Pani Puri Vendor’s Son Overcomes Odds to Join IIT Roorkee
Kalyan, Maharashtra, 3rd July, 2025: Harsh Gupta, a 19-year-old student from Kalyan, has secured admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, defying extreme financial hardship, academic setbacks, and a debilitating medical condition. His journey reflects not only his resilience but also the transformative role played by Motion Education, Kota, in nurturing talent from underprivileged backgrounds.
Harsh comes from a modest background, his father is a roadside pani puri vendor and the family of six resides in a small two-room chawl in Thane district. With limited resources and little exposure to competitive exams, Harsh first learned about IITs only after completing his Class 10 board exams during the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time he joined Motion Education, the Class 11 syllabus was nearly complete, and he struggled to catch up academically.
Despite his efforts, he failed his Class 11 exams a setback that led to criticism from relatives and self-doubt within the family. However, Motion Education stood by him, providing structured academic support and personal mentorship to help him reset and rebuild.
In the midst of his preparation, Harsh was diagnosed with Rectal Prolapse, a painful and recurring medical condition. This significantly disrupted his studies, requiring repeated hospital visits and extended rest periods. Even during these difficult times, Motion’s faculty, particularly RRD Sir, Head of the JEE Division, offered unwavering emotional and academic guidance.
Despite his health and personal loss, including the passing of close relatives just before major exams, Harsh remained focused. In his second attempt at JEE Advanced, after taking a drop year and re-enrolling at Motion Education, he achieved success and earned admission to IIT Roorkee. He had also scored 98.9 percentile in JEE Main.
“There were moments when I was physically and emotionally exhausted. But Motion never gave up on me. They believed in me even when I lost belief in myself,” said Harsh. His story is a powerful example of Motion Education’s student-first approach and its mission to support aspirants from all walks of life not just academically, but holistically.
Led by renowned educator NV Sir (Nitin Vijay), Motion Education has once again reaffirmed its leadership in competitive exam preparation with outstanding results in JEE Advanced 2025. Showcasing academic excellence at the highest level, 6 Motion students secured ranks within the Top 100, 23 featured in the Top 500, and 47 achieved ranks within the Top 1000—a powerful testament to the institute’s focused pedagogy, expert mentorship, and student-first approach.
Of the 6,332 Motion students who appeared for the exam, 3,231 qualified, resulting in a qualifying ratio of 51.02%—more than double the national average. This compares sharply with the national statistics: out of approximately 1.9 lakh students, only 45,000 (23.68%) qualified.
These exceptional outcomes highlight Motion Education’s robust academic ecosystem and its commitment to setting new standards in the coaching industry.
Autism & Society: How Misconceptions Hurt More… Than the Condition
Dr. Sindhu M.V., Consultant – Paediatrics & Paediatric Intensive Care, Aster RV Hospital
Autism affects 1 in 100 children in India. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics estimates that approximately 3% of India’s population is on the autism spectrum. But myths, stigma, and lack of awareness continue to cloud public understanding. It’s time to change that. Every child is unique — but some experience and respond to the world differently. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one such condition that influences how a person thinks, communicates, and relates to others.
What is Autism & Why is it Called a Spectrum?
Autism is not a disease; It is a neurodevelopmental condition. The brain of an individual with autism develops differently, affecting social interaction, communication, behavior, and how they perceive the world. The term “spectrum” is used because no two people with autism are the same. Some may face significant challenges in speaking or socializing, while others may live independently and excel in specific areas. Understanding autism is just the first step but how can parents, teachers, or caregivers know if a child might be on the spectrum? It all begins with noticing the early signs.
Early Signs & Diagnosis Early detection is key. Parents and caregivers should watch for signs typically emerging between 12 to 24 months.
Common early signs include:
• Delayed speech or language development
• Limited eye contact
• Lack of interest in social interaction
• Repetitive behaviour (like hand-flapping, spinning)
• Sensitivity to sounds, lights, or textures.
If you notice these signs in your child, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean something is ‘wrong’ — it simply means your child may need extra support.
The next step is to consult a developmental specialist, or child psychologist who can assess your child’s behaviour and guide you further. There are no blood tests or brain scans to confirm autism. Specialists use tools like the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) or the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) for diagnosis. Causes & Debunking Myths. The question many parents ask is — Why? Science does not point to a single cause.
Research indicates that autism results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Family history, certain gene mutations, advanced parental age, or complications during pregnancy may increase risk. Recent research has shown that the “amygdala” — the part of the brain involved in processing emotions – develops differently in autistic children. This may partly explain why they struggle with social cues or emotional connections. However, scientists caution that the amygdala is just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
Autism is not caused by one single brain difference. It involves multiple areas and complex neural networks. Understanding autism helps shift the conversation from “what’s wrong” to “how can we better support and understand.”
Debunking Common Myths:
• Vaccines don’t cause autism. Many studies have proven this is false
• Parenting isn’t to blame. Autism isn’t caused by neglect or lack of love.
• Autism isn’t a disease or contagious. It can’t be “cured,” but the right support can help.
Cosmo First Invests in KARO®IV to Boost Specialty Film Capabilities
Mumbai, 3rd July, 2025: Cosmo First Ltd, a leading manufacturer of specialty films, announced the procurement of Brückner Maschinenbau’s state-of-the-art KARO®IV laboratory stretching machine, positioning India amongst global leaders in film technology development. This strategic investment aligns with the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative of reducing dependency on imports and advancing India’s manufacturing capabilities. This initiative also strengthens Cosmo First’s position among an elite group of global film manufacturers with advanced R&D capabilities.
The KARO®IV technology will significantly enhance India’s capabilities in specialty film development by minimising development time and costs for films designed for specialised applications. It will enable domestic development of niche film applications which are currently being imported and support in-house development of proprietary film technologies, enhancing self-reliance in high-performance flexible packaging. The technology will allow Cosmo First to conduct extensive research and development, accelerating R&D timelines through cost-effective laboratory-scale testing before moving to production trials.
“The KARO®IV will transform how we approach film development in India,” said Mr Kulbhushan Malik, Business Head, Cosmo Films, the flagship company of the Cosmo First group. “By enabling precise testing of films in both sequential and simultaneous stretching modes, we can now develop new film recipes and evaluate properties at a fraction of the cost and time previously required. This technology represents a significant leap forward in our ability to innovate. It opens doors for collaboration with academic institutions, supporting talent development in polymer science and reinforcing India’s position as a serious player in the global R&D landscape.”
The KARO®IV features high stretching ratios from 1.01 x 1.01 up to 10 x 10, heating capability up to 400°C with up to 3 independent heating modules, an advanced EPC control panel with programmable test sequences, and state-of-the-art measurement equipment for stretching forces, displacement, and temperatures. The machine is equipped to handle a wide range of film types, including BOPP, BOPET, and BOPA, with consistent and accurate control over test film processes. The technology positions India to compete at the highest levels of specialty film innovation. Key competitive advantages include faster prototype-to-market cycles compared to traditional development methods, enhanced ability to develop eco-friendly, mono-material films aligned with circular economy goals, and the capability to partner with global brands for co-development of advanced film solutions.
The Indian packaging industry, historically, has lacked advanced lab-scale film stretching systems that could accurately simulate commercial production conditions, as most Indian manufacturers rely on full-scale production lines for R&D, making innovation costly and less agile. Additionally, the packaging industry is facing a regulatory and consumer pressure to shift from non-recyclable multi-material plastics to recyclable mono-material films. The installation will address significant gaps in India’s packaging innovation infrastructure.
Cosmo First recently commissioned a new BOPP line taking its BOPP production capacity up by approx. 40% to 2,77,000 MT per annum. The investment in KARO®IV reinforces Cosmo First’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing by enabling rapid development of recyclable films, addressing India’s growing environmental concerns. It allows for testing of new barrier coatings, laminates, and formulations that meet recyclability targets and supports the creation of domestic expertise in advanced polymer science through potential academic collaborations.
Springwel Launches Bamboo Charcoal Mattresses for Wellness Sleep
India, 03rd July,2025: For nearly three decades, Springwel Mattresses have been leading India’s sleep revolution. As a new milestone, they launched their Bamboo Charcoal Mattress Range, a revolutionary product that incorporates wellness into the sleeping routine.
While natural bamboo fiber has been around for a while, Springwel has taken innovation a step further. By carefully infusing bamboo charcoal directly into the natural bamboo yarn of the mattress’s top fabric layer, Springwel ensures consumers experience the natural wellness benefits directly on their skin. This thoughtful, fabric-based approach establishes a fresh standard in comfort and hygiene, perfectly suited to the demands of today’s Indian homes. Charcoal helps dissipate static electricity and studies have shown that reducing static electricity can decrease feelings of fatigue, pain, and overall stress, potentially improving work efficiency and well-being.
The Bamboo Charcoal range is specifically designed to enhance the user’s sleep experience through different features, like the anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and odour-resistant properties that keep the mattress fresh and clean. The hypoallergenic surface is ideal for people with sensitive skin and respiratory health issues. Also, the enhanced moisture and temperature regulation improves sleep quality across all climates.
With these features, the brand new range facilitates better sleep hygiene and long-term wellbeing, two of the most important pillars of today’s home environment. It’s a strategic response to both consumer lifestyle shifts and global wellness trends.
The launch is backed by Springwel’s fully integrated manufacturing and R&D infrastructure, ensuring total control over quality, design, and material innovation. Unlike many brands, Springwel has a wide range of flat-pack mattresses. Because these mattresses are never compressed or roll-packed, it preserves structural integrity and extends product lifespan.
The product portfolio ranges from the ultra-supportive OrthoAlign with high density bonded foam layer for spinal alignment to the naturally adaptive BioSleep 100% Organic Latex Mattress. Springwel’s Bamboo Charcoal range reflects a new era of wellness-focused sleep. Crafted for everyday comfort across all sleeping styles, Dualis, with dual firmness for evolving needs, or Essential, which combines natural resilience with bamboo charcoal’s antimicrobial power, each mattress in the collection is thoughtfully engineered. For couples, Harmony combines motion isolation with hotel-like plushness, making sleep undisturbed and luxurious. This is much more than just a range; it’s more like a complete ecosystem designed to address hygiene, comfort, and evolving lifestyle demands for every kind of consumer.
Springwel also provides a 150-night risk-free trial, giving customers complete peace of mind as they explore this new standard in wellness-led sleep.
“This is more than a product launch for us; the Bamboo Charcoal range was introduced to address growing consumer demand for natural, hygienic, and wellness-centric sleep solutions, especially in a post-COVID world where hygiene and health are non-negotiable,” said Mayank Jha, CEO & Head – Digital Transformation, Springwel Mattresses
In just a short time since its launch, the Bamboo Charcoal mattress has quickly become the preferred choice for 3 out of every 4 Springwel customers, reflecting just how deeply this new range resonates with Indian consumers seeking healthier, more hygienic sleep.
Notably in a short period, the Springwel Essential mattress has emerged as one of the top-trending products in Flipkart’s mattress category, reflecting strong consumer interest in bamboo charcoal innovation and wellness-driven sleep solutions.
Beyond mattresses, Springwel is also expanding into thoughtfully designed sleep and lifestyle essentials: pillows, protectors, and an upcoming line of home furniture, each created to enhance the everyday life of the modern Indian consumer.
End-user Homebuyers Back in The Driver’s Seat
– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces
Recent headlines from leading real estate consultancies, as well as commentary from self-styled experts, seem to indicate that Indian housing sales are slowing down alarmingly. They mention double-digit drops in sales volumes in all the major cities. Not surprisingly, though perhaps not intentionally, these agencies and agents have caused concern among hopeful homebuyers – is the market in bad shape? Is now not a good time to buy a home?
Let’s take a closer look at the data and market dynamics behind it and see if these fears are justified or misplaced for genuine end-users.
What the Headlines Say
– A recent report by one real estate consultancy states that there has been a 20% drop in housing sales across the country’s top seven metropolitan cities in Q2 2025 when compared to the same period last year. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) saw a 25% decline.
– Another real estate agency estimates that there was a 23% annual sales decline in Q1 2025 across nine major cities and says that this drop is because of high prices and worries about India’s economic growth.
– Yet another agency found a 19% year-on-year decline in housing sales in Q1 2025, and that there was also a 10% decline in new launches.
– The consensus, if there is one at all, seems to be that premium and luxury housing has been most affected and that unsold stock in these segments is now high and may increase further.
While most of these agencies don’t say so, the impression these figures seem to signal is that the Indian housing market is now entering a downturn phase. Others seem to imply that perhaps, aspiring homebuyers should hold put off purchases for now.
What the Data Really Means
1. This is a correction, not a crash
– We should remember that the recent slowdown comes on the heels of three years of record-breaking sales and supply infusions after the Covid-19 pandemic. These levels were in any case not sustainable, and everybody knew it.
– The current decline is the kind of market correction which always follows a massive boom. It is not a sign of systemic weakness.
2. Investors are withdrawing, not end-users
– A major part of the current drop in sales is in the premium and luxury segments, which are heavily investor-driven segments. Very simply, speculative buying has caused prices to go too high in these segments and in some areas.
– One of the real estate consultancies referred to above clearly mentions that investors make up less than 10% of housing buyers now, and that the market is primarily served by end-users — people who buy homes to live in them, not rent out or to flip for quick profits.
– The pain that these experts infer is clearly in the premium and luxury segments while it is the affordable and mid-segment housing segments that most Indian end-users focus on. In these segments, there is less supply now because most big developers started focusing on the higher-margin categories – but demand and therefore sales in them remains robust
3. End-users now enjoy much better affordability
– Home loan interest rates are on the decline – the RBI has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points this year to date, so EMIs have become much more manageable.
– There are still Government schemes such as PMAY and various state-level incentives for first-time and affordable housing buyers in any part of the country.
– In most major cities, the affordability of housing has improved to its best levels since the Covid-19 pandemic.
For example, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC) housing affordability has improved significantly with Pune’s affordability ratio now at 22% – making it the 2nd-most affordable major Indian city after Ahmedabad. PCMC has seen an 80% rise in housing sales and a 155% increase in property values since 2020, and it remains very affordable.
In Ahmedabad, homebuyers now have to spend only 18% of their annual household income on EMIs, which is very much under the 40% affordability threshold.
Even Mumbai, notoriously the least affordable city of India, has seen its affordability ratio drop below 50% for the very first time.
Why Genuine Homebuyers Should Ignore the Headlines
1. End-users buy homes to live in them, not to turn profits
– Most homebuyers in India buy homes to live in them, not as speculative assets. The security, stability, and long-term wealth creation potential of ownership housing remains intact, regardless of what the short-term sales trends are.
– End-users are not concerned with the volatility that upsets investors – who are far more concerned about price cycles and liquidity issues.
2. End-users benefit from the current market conditions
– Many builders are now offering attractive deals, including discounts, flexible payment plans, and various add-ons, to attract end-users.
– Rental values are rising constantly in most major Indian cities, often making owning a home a lot more financially viable than continuing to live in rented homes – especially given the current interest rates and tax benefits.
3. India’s long-term fundamentals remain strong
– Our GDP growth is still very robust, and household incomes are going up. This strongly supports long-term housing demand.
– The real estate sector is growing at a CAGR of over 24%, and housing remains – by far – the most incentivized asset class in India. No other asset class offers comparable tax breaks and other financial benefits.
– Homeownership remains the most aspirational goal for most Indians, and India’s rapid urbanization, the constant increase in nuclear families, and ever-rising migration into our cities will always guarantee steady end-user demand for housing.
Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Ever
No doubt, the market slowdown that these consultancies and experts report is real. But its implications need to be understood better. We are looking at data which shows that speculative activity, especially in the luxury segments, is cooling off after an unsustainable boom. This is not a collapse in end-user demand, or a crisis in the system. For genuine homebuyers, the fundamentals remain as strong as ever.
In fact, end-users are now firmly in control of the housing market and face far less competition from investors. They have more bargaining power than ever before. For those who are looking to buy a home to live in, the current market environment is, in many ways, more favourable than ever. Let the headlines spook investors – for end-users, this is the right time to make the most important investment of their lifetimes.
Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience
Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 Bn from domestic investors in H1 2025, up 53% YoY – Colliers
Gurgaon, 03 July 2025: After a steady start in the first quarter, institutional investments in the Indian real estate witnessed a notable uptick during Q2 2025, at USD 1.7 billion, a 29% rise on a sequential basis. This mopped-up total investments in H1 2025 to USD 3.0 billion, reinforcing the sector’s resilience amidst ongoing global uncertainties. Although this marked a 15% decline compared to H1 2024, the investment volume remained above the half-yearly average of about USD 2.6 billion since 2021, reflecting sustained investor interest.
While foreign investments saw a 39% YoY decline, domestic capital surged by 53% to USD 1.4 billion, accounting for 48% of the total inflows in H1 2025. The growing share of domestic investments marks an ongoing shift in the capital investment landscape, with Indian institutional investors playing a more prominent role in driving real estate activity across core asset classes.
“Domestic capital has emerged as a key driver in India’s real estate investments, with its share in total investments rising steadily from 16% in 2021 to 34% in 2024. In H1 2025, domestic investments accounted for 48% of the total inflows, surging by 53% compared to H1 2024. Their growing dominance has helped cushion the impact of global uncertainties and push total investments to the USD 3.0 billion mark. Over 60% of domestic investments during H1 2025 were directed towards residential and office assets, reflecting sustained confidence in core segments. As domestic capital deepens and diversifies, it is poised to bring greater stability and long-term confidence to India’s maturing real estate ecosystem,” said Badal Yagnik, Chief Executive Officer, Colliers India.
Foreign institutional investments dropped 39% YoY in H1 2025 to USD 1.6 billion, as global investors remained cautious amidst evolving macroeconomic scenario, flow of credit and inflationary pressures. Despite the slowdown, foreign capital still accounted for over half of total inflows, with growing interest in mixed-use and retail assets. Both these segments together comprised about 55% of foreign investments during H1 2025.
Residential & office assets together attract over half of the investments in H1 2025
Residential assets saw USD 0.8 billion of investments, driving 27% of the inflows during H1 2025, followed by office assets, at 24% share. Investments in mixed-use assets too witnessed a significant surge, accounting for more than 20% share in the total inflows during H1 2025, up from 7% share during the corresponding period in 2024. Retail and alternative assets too saw a notable rise in investment inflows, cumulatively accounting for USD 0.5 billion, led by select large deals in H1 2025.
“The USD 1.7 billion of investments recorded in Q2 2025 underscores the resilience of India’s real estate sector, with both core and emerging segments attracting sustained interest. The residential segment continued its strong run, accounting for 31% of quarterly investments, driven by healthy end-user demand, improved affordability, and renewed confidence from institutional investors. The retail sector is also witnessing a steady revival, backed by rising consumption, rapid urbanisation, and evolving consumer lifestyle & spending patterns. With REITs and other institutional players actively scouting for quality retail assets across key markets, investment activity in this segment is expected to gain further traction in the coming quarters,” said Vimal Nadar, National Director & Head of Research, Colliers India.
Investment inflows were limited for Retail assets in Q2 2024 and Q1 2025; Investment inflows were limited for Industrial & warehousing segment in Q2 2025; Investment inflows were limited for alternate assets in Q2 2024
1-Includes investments in mixed-use projects as well as deals involving investments across multiple assets in various locations
The institutional flow of funds includes investments by family offices, foreign corporate groups, foreign banks, proprietary books, pension funds, private equity, real estate fund-cum-developers, foreign-funded NBFCs, listed REITs and sovereign wealth funds. The data has been compiled as per available information in the public domain.
Mumbai & Bengaluru together drive 39% of the investment inflows in H1 2025
Mumbai drove 22% of the total investments during H1 2025, led by select deals in office assets. Bengaluru attracted USD 0.5 billion investments during H1 2025, contributing nearly 17% to the total inflows. Office and residential assets together made up 57% of the city’s investment share. Interestingly, select large deal in retail segment in Kolkata, resulted in 13% share in total investments by the city during H1 2025.
HKI Media Launches Gig Media in Mumbai
Mumbai, July 3, 2025 — HKI Media Pvt. Ltd. has announced the launch of Gig Media, India’s first AI-powered media aggregator platform, aimed at unifying the fragmented workflows of the media and entertainment industry. The platform was officially unveiled today in Mumbai in the presence of prominent industry leaders, startup ecosystem enablers, and creative professionals.
Gig Media brings together a range of services—including smart hiring, real-time artist bookings, freelance jobs, media education tie-ups, audition discovery, and end-to-end B2B media solutions—onto a single, intelligent interface. Built specifically for the unique requirements of India’s creative economy, the platform is being positioned as a digital backbone for the M&E sector, addressing inefficiencies across talent discovery, project execution, and brand collaborations. With the Indian media and entertainment sector projected to cross ₹5 lakh crore by 2026, Gig Media’s launch comes at a crucial moment. Despite the scale, much of the industry remains informal, disconnected, and reliant on personal networks. Gig Media is designed to professionalize this space by offering a verified, tech-powered, and transparent ecosystem for all stakeholders.
The user base of Gig Media spans across the entire media value chain. It is tailored for media professionals such as actors, technicians, directors, editors, writers, musicians, and animators, offering them verified profiles, job visibility, and booking tools. Production houses, advertising agencies, public relations firms, event management companies, and casting agencies benefit from streamlined hiring, project collaboration, and discovery of skilled professionals across geographies. Artist associations and media education institutes will also find the platform useful for student placements, talent visibility, and digital access to jobs. Significantly, corporate brands, celebrity managers, and MSME entities can use Gig Media to directly connect with credible talent and agencies for events, endorsements, branding, and content production—especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which have traditionally lacked access to organized media infrastructure.
Gig Media is equipped with a wide suite of features designed to simplify media operations while enhancing trust and efficiency. Its AI-powered matchmaking engine connects the right talent to the right project based on role, geography, skill, budget, and past ratings. The platform enables real-time bookings for artists, live audition updates, and on-demand hiring for creative professionals, replacing informal WhatsApp and phone-based arrangements with a robust digital mechanism. It also provides in-app B2B solutions for corporates and agencies, including campaign support, crew hiring, studio bookings, and influencer outreach. An integrated rating and review system, verified by industry associations, ensures transparency and trust—two factors often missing in freelance media transactions. For young talent, the platform creates direct bridges from education to employment through partnerships with media institutes and associations across the country.
“Gig Media is not just a product—it’s a platform created to solve day-to-day challenges that the media and creative industries have faced for years,” said Abhimanyu Sihag, CEO of HKI Media. “We’ve worked across the value chain—from skilling to content production to brand strategy—and we’ve built Gig Media with those learnings at its core.”
HKI Media Director Hariom Kaushik added, “With Gig Media, we are building India’s first trusted digital gateway for collaboration between media professionals, agencies, and clients. Our focus is on credibility, discoverability, and ease of access—especially in regional and mid-tier markets.”
Gig Media is also being launched under the mentorship of Vinod Bhanushali, founder of Hitz Music and Bhanushali Studios. His guidance brings invaluable strategic insight to the platform’s roadmap, partnerships, and long-term growth model. The platform is now live on Android and iOS, with onboarding currently underway for professionals, agencies, and media organizations across key Indian cities. HKI Media plans to scale Gig Media nationally over the next 12 months, integrating further features around payments, learning, and IP-based collaborations. With a mission to become the go-to digital hub for India’s media and creative ecosystem, Gig Media is setting new benchmarks for how creative work is discovered, hired, and delivered in the country.
Infosys Foundation Pledges INR 48 Crore for Maternal, Child Health in Rural Karnataka
Bengaluru, India , July 03, 2025: Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, today announced its collaboration with Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, a UN-recognized organization that provides education, healthcare, nutrition, and community service free of charge in Karnataka. This collaboration will support the Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, a multi-specialty teaching hospital under the auspices of Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR), to provide free medical care to underprivileged women and infants and children, enhancing access to quality maternal and child healthcare in rural Karnataka.
Through this collaboration, the Infosys Foundation has pledged a grant of over INR 48 crore to augment healthcare infrastructure and facilities in maternal and childcare services. This includes advanced medical equipment for obstetrics and gynecology, as well as to enhance medical facilities of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), diagnostic radiology, and Operation Theatre (OT). A portion of the grant will also cover operational costs. This initiative is expected to benefit over 8,000 deserving individuals annually by ensuring timely medical interventions and specialized care, absolutely free of charge.
The Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital will offer services including comprehensive maternity care, pediatric care, gynecological procedures, pediatric cardiac catheterization interventions, and pediatric cardiac surgeries. By improving access to these essential and critical services to the underserved communities, this collaboration aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the region.
Sri Madhusudan Sai, Founder SMSIMSR and Trustee Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, said, “This benevolent collaboration with the esteemed Infosys Foundation has allowed us to strengthen critical mother and child health services at Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital ensuring that even the most vulnerable and underprivileged receive the care they deserve. Also, the hospital being a teaching institution, the added equipment will enable training and upskilling the doctors, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and also nursing and allied healthcare trainees, in turn contributing to capacity building in healthcare services. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Infosys Foundation for their unwavering support and commitment to this noble cause, which will touch thousands of lives every year, empower families, and foster healthier communities.”
Sunil Kumar Dhareshwar, Trustee, Infosys Foundation, said, “Our collaboration with Prashanthi Balamandira Trust underscores Infosys Foundation’s steadfast commitment to bridging healthcare disparities and ensuring equitable access to critical medical services for underserved communities. Through our support for Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, we aim to provide free, specialized care for women and children and provide long-term, high-quality healthcare to marginalized sections of society.”
eGenome.ai and IAPEN India Host “NutriLens” CME on AI in Nutrition at Taj Lands End
MUMBAI, July 2, 2025 — Leading clinical nutritionists gathered at Taj Lands End, Mumbai for “NutriLens: AI Insights, Real-World Nutrition,” a continuing medical education (CME) event co-hosted by IAPEN India and eGenome.ai. The scientific session focused on advancing nutritional practice through AI-powered biomarker interpretation and personalized patient care.
Educational Focus on AI in Clinical Practice
The CME brought together over 120 clinical nutritionists to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence in nutritional assessment. Sessions covered biochemical parameter interpretation, inflammation management through nutrition, and the integration of advanced biomarker analysis in clinical practice.
Sid Das, Co-Founder of eGenome.ai, opened the educational session with an introduction to AI applications in clinical nutrition: “Traditional medicine treats symptoms. We identify root causes before they create symptoms. Our AI doesn’t just tell you what’s wrong — it shows you exactly why it’s happening and how to fix it at the cellular level.”
Dr. Shivshankar Timmanpyati, President of IAPEN India, followed with keynote remarks: “In 30 years of clinical practice, I’ve never seen technology that can peer this far into a patient’s health future. This technology isn’t just changing nutrition — it’s revolutionizing how we think about disease prevention itself.”
Scientific Session Highlights
The educational program featured presentations by leading clinical nutritionists on:
- Biochemical parameter interpretation beyond standard reference ranges
- Probiotics applications in clinical nutrition practice
- Inflammation management through targeted nutritional interventions
- Root cause analysis using advanced biomarker patterns
- Practical implementation of personalized nutrition protocols
- Clinical Case Studies and Practical Applications
Educational case studies demonstrated how AI-enhanced analysis can identify:
- Hidden insulin resistance patterns in seemingly normal patients
- Cardiovascular risk indicators missed by conventional panels
- Early organ dysfunction markers years before clinical manifestation
- Personalized intervention strategies based on individual biomarker profiles
Dr. Ankita Ghag, Lead Dietician, The Gut Lab noted: “This isn’t incremental improvement — it’s a paradigm shift. AI revolution in healthcare is proving that the future of medicine is prediction and prevention, not reaction and treatment.”
Advancing Clinical Nutrition Practice
The session emphasized practical implementation of advanced nutritional assessment tools in clinical settings. Presentations covered how AI can create individualized nutrition protocols, targeted supplement recommendations, and lifestyle modifications based on comprehensive biomarker analysis.
Following the scientific presentations, Subodh Yadav, CEO and Co-Founder of eGenome.ai, concluded: “We’re not just analysing health data — we’re predicting your health future. Our AI has identified biomarker combinations that established medical literature has not identified or reported.”
Professional Development and Future Directions
The CME provided clinical nutritionists with updated knowledge on interpreting complex biomarker patterns, implementing precision nutrition strategies, and utilizing AI tools to enhance patient outcomes. The educational session concluded with interactive discussions on implementing these technologies in diverse clinical settings and advancing the field of personalized nutrition through evidence-based AI applications.