Mumbai, 21 April 2025: The rise of Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) has significantly transformed real estate financing in India, offering a crucial lifeline to projects struggling with lack of funding and unlocking new opportunities for developers. AIFs – privately pooled funds that invest in non-traditional assets like private equity, hedge funds, and real estate – offer niche, high-risk, high-reward opportunities suited for experienced investors.

In its AIFs Research Report 2025, ANAROCK Research has compiled SEBI data which indicates that till 9M FY25, the real estate sector accounted for the largest share (15%) of cumulative net AIF investments, with INR 73,903 crore invested in real estate out of an all-sectors total of INR 5,06,196 crore. Other sectors benefiting from AIF investments include IT/ITeS, Financial Services, NBFCs, Banks, Pharma, FMCG, Retail, Renewable Energy, and others.

Sectors	Amt. Invested (INR CR)
Real Estate	73,903
IT/ITeS	30,279
Fin Services	26,807
NBFCs	21,929
Banks	21,273
Pharma	18,309
FMCG	12,743
Retail	11,550
Renewable Energy	11,433
Others	2,77,970
Total	5,06,196

 By the end of 9M FY25, AIF investments in real estate rose from INR 68,540 Cr by FY 2024-end to INR 73,903 Cr – an appreciable 8% growth in first three quarters of fiscal year 2025. This pace is expected to sustain and pick up.

Prashant Thakur, Regional Director & Head – Research, ANAROCK Group, says, “Amidst increasing constraints on traditional funding sources, AIFs are an agile and innovative financing mechanism to address capital gaps at various stages of real estate development. Since they pool capital from domestic and foreign investors, AIFs are a sustainable and scalable funding ecosystem. Going forward, the adoption of blended finance models, AI-driven risk assessments, and streamlined regulatory frameworks maximize the impact of AIFs further.“

Commitments Surge

The number of AIF active in the market has grown 36-fold over the past decade – from 42 by 31st March 2013 to a 1,524 AIFs as of 5th March 2025, with commitment raised increasing five-fold since 2019. Between FY2013 and FY2025, the commitment raised in AIFs has seen an impressive 83.4% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR). This is a strong testimony to their growing importance in the broader investment landscape.

This surge in commitments is mainly fuelled by Category II AIF, which is contributing almost 80% over the last five fiscal years. Domestic investors continue to hold the majority share in AIF fundraising activities; however, Category II AIFs exhibit a notable balance with foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) having an almost equal participation.

Investment into the real estate sector play a significant role in growth of category II AIFs. Regulatory reforms, a surge in startups, and a greater influx of seasoned investors are key growth drivers.

SWAMIH Sets the Pace

“The SWAMIH Fund, India’s flagship AIF and arguably the most prominent, has helped revive numerous stalled projects with liquidity infusions of over INR 35,000 crore to date,” says Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Group. “By facilitating the completion of many thousands of housing units, SWAMIH Fund has been an unmitigated boon for homebuyers across the country and helped bring considerable stability to the real estate market. That said, the SWAMIH Fund fights a constant uphill battle against various impediments.”

SWAMIH – The Challenges:

• Though substantial, the INR 15,000 crore corpus through SWAMIH II is not enough to revive India’s close to 2,000 stalled projects
• Regulatory hurdles, including insolvency cases under NCLT, further complicate the projects revival process
• Existing lenders often resist ceding the first charge on stressed assets, delaying financing
• Approval bottlenecks, such as expired RERA registrations and environmental clearances, add to implementation delays
• Homebuyer litigations and withheld payments due to past delays create cash flow constraints, making execution more complex

“The SWAMIH Fund’s encumbered journey underscores that addressing India’s stalled housing crisis requires more than just capital — it demands systemic reform,” says Puri. “Overcoming entrenched bottlenecks like regulatory delays, lender resistance, and cash flow constraints is key to unlocking its full potential. If these challenges are tackled head-on, the Fund can truly bridge the gap between promise and execution on its mission to rescue homebuyers who have no other recourse.”

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Pune skyline, DoubleTree by Hilton Pune Chinchwad is proud to announce the grand reopening of Level 12, a sophisticated rooftop restaurant that brings a fresh, contemporary twist to the traditional flavours of North-Western Frontier cuisine. With a strong focus on inclusivity, Level 12 features a thoughtfully curated menu offering gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options—ensuring every guest finds something to savour.

Perched atop DoubleTree by Hilton Pune – Chinchwad, this chic, tropical-themed rooftop destination invites guests to unwind in a stylish yet relaxed setting, elevated by breathtaking panoramic views of the city and beyond. Blending timeless culinary heritage with modern elegance, Level 12 delivers an unforgettable dining experience right in the heart of the city.

The culinary team at Level 12 showcases the best of North-Western Frontier cuisine—renowned for its robust flavours, aromatic spices, and slow-cooked delicacies.

Khizer Khan, the hotel manager, shared his excitement about the relaunch of Level 12, saying, “Level 12 has always been a favorite, but with this relaunch, we’re taking things to a whole new level. While staying true to the rich flavors of North Western Frontier cuisine, we’ve added innovative twists to every dish. Our vibrant beverages, creative presentations, and reimagined ambiance create a fresh, stylish experience without losing the essence of what makes Level 12 special. And, of course, Hilton’s renowned hospitality remains at the core of everything we do, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience every time.”

Whether you’re craving a hearty feast or a nourishing meal, Level 12 promises an exceptional and satisfying culinary journey for every kind of diner.

Beyond its culinary offerings, Level 12 is a destination for all the senses. The space comes alive with live instrumental performances and gigs, adding a vibrant yet elegant energy to the evenings.

Bengaluru, April 21^st, 2025: In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, Taj West End, Bengaluru and Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield have transitioned to 100% renewable energy, sourced from solar and wind power. This milestone marks a major advancement in the hotels’ ongoing commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting responsible tourism.

Mr. Satyajeet Krishnan, Senior Vice President – Operations, said, “This transition marks a pivotal moment in our sustainability journey and is aligned with our ESG+ framework, Paathya. It reinforces our long-term goal of sourcing 50% of our energy from renewable sources by 2030, while strengthening our commitment to responsible business practices across operations.”

Taj West End, Bengaluru, a 135-year-old heritage landmark set amidst 20 acres of greenery, has introduced an in-house water bottling plant, significantly reducing single-use plastic and advancing circular practices. The hotel has earned the EarthCheck Platinum Master Certification, recognizing over 15 years of consistent environmental performance. Its in-house laundry facility has also retained Platinum status for 14 consecutive years.

The contemporary 199-key Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield has been awarded the EarthCheck Platinum Certification for 13 consecutive years. With a strong focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and responsible waste management, the hotel continues to set benchmarks in sustainable urban hospitality.

New Delhi, 21st April 2025:  SGF India (Spice Grill Flame), India’s most trusted pure vegetarian food chain, successfully hosted its grand Soya Food Festival 2025 – India’s first and largest celebration of soya-based cuisine on 19th April 2025 at their outlet in Rohini, Sector 15, New Delhi. The festival drew an enthusiastic crowd of food lovers, influencers, and notable dignitaries, celebrating health, innovation, and the future of plant-based eating.

The event was officially inaugurated by Shri. Vijender Gupta, Honorable Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, alongside Smt. Smita Kaushik, Municipal Councillor of Rohini Ward 54-D. Their esteemed presence infused the event with great pride and energy, underscoring the importance of promoting cleaner, healthier vegetarian diets, anchored by the incredible versatility of soya.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Kewal Ahuja, Founder and Director, SGF India, said, “The Soya Food Festival is not just a feast – it’s a food revolution. We are building a community around mindful eating. With the growing interest in plant-based lifestyles, this festival sets the tone for the future of food in India.”

The event is the first of its kind in the country, which aims to spotlight the versatility and health benefits of soya-based dishes, particularly soya chaap, a favorite among vegetarians. In a market flooded with low-quality, maida-blended soya products, SGF has stepped up with a mission to spread awareness about pure, hygienic, and nutritious soya chaap by offering 100% pure soya chaap, made with no maida, no gluten, and packed with high-protein goodness.

This festival became an ideal platform to introduce SGF Green – a new range dedicated to plant-based, gluten-free, and maida-free soya innovations. SGF Green offers a game-changing alternative for health-conscious food lovers, packed with high protein and delicious flavours, without compromising on purity or nutrition.

Festival Highlights

• Exclusive Launch of SGF Green:
  A new range of 100% plant-based dishes was unveiled, featuring crowd favorites like Chick-less Leg Piece, Meatless Rogan Josh, and Veggie Fish Nuggets.
• Influencer Engagement:
  Leading food influencers and bloggers captured the festival’s lively spirit through social media, amplifying the message of “Pure Soya, Pure Health” to a wider audience through reels, stories, and live coverage.
• Community & Culture:
  Guests of all ages and backgrounds came together to explore SGF’s diverse soya offerings, blending authentic taste with modern plant-based innovation.
  

The Soya Food Festival in Rohini is part of SGF’s month-long nationwide celebration from 1st to 30th April 2025, with similar events and curated plant-based menus taking place in key cities such as Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, Bhopal, and Bahadurgarh.

This milestone event not only reflects SGF’s unwavering commitment to health and sustainability but also kickstarts a larger plant-forward revolution in India, encouraging people to embrace a lifestyle rooted in health, flavor, and consciousness.

Hyderabad, 21 April 2025: CREDAI Hyderabad proudly announced that several of its distinguished members have been entrusted with key roles in the CREDAI National Team for the tenure 2025-27. These esteemed appointments underscore the unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and impactful contributions made by Hyderabad’s real estate professionals on the national stage. Mr. V Rajashekar Reddy, President of CREDAI Hyderabad, Mr. N. Jaideep Reddy, President Elect of CREDAI Hyderabad and, Mr. B. Jagannath Rao, General Secretary of CREDAI Hyderabad, congratulated the newly elected team of CREDAI National and wished them success in their new responsibilities.

The New team at CREDAI National will be led by Mr. Shekar G Patel as the President. The following senior members from the state have assumed significant responsibilities in the new team at the national level:

Mr. G. Ram Reddy – Appointed as President Elect, CREDAI National

Mr. Ch. Ramchandra Reddy – Appointed as Joint Secretary

Mr. Kranti Kiran Reddy – Appointed as Co-Convenor, NCLT Committee

Mr. Sriram Musunuru– Appointed as Co-Convenor, Urban Development Committee

Adding to this remarkable feat, members of the CREDAI Youth Wing (CYW) from Hyderabad have also earned significant national responsibilities:

Mr. Joydeep Ponugoti – Appointed as CYW National Secretary

Mr. Sankeerth Reddy – Appointed as CYW South Zonal Coordinator

These prestigious appointments are a testament to the dynamic and forward-thinking leadership nurtured within the CREDAI Hyderabad chapter.

The entire CREDAI Hyderabad fraternity extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the appointees. Their achievements not only bring immense pride to Hyderabad but also inspire the next generation of leaders in the real estate industry.

Kolkata, 21 April 2025: The Bridging Culture & Arts Foundation (B-CAF) proudly bought to the city a Solo Exhibition by acclaimed Artist Malay Saha, Silent Narratives: Object in Dialogue, marking his return to the art scene after a gap of twelve years. The exhibition will run from 19^th April to 3^rd May, 2025 from 4 – 8 pm, except Mondays at B-CAF. The inaugural event was graced by Hiran Mitra, Eminent Artist; Bonnya Bose, Cultural Entrepreneur and Curator; Ayan Sen, Eminent Architect; and Reena Dewan, Exhibition Curator, Femina Gamechanger Awardee & Director of B-CAF. This exhibition marked a renewed engagement with his artistic journey, allowing for a more nuanced exploration of his evolution with subtlety and quiet conviction.

In an effort to combine artistic and personal synergies, B-CAF revisited its inaugural spirit with a distinctive and innovative approach. Each guest was asked to choose an everyday object placed before them such as a teapot, a pen or a spoon, and speak about its significance in their lives. They shared what the item symbolised, the memories it evoked, and the personal meaning it held. This inventive and engaging format led to a juxtaposition of different perceptions and augmented communication between artists, guests and visitors.

Malay, an artist from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan and a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant awardee, is a contemporary artist whose works are in the collections of prestigious museums, including the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Botswana National Museum, among others. His artistic journey, shaped by his formative years in Santiniketan during the Communist era, is marked by a deep engagement with materiality, space and power dynamics. Feelings of isolation during this period led him to imbue domestic objects—chairs, beds and pillows—with layered meanings. What began as mere representations of everyday objects gradually evolved into potent political symbols. The chair, in particular, emerged as a recurring motif, its anthropomorphic form embodying both presence and absence—a structure of power that he felt was missing from his own life as a student navigating institutional hierarchies.

Malay’s fascination with miniature painting, with its multiple viewpoints and fluid spatial constructions, plays a critical role in his practice. His engagement with this tradition was further shaped by his evening sessions with his teacher, K.G. Subramanyan, whose own explorations of multi-perspective compositions deeply influenced Malay’s approach. The division of space within his canvases, the rejection of a singular vanishing point and the construction of fragmented yet cohesive narratives all reflect this lineage. In his works, perspective is not fixed but shifts dynamically, compelling the viewer to navigate the image with an active gaze.

“My work is not conceptual; it is purely visual, as I give primary importance to the act of seeing,” says Malay.

His surfaces are often textured with a meticulous stitch-like pattern—a tactile memory derived from the coarse, woven duri upon which he once slept. This painstaking mark-making becomes an act of inscription, a form of labor that embeds personal history into the canvas, evoking both endurance and impermanence. The repetitive process mirrors the physicality of embroidery and weaving, transforming texture into both a visual and haptic experience.

“In this new body of work, Malay has made a decisive shift in form—from the structured geometries of squares and rectangles to the fluidity of circles. This movement signals an expansion of his spatial explorations, offering a sense of continuity rather than containment. Additionally, he introduces a radical departure from his earlier two-dimensional compositions by incorporating layered paper structures that elevate the surface. This shift invites the viewer into his space, a stark contrast to his previous works, where engagement remained observational, confined to a distant, multi-view perspective,” said Reena Dewan, Curator of the show.

This transition—from observing to inhabiting—marks an evolution not only in Malay’s formal language but also in his conceptual inquiry. The act of inviting the viewer into his constructed spaces reflects an openness, a gesture of inclusion and perhaps a reconciliation with the city. His decision to present this body of work as a solo exhibition in Kolkata is not merely a homecoming but a deliberate re-engagement with the cultural and artistic landscape that once shaped him. Through these works, Malay Saha continues to navigate memory, materiality and the politics of space with quiet yet profound intensity.