Hyderabad, February 02, 2025- The three-day 7th Edition of PETEX India 2025, India’s largest Pet Expo for Dogs, Cats, Birds, Fish & Exotic Pets the 17th Hyderabad Kids Fair—2025 and the Inaugural Edition of Kids Business Carnival concluded in the city at Hitex on Sunday night.

Some of the exhibitors were from different countries such as Turkey, Czech Republic, Japan, Singapore, and Germany. The expo brought together pet parents, pet lovers and enthusiasts, parents, children, educationists, skill development professionals

Many experts in the show observed that the Pet Care Industry is growing. Pet adoption is on the rise in the city. More and more pet-friendly products, and services are being launched. More startups are getting into the Pet Care Space. Pet grooming is becoming a big domain. Pet grooming is blooming. Pets have become a very important family member in many families. Pet parents are more concerned about the health and well-being of their pets.

During the show, an investor meeting was held. It is the first-ever investors meet, especially people in the pet care industry. The angel investors who participated include Mr Kuldeep Mirani, Co-founder and CEO of Beyond Seed; Mr Rameswar Misra, Co-founder and CEO of Bigphi Technologies; Dr Madhurita Gupta, Founder & CEO of Goa Angel Network and Mr Ramakrishna from Growel Feeds.

The International Cat Champion Show, Investors Meet Specific to the Pet Industry; Show Jumping Competition on Horses by Children, India Bake Show; Kids Marathon and others were organised as part of the three shows during the past three days.

Over 200 Cats competed in the International Championship show, of which some of them will be rare breeds such as Mainecoon (considered the largest-sized domesticated cat in the world). They have very long ears and bodies with thick heavy coats. They are priced in the range of Rs 1.1 lakh to 2 lakhs. Another rare breed is British short hair. This breed is a growing breed in India. These breeds are short and thick-haired cats with unique full cheeks. Most of them are blue with copper-coloured eyes. They are priced in the range of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. 100+ varieties of ornamental fish were showcased

The visitors witnessed Horses, Birds, a Fashion Show of Dogs, Agility & Obedience Demonstrations by K9 School, and Free Basic Grooming for Dogs and Cats by Scoopy Scrub etc

The highlights of the three were the Kids Business Carnival featuring 90 StudentPreneurs, who showcased their innovations, and creations. One such innovation was a foldable pocket-friendly mobile phone stand made from card paper. The stand had cartoon characters to make it interesting to kids. These mobile stands are made available to 1.2 lakh passengers of Vandebharath Trains from Secunderabad to Vizag

Another enterprising Kid Preneur was Charvik who made the novel Refrigerator Magnets under the supervision of his artist mother Tejaswi. The magnets have thought-provoking messages such as “Don’t wish for it, work for it”, “Worry less, smile more”, and “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you” said 10 years old Charvik who is studying in 5th class.

There was another youth Abhishek Thekuru. He is a Pixel Artist. He also claims to be a Rubrics Artist. He displayed a huge 8-foot by 8-foot art creation using 1860 Rubrics. It cost him rupees one lakh. An Engineering student who is planning to pursue his Master’s took two days to make the art piece. He has many such priceless art creations and installations. He also made customised artwork for RS Brothers and others. He is called the Wonder Boy of ruby cubes.

The other highlights were Barkitecture, a dog furniture stall. The startup behind the Barkitecture products is SVAG Homes, a Hyderabad-based start-up in the pet space that displayed a huge line of Barkitecture products. These include –Dog Castles, Villas, Pods and Barkkey Furniture

Akshayakalpa Organic supported the 17th Edition of the Kids Expo which had over 60 exhibitors. It featured products and services related to kids, careers, personality development and activities.

Gigglemug organised Kids’ runs in three different run categories such as 4K, 2K and 1K. Over 1000 kids aged between 3 to 13 years will participate.

Adoptions for Hyderabad, a stall setup by a student-driven NGO attracted a lot of crowds. Ms. Hima, Yasaswini of Adoptions for Hyderabad said 300 to 400 Indie Dogs are being adopted through their NGO in Hyderabad. An equal number of dogs are being rescued. Nearly 15 NGOs such as Blue Cross, Stray Animal Foundation India; Jeeva Vaatsalya Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre; Deven’s Hope Society and Shree Aadya Animal Shelter are working in this space of adoption of dogs in Hyderabad alone. Nearly 1000 Indian breed dogs (Indie Dogs) are being adopted in Hyderabad every year they said.

New Delhi: Pendown Press, widely regarded as the business community’s top choice for publishing, held a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony at their stall in Hall 5, Stall Number G-08, during the opening day of the prestigious World Book Fair 2025. The ceremony was a significant moment for Pendown Press, as the publishing house earned the rare distinction of hosting a book launch on the very first day of the fair. This honor underscores Pendown’s unwavering commitment to empowering business owners and professionals by helping them establish authority through books.

Addressing an enthusiastic audience comprising media representatives, book lovers, and dignitaries from far and wide, Mr. Dinesh Verma, Founder and CMD of Pendown Press, delivered an inspiring speech:“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and fellow book lovers, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the World Book Fair. This annual event celebrates the power of the written word, uniting people from all corners of the globe.

We are here today to officially open our stall and mark the beginning of what promises to be an exciting and enriching journey for all of us at this remarkable fair. The event brings together a vast array of authors, publishers, educators, and readers, all united by their love of books and their desire to share ideas and insights. As we cut the ribbon, let us remember that books are more than just objects on shelves. They are keys to Power, Popularity, and a Passport to a world where solutions to business challenges are unlocked effortlessly. Books open doors to opportunities, foster connections, and establish authority.

So, let us celebrate the opening of the World Book Fair with joy, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the written word. Let us explore the exhibits, meet new people, and discover fresh ideas. Above all, let us never forget the importance of books in shaping our lives and the world.

Pendown Press: A Leader in Authority-Building

Pendown Press has earned a reputation for being more than just a publishing house. It is a trusted partner in helping business owners and professionals build lasting authority in their respective fields. By offering end-to-end publishing solutions, from ideation to book marketing, Pendown Press has empowered numerous authors to turn their expertise into a powerful brand asset. The World Book Fair 2025 marks another milestone in Pendown’s journey as it continues to lead the way in publishing impactful books that inspire, educate, and transform.

New Delhi/Mumbai February 01, 2025: The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) today welcomed the Union Budget 2025-26 presented by the Honourable Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman. The Budget presents a commendable vision for India’s economic growth emphasising rural and urban development, increased infrastructure investment, employment led growth and strategic investments in people, economy, and innovation.

Commenting on the Budget, Mr Neeraj Akhoury, President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) and Managing Director, Shree Cement Limited, stated, “CMA hails the Union Budget, announced under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its comprehensive focus on holistic and inclusive development. The Budget reinforces a transformative journey towards building a resilient economy for advancing India’s development goals. The various initiatives announced by the Government balance people’s aspirations with the future requirements for the Country’s economic growth. The focus on increased investments on infrastructure across States amplifies opportunities and avenues for the growth of the Cement sector. We appreciate the sustained core focus on infrastructure and reiterate our commitment to being partners in Nation’s progress.

The increased spending on large scale housing and infrastructure projects will drive demand for construction materials allowing capacity expansion and promotion of innovation in sustainable practices. We are certain that despite challenges these measures will support the Cement Industry in achieving a consistent CAGR growth rate of more than 6 per cent of installed cement capacity in the present financial year. Policy reforms in Budget 2025-26 signal a  reaffirmation of the Government’s intent to augment socio economic growth across core sectors.”

Mr Parth Jindal, Vice President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) and Managing Director, JSW Cement Limited, said, “The Budget presented by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman is a forward-looking roadmap that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of India’s cement industry, in line with the country’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. It prioritizes growth in key sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology. The increased investment in technology will accelerate advancements in green cement solutions, driving both sustainability and innovation within the industry. Notable allocations, including ₹20,000 crore to foster innovation and ₹1.5 lakh crore in 50-year interest-free loans to states for capital expenditure on infrastructure development, are expected to significantly bolster growth in the core sectors, including cement sector.

He further added, “The Budget’s focus on a three-year pipeline of projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model will incentivize private sector investment and catalyze a transformation in the infrastructure landscape. Additionally, the establishment of five National Centers of Excellence for skill development, as part of the ‘Make for India, Make for the World’ initiative, will ensure that India’s emerging workforce is well-equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly growing economy.”

CMA applauds the Government’s steadfast commitment to a modern, people centric, trust based regulatory framework with a focus on ease of doing business, which will support businesses in accelerating growth.

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated, the next five years present a unique opportunity to realize ‘Sabka Vikas’, fostering balanced growth across all regions. As a key driver of nation building, the Cement Industry remains committed to supporting the Government’s vision through innovation, and technological integration.

February 03, 2025, Chennai: The Indian Art and Design Educators Association (IADEA) held its Sixth Annual Art Educators Conference at Kalakshetra Auditorium Hall on 31st January and 1st February 2025 here in Chennai. The conference had over 80 art educators from Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Erode, Ranipet, Jaipur, Delhi, Ajmer, and Bengaluru, attending the two-day event. Several global and national experts came together to discuss current and future narratives encompassing art education for and alongside 100 school art teachers. The two days were punctuated with a number of interactive sessions and workshops anchored on diverse topics. In her keynote speech Dr. Jyotsna Tiwari, HOD, Art and Aesthetics of NCERT, Delhi, highlighted the integration of art in education: the vision of NEP 2020 and the way forward.

Sara Vetteth, Founder of IADEA said, “In the future, every career will demand visually literate professionals—those who can research, think critically and communicate fluently using images and words. No matter the medium – whether it be mark-making with pencil, working with fiber, manipulating clay or image capture with a camera phone, the theme for this year’s conference is – how do we rethink the art class to make it useful for every learner? By guiding students through lines of enquiry and the design cycle, art educators can foster deeper exploration and creative problem-solving.”

On Day one, there was a delightful session on decoding the vocabulary of Warli, by renowned Warli artist & educator, Mayur Vayeda, followed by Dr. Alka Hingorani, one of the founders of “Learn Through Stories Foundation” and art educator Nivedita Deshmukh explored freedom and learning in art education. Italian Book designer and visual artist, Valentina Abenavoli took the participants through a fascinating session on exploring art through bookmaking. Melissa Nolas, founder, Children Photography Archive, London, and Gayatri Nair, founding trustee, of Chennai Photo Biennale hosted the session on discovering photography’s place in an art class. The session highlighted the use of photography as a medium to encourage students of varying abilities to develop their language, vocabulary, and storytelling skills.

The inaugural day concluded with the awarding of the 2025 Camlin Art Teacher Excellence Awards to ten art educators. Awarded across five categories, the accolade celebrates the impact of art lessons and its significance in a student’s learning journey.

Mr. Satish Veerappa, Managing Director, Kokuyo Camlin Ltd said “The Art Teacher plays a very important role in the growth of a child. In this way, art teachers contribute immensely to the creative force of a nation. The values of inventiveness, creativity and passion that The Camlin Art Teacher Excellence Award celebrates are the same values that are necessary to build the start-ups and enterprises of the future. Behind every child who grows up to be innovative, resourceful, process oriented, collaborative and confident is an art teacher who showed them the way. Camlin admires and respects your contribution to art and the nurturing of artistic talent.”

Day two of the conference began with a speaker session by Lina Vincent, Curator and Educator from Goa, who spoke about her collaborative exhibition which uses plants in various ways to investigate pressing global issues. Siddhi Gupta, Faculty member at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, led the participants through an interactive workshop using visual thinking to reflect on what it means for an artist to be an educator. Chennai-based photographer Mr. Sunder Ramu led teachers through a guided workshop on using phone photography in the classroom as a medium to express thoughts, moods, and unique perspectives. After lunch, the participants were taken on a special curator-led tour of selected Chennai photo biennale photography exhibits at Lalit Kala Academy and Egmore Museum. The tour was led by Gayatri Nair, Co-founder and Director of Education at CPB pris,m and Varun Gupta, Biennale Director at CPB.

List of Award winners

· Best use of Elements of Art

Winner– Deepti Karthik, Sarvam The Organic School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Runner-up- Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan, KC High School Chennai

· Collaboration in the Art Room

Winner– Dinesh Kumar, Balsam Academy, Ranipet,

Runner up– R Subramanian and Aishwarya C, AMM School, Chennai

· Innovation in the Art Room

Winner– Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan, KC High School Chennai

Runner up Prem Nazir, Lakshmi School, Madurai

· Instilling Creative Confidence

Winner– Arun Kumar, Chettinad Sarvalokaa Education International School, Chennai

Runner-up Gayathri Vasu, Independent Art Educator, Chennai

· Promoting Artistic Practice

Winner– Amrutha Anand, Independent Art Educator, Chennai

Runner up -Vimal Sivaraman, Rak’s Pallikkoodam School of Excellence, Coimbatore

New Delhi | February 1, 2025: The World Book Fair commenced today at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, Delhi, and will continue till February 9. The fair is bustling with books in every hall and stall, drawing large crowds from day one. Everywhere, book lovers could be seen browsing and purchasing their favorite books. However, the most vibrant section of the fair is the Children’s Pavilion in Hall No. 6, which is filled with young readers. The Children’s Book Trust stall at W-21 in Hall No. 6 witnessed a significant number of visitors.

The CBT stall features a wide range of books in English and Hindi. In Hindi, including Panchatantra Tales, Dadi Maa Ki Kahaniyan (Grandmother’s Stories), and many more, capturing the attention of young readers. Meanwhile, in English, books like Best Friends, Barber at the Zoo, and Chhotu Seen Unseen are among the engaging titles attracting children and book lovers alike.

This year CBT will also be launching a 20,000 sq ft Shankar’s International Children’s Centre in Delhi where it plans to have Meeting Rooms, Activity Centre for Clay Modelling, Painting etc, Congregational Halls, Art Gallery for paintings received during previous Painting competitions, Venue for its On-The-spot Competition, Doll’s Workshop, etc and to have cultural and artistic exchanges between groups of children from different parts of India or abroad and expatriates.

Mr. Kishore Lal, Chairman, Children’s Book Trust says, “We need to help Children to stay away from screens of portable electronic devices and come back to reading good books. Books usually generate a deeper spirit of enquiry in young minds and a healthy, progressive outlook to life and living.” He continued to add, “We have had our presence internationally through our books which we sell in many countries, with the coming up of our SICC, we would like to have them here physically. We are a non-profit trust and our aim is not to make huge profits but to spread awareness about the benefits of growing up with good books.”

Hyderabad, 1st February 2025: The third edition of the iconic 3-day music and dance extravaganza, ‘Ramayana Kalpavrksam’, conceived and curated by Hyderabad based acclaimed dancer Padmashri Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, a celebrated artist and cultural ambassador, was inaugurated by Sri Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Friday. The festival scheduled from 31st January 2025 to 2nd February 2025, at the CCRT campus, Hyderabad, is a unique signature festival that is a unique confluence of art, tradition, and scholarship, being presented by Shankarananda Kalakshetra and Natyarambha, in collaboration with Brhat, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India.

The morning sessions, ‘Ramamrita’ brings together six remarkable and scholarly speakers, each offering a unique perspective on the timeless epic of the Ramayana. Yashodeep Deodhar, creator of the widely popular 21 Notes, sharing innovative insights into the Ramayana; Dr. Anupama Kylash, a celebrated dance scholar, illuminating the Ramayana through the lens of classical Indian dance and culture; Dr. DK Hari and Dr. DK Hema, creators of the Bharat Gyan series, bringing their extensive research on India’s ancient wisdom and the Ramayana to life. This exceptional lineup promises to delve into the myriad facets of the Ramayana, blending scholarship, creativity, and storytelling to inspire and enlighten.

As part of the vibrant three-day festival, an array of engaging learning workshops and unique experiences await participants, in ‘Kala Charan’: a Sanskrit Learning workshop, led by Udaya Shreyas of the Sanskrit Channel, offering an immersive dive into the beauty and essence of Sanskrit.