Where Pets Vacation in Style: Barker and Meowsky Sets a New Standard in Luxury Pet Boarding
April 1, 2025:Imagine a world where your dog enjoys a relaxing oil massage, your cat dozes in a sunlit nook after a play session with carefully chosen companions, and you receive adorable real-time updates while sipping coffee, knowing your furry friend is in expert hands. That’s not a dream — it’s Barker and Meowsky.
Redefining the way pet parents experience boarding and daycare, Barker and Meowsky (BnM) introduces boutique pet care that fuses luxury, love, and loyalty into every detail. With state-of-the-art, temperament-based groupings, and emotionally attuned staff, BnM ensures that pets aren’t just accommodated — they’re celebrated.
“Boarding shouldn’t feel like a compromise. At Barker and Meowsky, we’ve created a space where pets feel like they’re on vacation too,” says Pratik Sheth, Co-Founder of Barker and Meowsky. “From curated activities to one-on-one cuddles, every moment is designed with intention and care.”
More than just a facility, Barker and Meowsky feels like a second home — complete with spa-style grooming, calming aroma therapies, and premium nutrition options. Whether it’s a senior dog needing extra attention or an energetic pup eager for structured play, every pet’s stay is tailored to their unique personality and needs.
But it doesn’t stop at the pets. BnM caters to pet parents with concierge-like transparency — think personalized consultations, behavior tracking, and constant updates to keep them connected throughout their pet’s stay.
Beyond the walls of its plush facility, Barker and Meowsky is building a community of conscious pet lovers through events, workshops, and social gatherings, making it a lifestyle brand in the pet care space.
For those who believe their pets deserve more than the ordinary, Barker and Meowsky offer a luxury escape — a boutique boarding experience where wagging tails and purring hearts say it all.
CREDAI Haryana Welcomes New Executive Committee for 2025-2027
1st April 2025: The Haryana Chapter of CREDAI NCR proudly announces the appointment of its new Executive Committee for the term 2025-2027, following the successful elections held at 5th Floor of PHD House, New Delhi. The newly elected team is poised to bring transformative leadership, foster industry growth, and drive positive policy changes to create a robust and sustainable real estate ecosystem in Haryana.
The new Executive Committee is as follows:
• President: Shri Manish Agarwal.
• Vice Presidents: Shri Lalit Jain, Shri Pankaj Goel, Shri Pankaj Singla.
• Secretary: Shri Arpit Goel.
• Joint Secretary: Shri Anubhav Jain.
• Treasurer: Shri R.C. Gupta.
Visionary Leadership for a Progressive Future
The newly elected leadership is committed to bolstering the real estate sector in Haryana with a vision focused on transparency, innovation, and sustainable development. The team aims to actively engage with government authorities, industry stakeholders, and homebuyers to streamline processes, encourage ethical practices, and address key challenges in real estate development.
“Our primary goal is to make Haryana a benchmark state for real estate development by fostering a transparent, efficient, and investment-friendly environment. With policy advocacy, infrastructure enhancement, and sustainable development at our core, we will work towards making housing and commercial projects more accessible and affordable for all,” said Shri Manish Agarwal, President, CREDAI Haryana.
CREDAI Haryana remains dedicated to ensuring ease of doing business, accelerating approvals, and promoting technological advancements in real estate. The new leadership also plans to focus on environmentally responsible urbanization, ensuring that future developments align with the principles of green and smart infrastructure.
Commitment to Stakeholders and Industry Growth – The new Executive Committee will undertake key initiatives to boost investor confidence and champion regulatory reforms that benefit Real Estate Developers and Home-Buyers alike. With a focus on Collaboration and Innovation, the team aims to reinforce CREDAI Haryana’s position as a leading voice in the Real Estate Industry of Haryana.
Dhruv Galgotia Commends Bold Shift: Transforming Indian Education Beyond Rote Learning
Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University said, “The rapid technological advancements defining Industry 4.0 require an education system that is agile, interdisciplinary, and deeply integrated with real-world applications. For India to realize the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, institutions must focus on equipping students with a combination of critical thinking, technological proficiency, and entrepreneurial mindsets. The future of education lies in creating adaptive, skill-based learning frameworks that prepare students not just for existing jobs, but for careers that will emerge in the next decade. Galgotias University is committed to developing a curriculum that bridges the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that our students become industry leaders and innovators.”
India Inc Commends Resilience Amid Global Tariff War Threat: CareEdge Ratings
1st April, 2025: CareEdge Ratings’ Credit Ratio, which measures the ratio of upgrades to downgrades, strengthened to 2.35 times in H2 FY25, up from 1.62 times in H1 FY25. During this period, there were 386 upgrades and 164 downgrades.
The upgrade rate increased to 14% from 12% in the first half, driven by sectors that benefited from strong domestic consumption and government spending. Meanwhile, the downgrade rate dropped 200 bps to 6%, driven by asset quality concerns in NBFCs catering to microfinance and unsecured business loans, alongside pricing pressures faced by small-sized entities in the Chemical and Iron & Steel sectors, as well as export-focused Cut and Polished Diamond players.
Sachin Gupta, Executive Director and Chief Rating Officer, CareEdge Ratings, shared his insights on the evolving economic landscape, stating, “Despite global headwinds, the credit ratio for CareEdge Ratings’ portfolio strengthened in the second half of FY25—a testament to the resilience of India Inc. However, the journey ahead is far from smooth. The imposition of US tariffs could disrupt momentum for export-driven sectors, particularly those reliant on discretionary spending, while also sparking intense price competition from other affected economies. This uncertainty could keep private sector capital expenditure on the sidelines until clearer signals emerge. That said, not all is bleak—trade agreements and rupee depreciation could offer much-needed relief to exporters. At the same time, Corporate India’s strong, deleveraged balance sheets act as a sturdy shield against external volatility.”
CareEdge Ratings’ credit ratio for the manufacturing and services sector has seen a notable rebound, with its credit ratio rising from 1.21 in H1 FY25 to 2.06 in H2 FY25. The uptick reflects improving business fundamentals, particularly among mid-sized, domestic-focused entities, even as global headwinds persist. Ranjan Sharma, Senior Director, CareEdge Ratings (Corporate Ratings), noted the broad-based nature of this recovery, stating, “The improvement in credit ratio was evenly spread across both investment grade and sub-investment grade rating categories, driven by mid-corporate players leveraging strong domestic demand. Large corporates, too, maintained a healthy credit ratio, continuing their stable performance from previous periods. The sectors leading the upgrade wave included capital goods, automotive and automotive components, and real estate, all of which benefited from rising consumption and momentum in infrastructure. The services sector also witnessed sustained improvement, with hospitality and healthcare continuing their strong upward trajectory, while pharmaceuticals remained a consistent performer, reinforcing its long-standing resilience.”
However, not all industries rode the wave of optimism. Basic and commodity chemicals, smaller iron & steel players, and export-focused CPD entities faced credit downgrades. The chemicals sector struggled with pricing pressures, while smaller steel manufacturers faced heightened competition from Chinese imports. Meanwhile, some trading and distribution entities also found themselves grappling with market volatility.
The credit ratio of the infrastructure sector witnessed a continued uptrend in H2FY25 to 3.94, with the Transport Infrastructure and Power sectors leading the upgrades. Rajashree Murkute, Senior Director at CareEdge Ratings (Infrastructure Ratings), highlighted, “Key factors driving these upgrades include the successful commissioning of projects, particularly in the road Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) segment and solar power generation. Additionally, timely payments from most state distribution utilities have accelerated deleveraging for power producers and transmission infrastructure providers. A shift in ownership to financially strong sponsors or Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) has also played a pivotal role in enhancing credit quality for both, project assets as well as developers. However, challenges persist. Delays in receipt of requisite approvals, project execution and weak order books have increased working capital pressures for some mid-sized EPC players, compromising their credit profile. Besides, increased leverage due to top-up debt has weakened the financial flexibility of certain project assets, posing additional risks.”
The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector experienced a sharp moderation in its credit ratio, declining from 2.75 in H1 FY25 to 1.07 in H2 FY25, reflecting emerging stress in select lending segments. While the sector remains fundamentally strong, challenges in asset quality and profitability have affected certain areas. Sanjay Agarwal, Senior Director at CareEdge Ratings (BFSI Ratings), attributed the decline to pressures in the microfinance and unsecured business loan segments, stating, “The increase in loan sizes, coupled with rising debt levels per borrower, has heightened the financial strain on MFI borrowers, leading to asset quality concerns for NBFCs in this space. Consequently, NBFCs catering to microfinance and unsecured business loans are expected to witness elevated credit costs at least until H1FY26.” Despite these headwinds, the overall credit outlook for the BFSI sector remains stable, supported by healthy capitalisation levels among NBFCs and banks, which continue to provide a strong buffer against potential stress.”
In summary, while Corporate India continues to hold its ground, CareEdge Ratings expects the credit ratio to remain range-bound in the near term, navigating the crosscurrents of global headwinds. The resilience of Indian corporates is reinforced by strong and deleveraged balance sheets, providing a crucial buffer against external shocks. While the strength of domestic demand will serve as a key anchor, the unfolding global tariff war and geopolitical uncertainties will shape the road ahead.
Arya.ag’s NBFC Secures Historic ₹2000 Crore Milestone in Commodity Finance
1st April 2025 — Arya.ag, India’s largest and only profitable grain commerce platform, today announced that its Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) arm has crossed the landmark figure of ₹2000 crore in commodity finance, becoming the first in the country to achieve this scale in agri-based lending of this kind.
This achievement marks a significant advancement in rural finance, challenging conventional wisdom that commodity finance at the farmgate level is too risky, fragmented, and unscalable. Unlike traditional lending models, Arya.ag’s approach is anchored in financing against actual grain stored across India’s heartland, supported by its robust technology infrastructure and decentralised storage network.
Anand Chandra, Co-founder of Arya.ag, commented: “Reaching ₹2000 crore in commodity finance through our NBFC validates our integrated approach to post-harvest solutions. This milestone positions us as the largest NBFC in India’s commodity collateral funding space, effectively doubling the scale of other players in this segment. We’ve developed a model where farmers receive loans in under 30 minutes based solely on KYC, changing the dynamics of rural finance. The virtually nil NPAs we’ve maintained while serving approximately 8 lakh farmers shows that when financial products align with real commodities and farmer needs, scale and sustainability naturally follow. Beyond our NBFC’s direct lending, we’ve facilitated an additional ₹10,000 crore through partner banks against our warehouse receipts, bringing the total financing enabled this year to ₹12,000 crore.”
The company reports that its NBFC has become the largest in India in the commodity collateral funding space, effectively doubling the scale of other players in this segment. This achievement is part of a larger financing ecosystem, where partner banks have additionally disbursed over ₹10,000 crore against warehouse receipts issued by Arya.ag, bringing the total facilitated financing to ₹12,000 crore this financial year.
This achievement follows Arya.ag’s recent recognition with the 2025 Forward Faster Sustainability Award in the Climate Action category by the UN Global Compact Network India, and its securing of an INR 2.5 billion loan facility backed by GuarantCo and HSBC India.
Operating across 21 states and covering 60% of Indian districts, Arya.ag manages over 4 million metric tons of commodities across 3,500+ warehouses with a total value exceeding ₹10,000 crore. Its success in commodity finance demonstrates that post-harvest solutions may be the key to unlocking the next frontier in agricultural financial inclusion.
OMG AI Commands the Second Edition of Future Tech World Cup, Eyes Championship Glory
Speaking on the achievement, Co-founder & CEO Suhas Ashok, OMG AI, said, “Securing a spot in the grand finale of the Future Tech World Cup is a monumental achievement for OMG AI and a testament to the hard work, innovation, and vision of our team. We are incredibly excited to represent India on the global stage, where we can showcase our platform and its potential to transform industries worldwide. This recognition is not just a win for us, but for the entire AI community in India, and we look forward to collaborating with like-minded innovators at the Dubai AI Festival as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI.“
Varaha Sells 60,000 plus Tonnes of Carbon Credits to Klimate
INDIA, New Delhi & Bengaluru, 1 Apr 2025– Varaha, a leading developer of carbon removal projects in Asia, has sold over 60,000 tonnes of carbon credits to Denmark-based Klimate across five contracts. These agreements span three projects – biochar in India and afforestation initiatives in both India and Nepal – reinforcing Varaha’s ability to repeatedly sell credits to US and European companies across diverse pathways spanning technology and nature-based projects.
This series of contracts, valued at several million dollars, strengthens Varaha’s position as a preferred partner for buyers such as Klimate. By leveraging its diversified portfolio of technology-based and nature-based carbon projects, Varaha has become a critical collaboration for Klimate, who seeks reliable, scalable, and high-integrity credits across multiple methods to create well-balanced portfolios on behalf of their clients.
This announcement follows Varaha’s recent project investment from UK-based Conductor Capital and builds on its growing track record of supplying high-impact carbon removal credits to global buyers. In January 2025, Varaha sold 100,000 carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits to Google – its first large-scale purchase of carbon removal credits in India. With repeat sales to Europe and other Western markets, Varaha continues to demonstrate its ability to serve corporate climate commitments across diverse carbon removal pathways, including regenerative agriculture, biochar, afforestation, and enhanced rock weathering.
“Our ongoing relationship with Klimate is a testament to the trust that global carbon credit buyers place in our platform”, said Madhur Jain, CEO and co-founder of Varaha. “By offering a broad portfolio of carbon removal projects, we provide flexibility and reliability to meet the diverse needs of our partners. Through partnerships with Klimate, Google, and others, we are scaling high-impact climate solutions that drive positive change for both the environment and the communities we serve.”
From Simon Bager, CIO and Co-founder of Klimate, “”Our partnership with Varaha is essential to our mission of scaling reliable, trustworthy, and impactful carbon removal solutions. Through this collaboration, we’re able to provide our clients access to a diverse range of carbon removal projects across multiple pathways and certification standards. Having a trusted partner in the south Asia region with expertise in local contexts ensures the development of high-impact climate solutions that resonate strongly with our clients’ priorities”
Pokiddo Junior Fulfills Wishes of Ill Children with Make-A-Wish Foundation
Mumbai 01th April 2025 – Pokiddo Junior, a premier indoor adventure zone exclusively for kids, one of South Mumbai’s most popular and expansive entertainment venues, is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish Foundation, India, to bring smiles to the faces of children battling critical illnesses. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Pokiddo Junior hosted a special event dedicated to fulfilling the heartfelt wishes of these young warriors, creating an unforgettable day filled with fun, laughter, and cherished memories.
The event, held at Pokiddo Junior’s state-of-the-art play zone, welcomed children from Make-A-Wish Foundation, India, providing them with an immersive and joyous experience. The kids had immense fun engaging in various activities such as enjoying the ball pit, go-karting, dressing up in beautiful princess costumes, exploring the farmland, playing in the arcades, and sliding through exciting play structures.
The wish ceremony took place at Pokiddo Junior, where a total of 17 wishes were granted. Big and small dreams came true, from cycles and TV sets to gear cycles and battery-operated cars, making their day even more special. Each wish created magical moments that will be treasured forever, bringing happiness and hope to these courageous young dreamers. Some children arrived straight from hospital sessions, while others left to make it to their appointments. But for a while, this wasn’t just a playground; it was a haven of happiness, a moment of respite between treatments, reflected in their beaming smiles.
These kids came from far and gathered for the occasion, traveling from states and cities like West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Nanded, Jalna, Belapur, Solapur, and Madhya Pradesh, adding to the diversity and joy of the celebration.
“Seeing the pure joy on a child’s face reminds us why we do what we do. Play has the incredible power to heal, to uplift, and to bring light even in the darkest times. Partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation, India has been a deeply moving experience—creating moments of laughter, wonder, and happiness for these brave children. Giving them a space where their imaginations can run free and their smiles can shine brightest is truly priceless,” said Prasuk Jain, the founder of Pokiddo Junior.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been a beacon of hope for children with critical illnesses for decades, granting transformative wishes that bring joy, strength, and optimism. The organization’s mission is to enrich the lives of young dreamers by creating extraordinary experiences that inspire courage and resilience. Through this collaboration with Pokiddo Junior, the foundation granted countless wishes.
“We are immensely grateful to Pokiddo Junior for their generosity and dedication in making this day so special. Seeing the joy and excitement on the children’s faces was truly heartwarming, giving children a much-needed break from their daily routine of shuttling between the hospital and home,” said Sophia Falcao, Program Head, Make-A-Wish Foundation, India.
The initiative reinforces Pokiddo Junior’s commitment to giving back to the community and using the magic of play to make a positive impact. By continuing to support such meaningful causes, Pokiddo Junior aims to spread happiness and inspire more organizations to contribute to society.
Relaxo Footwears Wins SDG Achievers Award 2023-24 for Quality Education
New Delhi: 1st April: Relaxo Footwears Limited has been recognized with the prestigious SDG Achievers Award 2023-24 for SDG 4: Quality Education, presented by the Government of Uttarakhand, Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPPGG), and UNDP India. This accolade acknowledges Relaxo’s efforts in transforming government schools through the Parivartan Model School Project, a dedicated initiative aimed at ensuring accessible and high-quality education for children.
The award was received by Mr. Sushil Batra, Executive Director & CFO, and Mr. Gambhir Agrawal, CSR Head, Relaxo, from Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand- Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami at a ceremony in Dehradun. The event was graced by Ms. Radha Raturi– Principal Secretary- Uttarakhand; Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram– CEO- CPPGG; Dr. Manoj Pant– ACEO- CPPGG; Dr. Angela Lusigi- Resident representative of UNDP and other senior state dignitaries.
The Parivartan initiative has made a tangible impact, improving 104 government schools in two blocks of Haridwar district namely, Khanpur & Laksar, in partnership with Samagra Shiksha. With plans underway to extend the program to Dehradun, Relaxo continues to scale on its emphasis to building inclusive, sustainable, and quality education systems that empower future generations.
Speaking on the recognition, Mr. Sushil Batra, Executive Director & CFO, Relaxo Footwears Limited, said, “Education is the foundation of a progressive society, and at Relaxo, we believe in taking meaningful steps toward its upliftment. Through the Parivartan Model School Project, we aim to bridge the gap in access to quality education, equipping children with better learning environments and opportunities. This award is an ode to our determination & goals, and we look forward to further expanding our efforts to make a lasting impact.”
Mr. Gambhir Agrawal, Head- CSR, told that, “Parivartan” Project model has been appreciated by the government agencies thus were able to scale up its coverage from initial number of 13 Govt. Schools to 104 Govt. Schools as of now. He expressed his gratitude towards Hon. CM, CPPGG, State Project Director- Samagra Shiksha, District Collector, Chief Development Officer, Chief Education Officer, Education Department of Haridwar District, implementing partners etc., for providing the required support in project implementation”.
With this milestone, Relaxo Footwears Ltd. strengthens its role as a responsible corporate entity, striving not merely for business excellence but also for sustainable community development.
OSS Golf Tournament 2025: House Teams Battle for Glory
April 1, 2025:The Old Sanawarian Society, the Alumni Association of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, one of India’s oldest and most respected boarding schools, hosted the much anticipated OSS Inter-House Golf Tournament 2025, bringing together golf enthusiasts and distinguished guests for a day of spirited competition at the prestigious ITC Classic Golf & Country Club, Manesar on March 27, 2025.
The Tournament was the ideal platform to foster closer bonds of camaraderie, friendship and goodwill amongst members of the alumni fraternity, while preserving the legacy, tradition and values of their alma mater.
13 teams teed-off to a ShotGun Start, on a Stableford scoring format with handicaps determined on the Double Preoria System. The lush greens provided the perfect backdrop as players showcased their skills, competing with passion and precision. Seasoned veterans and promising amateurs participated, including a four-ball from Bharat Petroleum (C&MD, G Krishna Kumar missing out due to exigencies at work) and distinguished Sanawar alumni – single handicappers Mayank Oberoi, Viren Ghumman, and Mivaan Singh; Member of Parliament (Gurugram), Rao Inderjit Singh; Corporate honchos Vipin Sondhi (former MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland & JCB India and on the Board of Governors, Sanawar), Gaurav Bhagat (MD, GB Academy) and Prabhjot Cheema (Founding Partner, Nexedge Capital); former Asian Squash Semi-finalist Lalit Varma; and Defence Analyst Col. Ajai Shukla among others – representing their House – Himalaya, Nilagiri, Siwalik and Vindhya, to compete for the coveted Championship Trophy.
As the sun began to set, a lively sundowner provided an opportunity for all to unwind and share their experiences from the game. The event concluded with a grand prize distribution ceremony, recognizing outstanding performances and celebrating the spirit of the game. The Presentation Party was made up of President OSS, Pankaj Sapru, Board Member, Vipin Sondhi, representatives of Bharat Petroleum and Exotic Group, Brig. Adarsh Butail, President Elect OSS and Kewal S Virk, Vice President OSS.
The Championship Trophy was won by Himalaya House (defending Champions), ahead of the Runners Up Vindhya House. The Individual Prize winners were Viren Ghumman (Best Gross Score – 70), Uday Talwar (Longest Drive – 285 yards), Yogesh Kapoor (Closest to the Pin – 3’7”), while Ajai Sukhla, Vaibhav Soni, Sunil Khorana bagged the Best Net Score in the three Handicap groupings, 0-9, 10-17 and 18-24 respectively.