.’ This belief also reflects in our association with Chennai Super Kings, where consistency under pressure defines true champions and by placing our logo on the back of the CSK helmet, we are making a clear statement – we are right there, backing those who inspire millions, both on and off the field.”
Design shouldn’t just look good on a shelf, it should reflect the energy of the person holding it. Inspired by the premium shades of nature, the TECNO SPARK 50 5G comes in Fantasy Purple, Mint Green, Champagne Gold and Ink Black, balancing style with a build that’s ready for everyday life, reinforced with Military Grade MIL STD-810H Protection and IP64 Pro protection. Beyond the design, the 6500mAh battery keeps you going through long days, while FreeLink 2.0 technology helps you stay connected even in no-network zones. Combined with 5G+ carrier aggregation, it ensures a stable, reliable experience across environments.
On the software front, the device integrates features like Segment 1st All Scenario Active Noise Cancellation, AI WhatsApp Assistant, Ella Alarm Announcement, AI Writing Assistant, AI Eraser 2.0, AI Image Extender and Ella-powered tools, along with a 120Hz display for smoother, more responsive interactions.
The TECNO SPARK 50 5G is priced at ₹16,999 for the 4GB + 128GB variant and ₹18,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant. The device will be available starting April 3rd across online and offline retail channels, along with no-cost EMI options for up to 8 months.
With the TECNO SPARK 50 5G, the brand continues to focus on delivering practical, reliable smartphones tailored for India’s fast-moving consumers.
Chennai, 27 March 2026: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) today announced a generous commitment from IIT alumnus Arvind Raghunathan to the Centre for Theoretical Computer Science. The newly established centre, named the Arvind Raghunathan Centre for Theoretical Computer Science (ARtCS), will advance the mathematical foundation of computer science through deep, curiosity-driven research and provide an enduring intellectual home for long-term theoretical inquiries.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, expressed his gratitude saying, “The generosity of Mr. Raghunathan and his continued commitment to the students of IIT Madras through ARtCS will advance innovative research in the field of computational science at an exciting time in this field.”
Mr. Raghunathan said, “My transformative five years at IIT Madras fostered an unrelenting curiosity in me, and I hope that ARtCS will provide future generations with access to world-class professors and research in their intellectual pursuits in theoretical subjects.”
ARtCS will strengthen IIT and India’s representation in theoretical computer science, a field that forms the bedrock of all computational innovation, by fostering foundational research and nurturing students at the bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels. It will promote foundational research in cryptography, computational complexity, algorithms, graph theory logic and databases, theoretical machine learning, quantum computing and privacy in AI.
After earning a degree in electrical engineering from IIT Madras, Mr. Raghunathan went on to obtain his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. A brief stint in academia was then followed by a successful career in equity proprietary trading at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, after which Mr. Raghunathan went on to found a number of businesses, including a large hedge fund, and, most recently two companies in the fintech / investment management and AI space.
About Roc360:
Roc360 is a vertically integrated financial services and investment platform focused on the residential real estate investor market. The company leveraged AI and data-driven analytics to provide end-to-end solutions to real estate investors, spanning loan origination, underwriting, servicing, asset management, insurance, and valuation.
About HouseIQ:
House IQ is a leading technology company that enhances the entire homeownership experience. It delivers AI guidance throughout the home lifecycle, from search and purchase to improvement, management, and resale. The company’s mission is to create thoughtful technology that makes finding and managing a home simpler and more joyful, encapsulated in its commitment to delivering “Your Home. One Intelligent App.”
250+ MSME CEOs, industry captains, and academia convene in Chennai
Leaders from TVS, Boeing, Motherson, Maruti Suzuki, Cummins, L&T, Bosch, ZF, and Deloitte engage MSMEs on quality, global value chain integration, and digital transformation
IFQM launches Quality Excellence Prize for MSMEs, Leadership Development Course, and two industry-designed university courses
Chennai, March 20, 2026: The Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) convened its first MSME Symposium at Anna University, Chennai, bringing together over 250 MSME CEOs, CPOs and CEOs of large companies, quality experts, and academic leaders to deliberate on making India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) globally competitive and export-capable. The symposium, themed – India Needs… A Resurgent MSME Sector – called for a “national quality sprint” to integrate with the global value chains.
Delivering the keynote address, Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, IFQM, said, “If MSMEs grow in their journey, not just to better productivity, quality and profitability but to become large companies for strategy, technology, products, innovation and growth, it will be a breakthrough in creating a new India. The MSME transformation agenda can have some very simple objectives – do cell formation,double your productivity, reduce your quality defect by half,reduce your inventory by half, reduce your space by one-third, all this in about 12 months and we will be well on our way. IFQM is taking this force multiplicationeffort by taking a cluster approach – ten MSME clusters covering 67 MSMEs is already in place – and this I believe is not just an effort to improve the MSME ecosystem but our long term aspiration to build brand India.”
The MSME symposium featured four panel discussions, two case studies, and four concrete launches aimed at bridging the quality gap between India’s MSME ecosystem and global manufacturing standards.
Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO & Director, IFQM, said, “India is amongst the fastest growing large economies, but our share of global trade is still under 2%. The bridge between GDP growth and global competitiveness is quality. Germany’s Mittelstand — our MSME equivalent — contributes 68% of that country’s exports. India’s 7.69 crore MSMEs have not reached anywhere close. The difference is not scale — it is quality systems, supply chain integration, and a culture of precision. Through this symposium and the programmes we have showcased today, IFQM is putting practical tools in the hands of MSME leaders — not policies on paper, but frameworks they can act on starting immediately.”
“India is in a sweet spot, and yet this opportunity has to be grabbed on merits. No one is going to give us a passthrough just because there is a big global geopolitical tension across the world and India could be a safe haven. We will earn our right by focusing on daily work management, continuous improvement, counselling and assessment and adherenece to global benchmarks,” he added.
India’s MSME sector accounts for 31% of GDP, 35% of manufacturing output, and nearly 49% of exports, employing 32.8 crore people across 7.69 crore registered enterprises. Yet India’s share of global merchandise exports remains at approximately 1.8%, and its IMD World Competitiveness Ranking slipped to 41st out of 69 economies in 2025. The symposium addressed this growth-competitiveness paradox head-on, with industry leaders sharing actionable frameworks, global benchmarks, and MSME transformation case studies.
Key Sessions and Industry Engagement
The symposium featured a cross-section of India’s industrial leadership engaging directly with MSMEs. The opening panel, “India as a Global Manufacturing Hub,” moderated by Ashwani Bhargava of Boeing India, featured panellists from Bosch (Madhav Dusane), Cummins India (Kavita Sandeep Kaushik), and LGB (Prabakaran), who examined what global OEMs look for when sourcing from Indian suppliers and the quality benchmarks MSMEs must meet to enter global value chains.
Pankaj Mital, Vice Chairman, Motherson Group, presented a case study on how Motherson transformed from a single Indian MSME into an $18-billion global company — offering a replicable roadmap for Indian manufacturers. A second panel on “Growth in the Domestic Market,” moderated by Arvind Balaji of Lucas TVS, included CV Raman of Maruti Suzuki, alongside leaders from TVS Motor, L&T, and TEPL, discussing how MSMEs can scale within India’s domestic supply chains.
A distinctive session titled “Listen & Unravel,” moderated by Deloitte, brought industry leaders face-to-face with MSME entrepreneurs to understand their on-ground challenges, while a “Solutions & Roadmap” panel moderated by Dr. Jairam Varadaraj offered concrete remedies and course corrections, including L&T SUFiN’s financing solutions for small manufacturers.
Five Launches at the Symposium
IFQM announced five initiatives designed to move from intent to action for MSMEs: (1) Cluster development by IFQM to enable a benchmark level for MSMEs; (2) The IFQM Quality Excellence Prize (QEP) for MSMEs — India’s first industry-led excellence award with a rigorous, multi-stage assessment framework designed specifically for smaller enterprises; (3) A Leadership Development Course for MSMEs through the IFQM Academy, launched by Srikanth Padmanabhan (Independent Director, IFQM) and R. Anandakrishnan (TVS Motor); (4) A Zero Defect Manufacturing course with SRM IST, Chennai; and (5) An Excellence in Manufacturing Engineering course with VelTech University. A special screening of the Mittelstand documentary during lunch highlighted global MSME success models.
• இந்திய தர மேலாண்மை அறக்கட்டளை (IFQM) MSME கருத்தரங்கு 2026 ஐ அறிவிக்கிறது
• “பிராண்ட் இந்தியாவை” ஊக்குவிக்கும் உலகளாவிய போட்டித்தன்மை வாய்ந்த MSME துறையை உருவாக்குவதன் மூலம் விக்ஸித் பாரத் 2047 ஐ நோக்கிய இந்தியாவின் பயணம் குறித்து விவாதிக்க தொழில்துறையின் தலைவர்கள், தர நிபுணர்கள், கல்வியாளர்கள், பிரதிநிதிகள்.
CHENNAI, மார்ச் 09, 2026 – இந்தியாவிற்கான தர பிராண்டை உருவாக்கும் தொழில்துறை தலைமையிலான, பிரிவு 8 இலாப நோக்கற்ற இயக்கமான இந்திய தர மேலாண்மை அறக்கட்டளை (IFQM), மார்ச் 20, 2026 அன்று சென்னை, கிண்டியில் உள்ள அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில், இந்தியாவிற்கு ஒரு மறுமலர்ச்சி MSME துறை தேவை என்ற கருப்பொருளில் அதன் MSME கருத்தரங்கு 2026 ஐக் கூட்டுவதாக அறிவித்தது. தொழில்துறைத் தலைவர்களைக் கொண்ட அதன் நிர்வாகக் குழுவின் தலைமையிலான IFQM, தரம், சிறந்து விளங்குதல் மற்றும் புதுமை முயற்சிகள் மூலம் இந்திய நிறுவனங்கள் உலகளவில் போட்டியிட உதவுவதில் உறுதியாக உள்ளது. கருத்தரங்கிற்கான பதிவுwww.ifqm.org.in என்ற IFQM வலைத்தளம் மூலம் திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
இந்த நிகழ்வில் MSME சுற்றுச்சூழல் அமைப்பின் தலைவர்கள், தொழில்துறையின் தலைவர்கள், கல்வியாளர்கள் மற்றும் தர வல்லுநர்கள் கலந்து கொள்வார்கள். உலகளாவிய மதிப்புச் சங்கிலிகளில் (GVCs) உயர் தொழில்நுட்பம், அதிக உற்பத்தித்திறன் மற்றும் நம்பகமான உற்பத்தி கூட்டாளராக விரைவாக ஒருங்கிணைக்கும் நோக்கில், இந்தியாவின் குறு, சிறு மற்றும் நடுத்தர நிறுவனங்களை (MSMEs) உலகளவில் போட்டித்தன்மை வாய்ந்ததாக மாற்றுவதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகள் மற்றும் முறைகள் குறித்து இந்த கருத்தரங்கு விவாதிக்கும். 250+ MSMEs, CPOs மற்றும் பெரிய நிறுவனங்களின் CEOக்கள், வணிகத் தலைவர்கள் மற்றும் IFQM இன் தேசம் முதன்மை அணுகுமுறையின் தூதர்களுடன் ஈடுபட இது ஒரு தனித்துவமான வாய்ப்பை வழங்கும்.
இந்த கருத்தரங்கில் டிவிஎஸ் மோட்டார் நிறுவனத்தின் எமரிட்டஸ் தலைவர் வேணு ஸ்ரீனிவாசன்; லூகாஸ் டிவிஎஸ் நிறுவனத்தின் எம்.டி. அரவிந்த் பாலாஜி; எல்ஜி எக்யூப்மென்ட்ஸ் நிறுவனத்தின் எம்.டி. டாக்டர் ஜெய்ராம் வரதராஜ்; மதர்சன் சுமி சிஸ்டம்ஸ் நிறுவனத்தின் சி.ஓ.ஓ பங்கஜ் மிட்டல்; ரீஃபை இன்ஜினியரிங் நிறுவனத்தின் எம்.டி. பிரதீப் ராமகிருஷ்ணன் உள்ளிட்ட பலர் பேசுகின்றனர்.
முன்னணி இந்திய நிறுவனங்களின் கூட்டமைப்பால் அமைக்கப்பட்ட இந்திய தர மேலாண்மை அறக்கட்டளை (IFQM), தரம், சிறப்பு மற்றும் புதுமைகளை மையமாகக் கொண்ட மாற்றத்தை ஊக்குவிக்க முயல்கிறது.
வரவிருக்கும் கருத்தரங்கில் பேசிய IFQM இன் தலைமை நிர்வாக அதிகாரி மற்றும் இயக்குநர் சௌமித்ரா பட்டாச்சார்யா,
“உலகளவில் நம்பகமான “இந்தியாவில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது” என்ற பிராண்டை இந்தியா உருவாக்க, எதிர்பார்க்கப்படும் தர செயல்திறனை தொடர்ந்து பொருத்த MSME கிளஸ்டர்கள் அதிகாரம் பெற வேண்டும். உலகின் சிறந்த ஏற்றுமதியாளர்களில் ஒன்றாக மாறுவதை நோக்கமாகக் கொண்டு, ஒரு தடையற்ற சிறந்த சுற்றுச்சூழல் அமைப்பு தேவைப்படுகிறது. இது உலகளவில் விரும்பப்படும் தரக் கொள்கைகளை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வது, கிளஸ்டர் அடிப்படையிலான அளவிலான உத்திகள், மதிப்பீடு மற்றும் பயிற்சி கருவிகளுக்கான உடனடி அணுகல் மற்றும் தனிப்பட்ட நிறுவனங்கள் அல்லது பிரிவுகளுக்கு அப்பாற்பட்ட முயற்சிகளில் பரவலான ஈடுபாட்டை கோருகிறது. இந்த கருத்தரங்கு மற்றும் எதிர்காலத்தில் இன்னும் பலவற்றின் மூலம், உலகளாவிய நிறுவனங்கள் இந்தியாவிலிருந்து எதை ஆதாரமாக எதிர்பார்க்கின்றன என்பதைப் பற்றி விவாதிப்பதையும், அர்த்தமுள்ள மாற்றத்திற்கான இயக்கிகளை முன்னிலைப்படுத்துவதற்கான வழக்கு ஆய்வுகள் மற்றும் விரும்பத்தக்க தீர்வுகள் மற்றும் பாடத்திட்ட திருத்தங்களை முன்மொழிய சிறிய நிறுவனங்களின் சவால்களைப் புரிந்துகொள்வதையும் IFQM நோக்கமாகக் கொண்டுள்ளது.”
o உலகளாவியஉற்பத்திமையமாகஇந்தியா – அஸ்வனிபார்கவா (போயிங்) அவர்களால்நிர்வகிக்கப்பட்டது
o உள்நாட்டுசந்தையில்வளர்ச்சி – அரவிந்த்பாலாஜி (லூகாஸ்டிவிஎஸ்) அவர்களால்நிர்வகிக்கப்பட்டது
o கேளுங்கள் & அவிழ்த்துவிடுங்கள்: MSME-களுக்கானமூலகாரணபகுப்பாய்வு – கபீர்பண்டாரி (PVNA குழுமம்) அவர்களால்நிர்வகிக்கப்படுகிறது
o தீர்வுகள் & பாதைவரைபடம்: தீர்வுகள்மற்றும்பாடத்திருத்தங்கள் – டாக்டர்ஜெய்ராம்வரதராஜால்நிர்வகிக்கப்படுகிறதுAcademic Partnerships to Focus on டிஜிட்டல்மற்றும் AI கருவிகள்ஒருங்கிணைப்புமற்றும்பயன்பாடு:
சென்னை SRM IST இல்படிப்புகள்மற்றும்உற்பத்திசிறப்பு (வெல்டெக்பல்கலைக்கழகம்)
பிற்பகல்முயற்சிகள்
கருத்தரங்கின் இரண்டாம் பகுதி IFQM இன் தூண்கள் மற்றும் முன்முயற்சிகளை முன்னிலைப்படுத்தும், அவற்றில் பின்வருவன அடங்கும்:
• MSME களுக்கான ஆலோசனை மற்றும் மதிப்பீடு
• கற்றல் தீர்வுகள் மற்றும் சான்றிதழ் திட்டங்கள்
• தொழில்-கல்வி ஒத்துழைப்பு மாதிரிகள்
• டிஜிட்டல் மாற்றம் & AI ஒருங்கிணைப்பு
• தர சிறப்புப் பரிசின் அறிவிப்பு
• விரிவான தொழில் ஆய்வு & கருத்து
• வழக்கு ஆய்வுகள்:
o ஒரு MSME எவ்வாறு அச்சுகளை உடைத்தது
o மதர்சன் எவ்வாறு உலகளாவிய நிறுவனமாக மாறியது – பங்கஜ் மிட்டல் (மதர்சன்) அவர்களால் வழங்கப்பட்டது.
In a significant step toward strengthening India’s clean energy manufacturing ecosystem, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has licensed a patented solar cell encapsulant technology to Chennai-based specialty materials manufacturer Anabond Limited. The agreement represents an important milestone in the commercialization of university research and highlights the growing role of academia in advancing indigenous technology development.
The licensing agreement includes an upfront payment of ₹1 crore for the patented technology, along with a seven-year royalty arrangement linked to the commercial turnover of products based on the technology. The partnership reflects a broader trend of industry–academia collaboration aimed at translating laboratory innovations into scalable industrial solutions.
India has set an ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to account for the largest share. As the country rapidly expands domestic solar manufacturing under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and other policy initiatives, advanced materials such as encapsulants—which play a critical role in protecting solar modules and ensuring long-term performance—are emerging as strategic components of the renewable energy supply chain.
Dr. P. Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor (Academics), SRMIST, described the partnership as a significant step toward aligning academic research with industry needs and national priorities. “Universities must move beyond knowledge dissemination to knowledge creation—and ultimately to translating that knowledge into real-world solutions.” He emphasized that while universities traditionally focus on education and placements, research achievements become truly meaningful when they lead to practical technologies that benefit society. “When industry partners come forward to adopt research developed in university laboratories, it brings immense satisfaction to researchers and demonstrates the real impact of academic innovation.” Dr. Sathyanarayanan also revealed that SRMIST is planning to establish an Industrial Research Park, which will bring industry R&D units closer to the university campus and create opportunities for students, researchers, and companies to collaborate on real-world technological challenges.
Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor of SRMIST, described the technology licensing agreement as the culmination of a long institutional journey from academic teaching toward research and innovation. Over the past two decades, SRMIST has steadily strengthened its research ecosystem, moving from a focus on scholarly publications to cutting-edge research supported by government agencies and industry partners. According to the Vice Chancellor, the university currently receives around ₹35 crore annually in research funding across domains such as energy, environment, healthcare, water technologies, and disruptive innovations. “If we can enhance the performance of solar cells by preventing environmental degradation and significantly extending their life and performance, then we are truly moving from fundamental research to translational research.” Prof. Muthamizhchelvan also highlighted the university’s growing intellectual property portfolio, noting that SRMIST currently holds more than 538 granted patents. With this expanding IP base, the institution has begun focusing on commercialization pathways that allow research outcomes to benefit society and industry.
“We wanted to move our research from publications to solutions that benefit society,” he added, emphasizing that the collaboration with Anabond Limited represents a visible example of how academic innovation can translate into industrial applications.
Dr. Shantanu Patil, Director of the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (DEI), SRMIST, explained that the university has developed structured mechanisms to support intellectual property development, startup incubation, and technology commercialization. “The Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation serves as a central hub that helps transform ideas developed by students, faculty, and researchers into startups, technologies, and impactful solutions.” He added that the SRM Center for Intellectual Property Rights and Protection plays a crucial role in identifying and protecting innovations emerging from the university, while the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) focuses on commercializing these innovations through industry partnerships.
The licensed technology was developed by Prof. K. Ananthanarayanan and his research team from the Department of Chemistry, SRMIST, who have been working on advanced materials for solar energy systems. Explaining the importance of encapsulation technology, Prof. Ananthanarayanan noted that while solar cells are becoming increasingly efficient, they remain highly sensitive to environmental conditions such as ultraviolet radiation, moisture, dust, and temperature fluctuations. “Encapsulants protect solar modules from ultraviolet radiation, moisture, dust, and environmental stress. When panels are expected to operate for 25 to 30 years, the reliability of this protective material becomes critical.” To illustrate the concept, he compared encapsulation to the tempered glass used to protect smartphone displays. “Just as a protective glass layer prevents damage to a phone screen, encapsulation materials protect solar cells and ensure that they continue to function reliably throughout their lifetime.”
The research team spent four to five years developing a patented polymer encapsulant specifically designed for next-generation solar technologies such as TOPCon and perovskite–silicon hybrid solar cells, which place greater performance demands on encapsulation materials than conventional systems.
“Solar energy will power the world in the future, and we are proud, in our own small way, to contribute to making that future more reliable and durable,” Prof. Ananthanarayanan said.
For Anabond Limited, the collaboration represents an important step in expanding its portfolio into renewable energy materials. Founded in 1979 by a scientist with experience in India’s nuclear research establishments, the company has grown into a major manufacturer of specialty adhesives, sealants, and advanced materials.
Mr. M. Rajan, Managing Director of Anabond Limited, said the company has built its growth on a strong foundation of research and development combined with the ability to scale laboratory innovations into commercial products. “This technology has strong potential for the future, and we are proud to partner with SRMIST in taking this innovation toward commercialization.” He explained that Anabond has extensive experience in technology transfer and industrial scaling, having worked with strategic organizations including ISRO and defense research establishments, where its products have supported demanding aerospace and missile applications. “Scaling laboratory innovations into reliable industrial products is a complex challenge, and we are confident this collaboration will successfully bring the technology to market.”
The company currently operates multiple manufacturing facilities across India and maintains a wide distribution network that supports industrial clients across sectors including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and defense.
Highlighting the broader importance of partnerships between universities and industry, Mr. Abraham, Joint Managing Director of Anabond Limited, said such collaborations are essential for converting research breakthroughs into technologies that create economic and societal value.
“Universities are hubs of innovation and new technologies. Partnering with industry enables these innovations to move from laboratory research to production scale, ultimately benefiting society and contributing to economic growth.” He also acknowledged the role of government initiatives in enabling collaboration between academic institutions and industry, particularly programs that allow companies to access advanced research infrastructure available within universities. “The partnership between SRM Institute of Science and Technology and Anabond Limited will certainly contribute to technological advancement and economic growth, while supporting the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.
Institutional leaders at SRMIST emphasized that the licensing agreement was made possible through the university’s growing innovation ecosystem. Together, these institutional platforms help bridge the gap between academic discovery and real-world application.
According to SRMIST’s Technology Transfer Office, the university has already facilitated more than 17 technology transfer agreements with industry partners. However, the solar encapsulant licensing stands out as one of the first to include a structured royalty model linked to commercial success.
The university also organizes the Industrial Research and Innovation Summit (IRIS), an annual platform that brings together industry leaders, investors, researchers, and startups to explore commercialization opportunities for emerging technologies. With this licensing milestone, SRMIST reinforces its broader vision of positioning academia not only as a generator of knowledge, but also as a key contributor to India’s industrial capability and sustainable technological future.
Say goodbye to the hassle of insurance management—the endless paperwork, follow-ups, and juggling multiple portals are over. For millions of people in India, WhatsApp, their go-to app for connecting with friends and family, is now also the hub for essential services like buying and renewing insurance. From purchasing a policy and paying premiums to tracking a claim, managing your insurance is as simple as a chat with a family member or a friend, all within a single WhatsApp conversation. People can choose from paying for their insurance policies using their preferred payment mode including, UPI, credit and debit cards.
Here are some insurance providers who have simplified payments for buying and renewing insurance for the people:
HDFC Life Insurance
Chat on WhatsApp: +91 8291890569
HDFC Life enables you to manage a wide range of policy services directly on WhatsApp. You can buy a new policy, pay premiums, or initiate a claim, all within a single thread. Beyond transactions, you can review policy details, update personal information, raise or track service requests and download important documents as needed. Whether it’s a quick premium query or a more detailed update, everything stays within the same conversation.
Axis Max Life brings policy purchase and servicing to WhatsApp, allowing you to take care of life insurance needs without moving between platforms. You can buy a term insurance or investment plan, pay renewal premiums, track an application in progress or monitor claim status in one place. The chat also supports routine service requests and document access. Built-in financial tools help you calculate tax savings, and you can explore personalized offers or locate nearby branches if required, all starting from the same message thread.
Life Insurance Corporation of India
Chat on WhatsApp: +91 8976862090
LIC policyholders can access a broad set of services on WhatsApp, from premium payments and policy status checks to downloading premium paid certificates and reviewing bonus information. Loan-related services, including eligibility, repayment quotations and interest due, are also available, along with ULIP statements and pension (IPP) details. Claim due dates, claim payment updates and service preferences can be reviewed within the same interface, bringing multiple touchpoints into one chat.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
Chat on WhatsApp: +91 99206 67766
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance allows you to explore and manage policy services on WhatsApp, keeping key requests in a single conversation. You can purchase a policy, check your premium amount, register or track death and health claims, and monitor fund value updates without logging into separate systems. The service also supports NRI queries, group policies and quick-service options for everyday requests. FAQs and relevant service links are accessible within the chat, making WhatsApp the starting point for most policy interactions.
Bharti AXA Life Insurance
Chat on WhatsApp: 02248815768
Bharti AXA Life Insurance allows you to manage essential policy services on WhatsApp, turning routine insurance tasks into a simple chat-based interaction. You can pay premiums, access your policy statement, review policy details or raise customer servicing requests without logging into multiple systems. The service also lets you update personal information, register for e-NACH, download required forms or initiate a policy surrender request. If you prefer in-person support, you can locate the nearest branch, all starting from the same WhatsApp conversation.
CHENNAI Kotak Mahindra Bank is presenting its invite only affluent programme ‘Solitaire’ to Coimbatore’s founder families and professionals as Tamil Nadu’s growth momentum and Coimbatore’s enterprise economy gather pace. Tamil Nadu has posted strong growth with per capita incomes rising, signalling sustained income gains in one of India’s most industrialised states. Coimbatore, with over 3.23 lakh registered MSMEs and deep industrial clusters, remains a key engine of this growth, with its engineering and pump ecosystem supplying a significant share of India’s motor and pump production—bolstering demand for faster credit, sophisticated treasury solutions and premium wealth services that Kotak aims to support through Solitaire.
Pranav Mishra, President – Head of Distribution, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said: “Coimbatore’s entrepreneurs represent the best of India’s self made success—grounded in enterprise, guided by innovation, and built on family ambition. Across industrial clusters in Peelamedu, SIDCO and Kurichi and the growing innovation corridors in Saravanampatti and Kalapatti, they are driving a new phase of enterprise led growth. Kotak Solitaire is designed to support that momentum by recognising family relationships, easing access to credit and offering high touch service for busy business owners. In a globally connected economy, entrepreneurs need flexible credit and unified banking that works seamlessly for both personal and business needs—and Solitaire brings that together in one integrated relationship.”
The Bigger Picture: Rise of Affluence in India
India’s affluent population is expanding rapidly and is expected to touch nearly 100 million affluent individuals by 2027, up from around 60 million in 2023. This surge is visible not only in metros but also in enterprise led centres like Coimbatore, where expanding MSME activity and entrepreneurial success are reshaping household prosperity. In this environment, Kotak Solitaire is uniquely positioned to serve Coimbatore’s upwardly mobile families, offering an integrated platform that brings together banking, wealth management, credit and lifestyle privileges—aligned to the pace at which the city’s economic and affluent profile is evolving.
Coimbatore’s Shift Toward Modern Enterprise
Coimbatore continues to deepen its position as a high activity enterprise hub where legacy industries are scaling alongside new age businesses. The city’s industrial clusters—Peelamedu, SIDCO and Kurichi—remain strong anchors for textiles, engineering, motor-and-pump manufacturing and precision production. Alongside this, the Saravanampatti–Kalapatti corridor is expanding Coimbatore’s footprint in IT services and tech forward enterprise, complementing the city’s manufacturing depth with new growth engines. Coimbatore’s makers are also expanding into higher value segments such as aerospace components, medical devices and global e commerce supply chains. The result is rising prosperity, broader income streams, job creation and increasing demand for relationship led banking for businesses and their families.
What Sets Solitaire Apart
Solitaire is invitation only and linked to a household’s Total Relationship Value across deposits, loans, investments, insurance and demat holdings. The programme recognises consolidated family engagement, provides pre approved credit lines of up to ₹8 crore for time critical decisions, and offers a two layer service model for strategic needs and day to day execution.
Customer Focus
Kotak’s research indicates self employed customers seek flexible, responsive support as their businesses grow in scale and complexity. Many manage fragmented banking relationships, rigid lending structures and limited recognition despite substantial engagement. Solitaire addresses these issues with a unified, relationship driven experience, flexible credit and personalised service for ambitious customers in emerging cities such as Coimbatore.
Kotak Solitaire: Key Features
· Flexible Business Banking Lending Solutions with LTV up to 120% of collateral value for working capital and up to 20% ad hoc limit for 120 days/year; Complimentary Business credit Card with limit up to 30 lacs for managing business expenses, pre approved Forward Hedging limits. · Connected Banking with ERP integration, CMS with up to 500 free NEFT / RTGS transactions p.m. No Installation and Rentals on POS / Soundboxes with preferential MDR on POS. · Superior variant of Current Account with no AQB requirements and free cheque pickup facility · ₹8 Crore Pre Approved Credit Lines – Seamless access to pre approved secured and unsecured loans, including home loans, Auto Loans, personal loans, and credit cards. · Family Level Design – banking benefits for up to 15 family members. · Premium Lifestyle Benefits on Credit Card – Unlimited lounge access, luxury hotel privileges, pre sale invites to exclusive events and zero forex markup. · Dedicated Service Model – Dual layered support with a Relationship Manager for financial guidance and a Service RM for operational needs.
Chennai, February 2026: Green Milk Concepts (GMC), the herbal division of Apex Laboratories, is set to launch Green Milk’s Green Cuddle Baby Care range on 26th February 2026 at 3:00 PM at Hotel Green Park, Chennai. The range is thoughtfully developed with a blend of traditional wisdom and modern scientific principles to gently care for a baby’s soft and sensitive skin.
The launch will be graced by distinguished personalities including Ms. S.V. Subashini, Executive Director – GMC; Dr. G. Sivaraman; Dr. Vijeyapall; and Dr. A.V. Ravishankar, Mr. R. Sridhar, VP – Sales & Marketing; Mr. V.P. Raghavan, DGM; Dr. M. Vijayakumar, AGM (Head – R&D); who will preside over the event and share insights on this innovative baby care range.
The Green Cuddle Baby Care range is crafted with natural actives that help nourish, soothe, refresh, and comfort delicate baby skin. All products are dermatologically tested and paediatrician tested, ensuring safety and gentleness for daily use. The range is free from synthetic colours, parabens, synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, and sulphates, and is cruelty-free. The products are manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, ensuring high standards of quality, consistency, and safety.
The daily care range includes: Gentle Baby Wash, Baby Massage Oil, Moisturising Baby Lotion, Baby Rub, Baby Cream
The Green Cuddle range will be available on leading e-commerce platforms, greenmilkconcepts.in Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Meesho, Jiomart.
Green Cuddle Baby Care products are priced at Gentle baby wash ₹449, Baby massage oil ₹649, Moisturising baby lotion ₹449, Baby rub ₹349, and Nappy cream ₹399, while the bundle pack is priced at ₹2,295.( with free diaper bag)
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. S.V. Subashini, Executive Director – GMC, said “We are delighted to launch Green Milk’s Green Cuddle Baby Care range. This marks an important milestone in our journey to offer safe, gentle, and effective baby care solutions rooted in nature and backed by science.”
deccanwebtv 
