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The Appeal of Conscience Foundation presented Raj Subramaniam, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Corporation, with the Appeal of Conscience Award at the foundation’s 61st Annual Gala, at The Pierre Hotel in New York City.   Raj Subramaniam, President & CEO FedEx Corporation with Karen Schneier Dresbach, Executive Vice President, & Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Founder & President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation   As president and CEO of FedEx Corporation, Subramaniam leads one of the world’s largest transportation and logistics companies. A more than 35-year FedEx veteran, Subramaniam became the second CEO in the company’s history in 2022 after serving in a series of leadership roles across the global enterprise, including as President and Chief Operating Officer. His international leadership experience and focus on globalization have contributed to the success and transformation of FedEx, while his work outside the company has focused on advancing economic growth and global trade. In 2023, Subramaniam received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest civilian honor presented by the President of India to members of the Indian diaspora in recognition of outstanding achievements in India and abroad.   “I am honored to receive the Appeal of Conscience Award from Rabbi Schneier and the Appeal of Conscience Foundation,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and CEO of FedEx. “At FedEx, we believe that connecting the world through trade and innovation does more than move goods – it builds bridges, fosters international cooperation, and brings communities closer together. We are committed to leveraging our global reach to build a more connected and unified world.”   Through its global network, FedEx connects businesses and economies, enabling trade and creating pathways for businesses to reach markets around the world. In India, FedEx continues to strengthen its infrastructure and capabilities, supporting Indian businesses in accessing international markets and participating in global trade.   “Raj Subramaniam is being recognized for his international visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to connecting people worldwide through innovation and service,” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. “Under his stewardship, FedEx has advanced a culture of social and global responsibility and international cooperation that reflects ACF’s mission.”   Previous Honorees The ACF has recognized prominent business leaders and public figures with the Appeal of Conscience Award including: Bernard Arnault, Mary Barra, Barbara Bush, Michael Bloomberg, Albert Bourla, Archbishop Elpidophoros, Robert Iger, Muhtar Kent, Coretta Scott King, Robert Kraft, Brian Moynihan, Virginia Rometty, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Masayoshi Son, Paul Volcker, Timotheus Höttges, Stephen M. Ross, Susan Wojcicki, Dr. Rong Yiren, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Tony Elumelu.

The Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), Manipal University Jaipur, is organising a four-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) in collaboration with IIMBx, the digital learning foundation of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore). Based on the theme “3D’s: Design, Develop, Deliver, the programme aims to familiarise faculty members with the complete process of designing and developing online and digital courses. The programme provides hands-on training in course design, digital learning content development, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), studio-based educational video production, learning activity design, assessment development, and preparing courses for delivery through online platforms. The four-day programme covers the complete journey from course design and content development to AI-enabled activities, studio recording, assessment and course presentation.    Dignitaries present in the Inaugural session of the FDP at Manipal University Jaipur   The programme was formally inaugurated in the presence of Pro-President Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Rana; Director CDOE, Dr. Mallikarjun Gaddapa; Dean Faculty of Management, Commerce and Arts (FoMCA) Dr. Brijesh; and senior representatives and experts from IIMBx, including Shainesh G., Chairperson, IIMBx; Sitaraman Shankar; Dr. S. Naga Siddharth; and Vijaya Tripathi, along with the IIMBx and SWAYAM expert and technical teams. The programme is being supported by experts including Shweta Shree, Raksha B., Manikandan K., Erwin Fernandes, Diljith Kannan, Nidhi A.C., Vishal C. Reddy, Sushma Nayak, Varun P., Bhumika Arora, Kalaiarasan R., Megha Srinivasan, Rajamohamadu Jeeyavudeen, Aarya S. Kumar, Malhar Patel and Anjali Alex, who are contributing to various sessions related to course design, content development, technology, video production, instructional design and SWAYAM course development.    The four-day programme is structured around three key stages Design, Develop and Deliver. On the first day, faculty members are being trained to understand the needs of online learners, develop learner profiles, and align learning outcomes, course content and assessment. Participants are also being provided with hands-on experience in developing a module outline for their respective subjects and creating video scripts based on their course design. The second day focuses on the Develop stage, with particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and digital content production. Participants are being introduced to the fundamentals of Generative AI, its applications, strengths, limitations and associated risks. The programme also includes training in active learning activities and studio-based educational video production. Faculty members are getting an opportunity to record their learning videos and receive immediate expert feedback on delivery, pacing and the effective use of teaching aids. The third day focuses on the Deliver stage and will address the changing landscape of online education, the use of AI as a teaching and course-design assistant, and assessment development. Participants will be trained in developing different forms of assessments and aligning them with learning outcomes, as well as using AI for developing question banks with appropriate faculty validation. The programme will also include a showcase and peer review of participant-developed educational videos, followed by an orientation on course development, approval and launch through the SWAYAM platform. On the final day, participants will present their course blueprints in groups before an expert panel comprising members from IIMBx and Manipal University Jaipur. Each group will present its learner profile, course or module outline, sample script or video, learning activity, assessment and course launch plan. The presentations will be followed by expert and peer feedback and interaction with the panel. The programme will conclude with closing remarks and certificate distribution by Sitaraman Shankar, CEO, IIMBX.    Dr. Mallikarjun Gaddapa, Director, CDOE, said, “Higher education is rapidly becoming more digital and learner centric. In this environment, subject expertise alone is not sufficient for faculty members; they also need capabilities in online course design, digital learning content development, AI-enabled teaching and outcome-based assessment. The FDP being organised in collaboration with IIMBx is providing faculty members with comprehensive hands-on exposure, from developing the initial course outline to digital content production, studio recording, assessment and online delivery. Our objective is to develop high-quality courses that respond effectively to the needs of contemporary learners.”   Shainesh G., Chairperson, IIMBx said, the objective of this programme is not merely to train faculty members, but to provide them with practical experience of the complete online course development process. From identifying learners and developing the course framework to scriptwriting, AI-enabled content development, studio recording, learning activities, assessment and preparing the course for online delivery, participants are getting an opportunity to work through every stage of the process. The collaboration between IIMBx and Manipal University Jaipur provides a strong platform for faculty members to experiment, receive expert feedback and develop modern, technology-enabled, learner-centric and outcome-oriented courses. The programme is designed as a hands-on and outcome-oriented faculty development initiative, enabling participants to move beyond theoretical understanding and work on tangible course-development outputs. The initiative is aimed at further strengthening the quality of digital and online education at Manipal University Jaipur and equipping faculty members with the capabilities required for contemporary teaching and learning. The collaboration brings together the digital learning expertise of IIMBx and the academic ecosystem of Manipal University Jaipur, providing faculty members with an effective platform to develop innovative, technology-enabled, learner-centric and outcome-based courses.

Gurjinder Singh Gavy, Chairman of the NRI & Overseas Congress Cell, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, has congratulated former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Pargat Singh on his appointment as President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. He also extended his congratulations and best wishes to Sachin Pilot, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab.   L to R: Pargat Singh, President, PPCC; Sachin Pilot, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab & former Deputy CM of Rajasthan; Gurjinder Singh Gavy, Chairman, NRI & Overseas    The Congress announced Pargat Singh’s appointment on 2 October 2026, with immediate effect. Sachin Pilot took charge as the party’s General Secretary in-charge of Punjab in September 2026.   Regarded as one of the finest defenders Indian hockey has produced, Pargat Singh captained India at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics and was India’s flag-bearer at the Atlanta Games. A recipient of the Arjuna Award, he has represented Jalandhar Cantonment in the Punjab Legislative Assembly since 2012, and served as Punjab’s Cabinet Minister for School and Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, and NRI Affairs in 2021–22.   Sachin Pilot, MLA from Tonk, is a former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and a former President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee. He has served as a Union Minister, including as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Corporate Affairs, and represented Dausa and Ajmer in the Lok Sabha.   “Heartiest congratulations to Pargat Singh ji on this new responsibility, and my best wishes to Sachin Pilot ji as Punjab in-charge,” said Gavy. “As India’s hockey captain, Pargat Singh ji led from the front and kept the team together, and he has brought the same discipline and commitment to public life. Sachin Pilot ji has long been an inspiration for young Congress workers in Rajasthan, and his energy and organisational experience will be a great strength for Punjab. I am confident that together they will bring workers, young people and Punjabi families in India and abroad closer to the party. I wish them both every success.”   Gavy also serves as National President of the Indian Overseas Youth Congress – Australia, President of Student Union India–Australia, and Global Ambassador of NRI Affairs, Ramgarhia Sabha.

In a significant step towards building future-ready classrooms, Oxford University Press (OUP), a leading education publisher with a longstanding commitment to advancing learning, today announced a strategic collaboration with Canva, the world’s leading all-in-one visual communication platform. The collaboration brings together OUP’s pedagogical expertise and trusted educational content with Canva’s intuitive creative tools to embed design thinking and digital creativity into classroom learning through OUP’s revised Keyboard computer science series.   Oxford University Press partners with Canva to empower future-ready learners   As rapid advances in automation and visual communication reshape how current and future generations learn, work and create, schools are moving beyond traditional instruction to build skills that prepare students for the future. Reflecting this shift, the collaboration brings together OUP’s decades of pedagogical expertise with Canva’s intuitive, industry-leading visual communication platform. Through the textbook series, students gain hands-on opportunities to develop digital creativity, communication and design skills, aligned with the aspirations of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).   Under the partnership, all OUP partner schools adopting the Keyboard series will receive complimentary access to Canva Education, providing teachers and students with hands-on access to professional-grade design tools in the classroom. A key highlight is the integration of Canva-based projects across Keyboard and OUP’s other computer science series, Reboot!, for Grades 3 to 8, with Reboot! available through the Oxford Educate platform.   Sukanta Das, Managing Director, Oxford University Press India, said, “At Oxford University Press, we are committed to developing educational resources that prepare learners to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world. By embedding Canva into the curriculum, OUP and Canva are empowering students to think like creators from an early age, using technology to imagine, design and bring their ideas to life. Together, we aim to equip learners not only with technical knowledge, but also with the critical digital, communication and problem-solving skills essential for the future and envisioned by NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework.”   “At Canva, our mission is to empower the world to design, and education is at the very heart of that goal. We are thrilled to collaborate with Oxford University Press to bring together their rich legacy of trusted educational content and Canva Education’s intuitive visual communication tools. Together, we are making it easier than ever for educators and students to create highly engaging, interactive learning experiences.” – Megan Townes, APAC Lead, Canva Education.   Featuring age-appropriate templates, including presentations, logos, flyers, websites and social media content, these projects encourage students to apply their learning in meaningful, real-world contexts while building creativity, digital literacy and visual communication skills. The collaboration broadens the impact beyond a single series, extending creative digital learning across OUP India’s wider learning ecosystem.   Designed for young learners from Grades 1 to 8, the Keyboard series combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on application, covering everything from foundational digital productivity to advanced areas like Python coding, AI, machine learning, IoT, big data, and AR/VR, making computer science engaging and interactive. Aligned with NEP 2020’s emphasis on experiential, competency-based, and interdisciplinary learning, the series helps students build confidence in using technology while developing essential digital skills for the 21st century.   In addition to student resources, Canva will conduct a series of teacher-training sessions and webinars for OUP user schools, equipping educators to effectively lead design-based, visually driven learning into classroom instruction.   With technology continuing to reshape education and the workplace, the OUP-Canva partnership represents a significant step toward empowering learners with the digital fluency, creativity, and computational thinking skills required to thrive in the future.   About Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. OUP is one of the world’s largest university presses with a wide global presence. It currently publishes thousands of new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs approximately 5,000 people worldwide. It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing program that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, children’s books, materials for teaching English as a foreign language, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.   About Canva Launched in 2013, Canva is the world’s leading all-in-one visual communication platform, empowering individuals, educators, and organizations to design, collaborate, and communicate visually through an easy-to-use online platform. Canva Education is designed specifically for schools and educators, providing tools that foster creativity, collaboration, and digital skills development in the classroom.

Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, celebrated World Smile Day with its partner hospitals and communities across the country, inviting people to share what makes them smile and help raise awareness about cleft conditions and care.   Smile Train India Celebrates World Smile Day with a mobile “Smile Wall on Wheels”   Through Smile Walls at partner locations, patients, families, cleft care teams and visitors were encouraged to add messages or drawings about the people and moments that bring them joy. The activities were part of Smile Train’s wider World Smile Day campaign, which uses the simple act of sharing a smile to spread kindness and build awareness for children with clefts.   In Delhi, Smile Train India took the celebration beyond fixed locations through Smile Wall on Wheels, a mobile Smile Wall traveling to schools and public spaces across North, South and Central Delhi, including Delhi University North Campus and various popular market areas. The school visits continue Smile Train India’s awareness outreach with children and educators. At public stops, people can write what makes them smile on the wall and learn where families affected by cleft conditions can seek support.   Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Asia, Smile Train, shared, “World Smile Day gives us a wonderful reason to bring people together. Across India, our partners are creating spaces where families and communities can share moments of happiness while learning more about cleft care. With Smile Wall on Wheels in Delhi, we are taking that conversation into schools and everyday public spaces, so that more people know support is available for children born with clefts.”   The nationwide celebrations build on last year’s Smile Wall initiative, which brought partner hospitals, schools and communities together around the same question: What makes you smile?   People can learn more about the World Smile Day campaign at www.smiletrain.org. Families in India seeking information about cleft care can call Smile Train India’s toll-free helpline at 1800 103 8301.

The Millennium Group of Schools has announced the winners of the Millennium AI Creators Championship 2026, a national initiative that brought together school students from across India to explore the creative possibilities of Artificial Intelligence while developing responsible, ethical and future-ready approaches to technology.   Winners of Millennium AI Creators Championship 2026 organised by Millennium Group of Schools   Held around the theme ‘Sustainable Cities. Intelligent Futures.’, the championship encouraged students to imagine how AI and human creativity can come together to address real-world challenges and contribute to cleaner, greener, kinder and more inclusive cities. The initiative was open to students from Grades 5 to 12 across India and was organised with Times Now, the leading English news channel from The Times Network, as the Official Broadcast Partner.   The championship featured three age-specific creative challenges: Grades 5–7: Storytelling Challenge Winner:  Vishuddhi Jain Angad Mehta Aarav Mahajan Grades 8–9: Song Creation Challenge Winner:  Ibrahim Siddiqui Hadiya Noor Rehan Grades 10–12: Short Film Challenge Winner:  Karanjot Singh Krishna Chaudhary Abhiraj Sanjay Mokashi   The championship brought together students from across India, with entries evaluated on originality, creativity, storytelling, relevance to the theme, responsible use of AI and overall impact.    Commenting on the conclusion of the championship, Neha Vaz, Head of Events & Strategic Alliances, The Millennium Group of Schools, said, “The response to the Millennium AI Creators Championship has demonstrated the curiosity and creative potential that young learners bring to conversations around Artificial Intelligence. What stood out was the way students used AI not simply to create, but to explore ideas, tell stories and engage with real-world challenges. Through this championship, we wanted to reinforce that responsible AI use begins with human imagination, critical thinking and intent. The winning entries reflect that spirit and serve as an encouraging reminder of what is possible when technology becomes a tool for young minds to express and build their ideas.”   As part of the championship, registered participants also received access to expert-led sessions covering prompt engineering, AI ethics and digital citizenship, helping students understand the responsible use of AI while strengthening critical thinking, creativity and innovation.   The Top 15 National Winners will receive an exclusive, fully sponsored AI Fellowship powered by TechnoKids in association with Knowledge Hub, providing advanced learning and coding opportunities to further develop their AI capabilities and future-ready skills. Winners will also receive robotics kits from E-BOT Plus, a solution designed around Computer Science, Coding, AI and Robotics, with a focus on practical and intuitive learning.   Speaking on the educational significance of the championship, Dr. Priyanka Jain, Head of Academics, The Millennium Group of Schools, said, “The Millennium AI Creators Championship has given students an opportunity to engage with Artificial Intelligence through creativity, inquiry and real-world problem-solving. The quality and diversity of the submissions demonstrate that when learners are given the right guidance, AI can become a powerful medium for expressing ideas and exploring solutions. Our focus has been to help students understand that responsible use of technology is as important as technical capability, and we hope this experience encourages them to continue questioning, creating and learning with purpose.”   The championship forms part of The Millennium Group of Schools’ broader focus on preparing students for a technology-led future while keeping creativity, critical thinking, ethical awareness and human imagination at the centre of learning. By bringing AI into a structured, creative and age-appropriate learning environment, the initiative sought to encourage students to build with AI rather than simply depend on it.   About The Millennium Group of Schools The Millennium Group of Schools is a prominent chain of K-12 schools across India that follows the CBSE curriculum. Known for its holistic, child-centric approach, the institution follows the award-winning, research-backed Millennium Learning System™ (MLS™), developed through 10+ years of action research, to create personalised, experiential learning experiences that nurture curiosity, creativity, conceptual understanding and real-world application, while integrating global learning theories with the Indian education and value system.

MBD Group, a diversified business group marks its 70th Establishment Day today. Established on September 30, 1956, by Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra with a small bookshop in Jalandhar, the Group has evolved over seven decades across businesses including printing, publishing, EdTech, hospitality, real estate, retail, food and beverage, robotics and coding.    MBD Group celebrated 70th Establishment Day For seven decades, this growth has been accompanied by a continued commitment to giving back to society. Through My Best Deeds, MBD Group’s umbrella for its CSR initiatives, and the Ashok Malhotra Charitable Trust, the Group has supported causes spanning girl-child education, access to learning through Love to Learn, empowerment of specially abled children through Ashok Karya, disaster relief, environmental conservation and support for underserved communities.  Commenting on the occasion, Satish Bala Malhotra, Chairperson, MBD Group, said, “Seventy years is a landmark in the journey of MBD Group and a reflection of the strong foundation laid by our founder, Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra. Our journey has always been about building institutions for the long term and growing without losing sight of the people and communities connected with us. The 70th Establishment Day is a moment to recognise that journey and the many people who have contributed to it over the years.” Education has been central to MBD Group’s journey, and remains closely connected to its vision for the next generation. As the education landscape has evolved from publishing to technology-enabled and experiential learning, the Group has continued to expand access to new-age learning opportunities, particularly for students who may have fewer resources. Through initiatives such as Love to Learn and Robotics Lab on Wheels, students in budget schools are gaining hands-on exposure to robotics, coding, IoT, automation and emerging technologies, while the Group’s AI-STEAM initiatives are introducing students to the possibilities of artificial intelligence and future-ready learning. In 2026, the Group launched the AASOKA Science Kit initiative, aimed at bringing practical science learning to 25,000 students across 400 schools. This focus on access and experiential learning also extends to Robotics Lab on Wheels, which takes technology-led learning directly to schools. The Group aims to reach 1,000 schools and one lakh students over the next five years, reflecting its larger objective of making future-ready learning more accessible. Together, these initiatives seek to equip young people with the skills, confidence and exposure to solve problems, innovate and contribute to a changing society. The AI-STEAM Lab Championship, held on September 28 at MBD House, is a recent example of this approach. The Championship brought together four students each from 16 schools out of the many schools that participated to develop and present technology-led solutions to real-world challenges, with a prize pool of ₹3.25 lakh. More than a standalone event, the Championship gave students an opportunity to put sustained, hands-on learning into practice and demonstrate how access to emerging technologies can translate into confidence, creativity and problem-solving. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director, MBD Group, shared, “Education has been an integral part of MBD Group’s journey and continues to shape the way we think about the future of youth. From our early years in publishing and learning resources, the education landscape has evolved significantly with technology, and MBD has continued to evolve with it. Through Love to Learn and our other initiatives, we want to make emerging technologies and experiential learning more accessible to students across communities, particularly those who may have fewer opportunities to access them.” Winner of the MBD AI-STEAM Championship, Lavi Public School, Ghevra, New Delhi, said, “Lab on Wheels gave us the opportunity to understand robotics by actually working with the kits, building things and testing our ideas. The MBD AI-STEAM Championship was a chance to take everything we had learnt and put it into practice. The biggest takeaway has been the confidence to build something ourselves and see that our ideas can become real solutions.”  The well-being of people and communities is an important part of MBD Group’s broader social responsibility approach. Over the years, the Group’s focus has extended beyond education and business growth to initiatives that support mental well-being, physical fitness, community participation, environmental stewardship, animal welfare and outreach to underserved communities. Through the Ashok Karya framework and its wider CSR efforts, MBD continues to recognise that healthier, more resilient communities are an important part of building a better society. This year’s association with Run Yodha 2026 is one recent expression of that larger focus. The marathon brought employees together on September 27 and encouraged healthier, more active lifestyles while supporting awareness around hunger. The initiative reflects the Group’s belief that well-being is not limited to a single event, but is part of creating a culture in which people are encouraged to look after their physical and mental health and participate in causes beyond the workplace. Sonica Malhotra Kandhari, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “As MBD Group marks 70 years, our focus remains on building on the values that have guided us through our journey while responding to the needs of a changing India. The well-being of our people and communities is an important part of that responsibility. Whether through initiatives that encourage physical and mental well-being, create access to learning or give young people exposure to new technologies, we want our efforts to create meaningful and lasting opportunities. Run Yodha is one such example, but our larger commitment extends well beyond any single initiative.” As MBD Group enters its eighth decade, it remains focused on building on its legacy while responding to the changing needs of people, businesses and communities. The journey ahead will continue to connect the Group’s roots in education and community development with new opportunities in technology, learning, well-being and innovation. For MBD, the 70th Establishment Day is not only a milestone to look back on, but a moment to reaffirm the responsibility of creating meaningful opportunities for the generations ahead.

SRM University-AP has made its debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, securing a place in the 1001-1200 band in its very first year of participation. Established less than a decade ago, SRM University-AP says the recognition makes it the youngest private university in India to achieve this distinction within 10 years of its inception. The milestone marks a significant step in the University’s emergence as a research-led institution with a growing global presence. This also makes SRM AP Andhra Pradesh’s first university, to achieve this honour in this span.   SRM University-AP, Amaravati Campus   Other than achieving a strong position overall, SRM University-AP’s performance was particularly strong in International Outlook, where it recorded a score of 58.5 and was placed fifth in India on this indicator, above some of best academic institutions. Its Research Quality score of 55.4 further reflects the strong reach, influence and growing impact of the University’s scholarly output within the global research community. Dr P. Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor, SRM AP, expresses, “Entering the Times Higher Education World University Rankings within a decade of our founding affirms that we are moving in the right direction. It reflects the quality, purpose and ambition that define SRM University-AP. With a focused roadmap for research and academic growth, we will build on this foundation by further strengthening academic quality, global engagement and meaningful impact.”   For Vice-Chancellor, SRM AP, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, the recognition reflects the culture of inquiry the university has built in under a decade: “To be placed in the 1001-1200 bracket of the THE World University Rankings so early in our journey is a moment of real pride, and it deepens our resolve toward the vision we have set for this university. It reflects the culture of curiosity we have nurtured at SRM University-AP, where faculty and students pursue questions that matter and share their findings with the global scholarly community. We will now strengthen every pillar, with re-energized focus so that the university increasingly transforms as a global destination for learning and research.”   The University’s inaugural participation was coordinated by its Quality Assurance and Rankings (QAR) team. Dr Karthik Rajendran, Associate Dean, Quality Assurance and Rankings, said, “This was our first submission to THE, and securing a place in the rankings on our first attempt is deeply encouraging. It validates our efforts to benchmark teaching, research and international engagement against global standards. More importantly, it gives us a meaningful international baseline from which to measure progress and build further.”   With its schools spanning engineering and sciences, liberal arts, and business, as well as dedicated institutes in artificial intelligence and quantum technology, SRM University-AP continues to build a research-driven academic community with global ambitions. The THE World University Rankings 2027 recognition provides an important international reference point as the University expands its research ecosystem, academic collaborations and global partnerships.   SRM University-AP is a multidisciplinary private university in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, committed to advancing knowledge through high-quality education, research, innovation and international collaboration.

Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading packaged drinking water company, has been conferred with the prestigious Mahatma Award for the second time. The CSR Excellence Award recognises Bisleri’s commitment to water conservation, plastic waste management, and community engagement under Greener Promise, its flagship sustainability program. This year, the Mahatma Award received over 1,900 entries, of which only 70 winners were recognised across diverse categories.    Bisleri Wins Mahatma Awards 2026 in CSR Excellence for its Greener Promise initiative   The award ceremony was graced by Dr Santrupt Mishra, Rajya Sabha MP, Dr Kiran Bedi, the first woman IPS Officer of the country, as the Chief Guest, along with Guests of Honour Ms Sukanya Bharat Ram, Mahatma Gandhi Ji’s Great-Granddaughter. The Mahatma Award draws its inspiration from the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi. Embodying the spirit of his enduring legacy, this prestigious award recognises and celebrates individuals and organisations that catalyse positive change, dedicate their efforts to making the world a better place, and exemplify Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals through their transformative work. The award was instituted by Gandhian and lawyer Mr Amit Sachdeva, CSR Man of India and supported by Ms Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Centre for Rural Development and Communication Initiatives. Speaking on the achievement, Dr Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International, said, “Receiving the Mahatma Award for the second time is especially meaningful, as it reflects the consistency and commitment of Bisleri’s sustainability efforts. Our Greener Promise is shaped by the choices our teams make, the partnerships we build, and the communities we work with. This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of our employees, partners and people on the ground who continue to translate our sustainability ambitions into meaningful, measurable action. As we grow, our focus remains on building a responsible business that contributes meaningfully to India’s sustainable progress.” As part of the event, Mr K Ganesh, Director – Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International, participated in a panel discussion on Corporate Environmental Responsibility: How businesses can adopt and champion eco-friendly practices, sharing insights on Bisleri’s approach to embedding sustainability across its business operations. The event also saw the launch of CSR Good Book, a compendium of Sustainable and Socially Responsible Brands, Corporations, Public Sector enterprises and foundations. The edition featured Bisleri’s sustainability journey, including the extensive work the company has done to advance circular economy models, water stewardship, and a water credits framework to encourage water conservation across industries and sectors. For Bisleri, the consecutive Mahatma Awards reflect how the company has made Greener Promise integral to business growth, value chain, and stakeholder interactions.  By linking environmental responsibility to people’s participation, community livelihoods, and scalable systems, the company continues to foster positive, long-term change for individuals and communities to maintain greener planet.   About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country’s largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 90 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water. Bisleri International has a strong presence with 130 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform – Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep. The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation, and sustainability. For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com.