The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of key industry leaders, including Ar. Neelam Manjunath, Founder, Managing Trustee and CEO, CGBMT – Centre for Green Building Material & Technology, Ar. Mahesh Bangad, Chairman, Architects, Engineers and Surveyors Association; Mr. Sandeep Chaudhry, President (WAI – Waterproofers Association of India), Mr. Kunjjaan Popat, Secretary (WAI – Waterproofers Association of India), Mr.  Brajesh Nahar, Managing Director (Aerolam Insulations Pvt Ltd), Dr Er. Amarnath CB, President,

IBIMA – India BIM Association; Brajesh Nahar, Director & COO, APL Apollo Building Product Pvt. Ltd.; Savio Lainez, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Mr. Umed Sing – Founder, (Mount Roofing and Structures Private Limited), Mr. Joseph Rozario, Director (Metal Scope (India ) Private Limited), Colorshine Coated Private Limited; along with Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India.

The opening day witnessed robust participation from architects, consultants, builders, contractors, engineers, and project owners, reflecting the growing importance of roofing within India’s evolving construction landscape. As the sector expands, roofing is no longer just a structural necessity but a strategic element influencing energy consumption, thermal efficiency, and overall building performance. Innovations such as insulated panels, cool roofing systems, metal-based solutions, and solar-integrated technologies are gaining strong traction, aligning with the industry’s sustainability goals.

Speaking on the commencement of the 23rd edition of Roof India, Mr Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said, “Day 1 at Roof India 2026 has set a strong tone for the exhibition, with an encouraging turnout and high-quality engagement from across the construction, infrastructure, and building materials ecosystem. India’s construction sector continues to grow at over 6–7% annually, with the building materials market expected to cross USD 1 trillion by 2030, driven by rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development. Within this, roofing is fast emerging as a high-impact, innovation-led category.

Mr. Mahesh Bangad, Chairman, Architects Engineers and Surveyors Association (AESA), said, “The roofing sector is undergoing a decisive shift as design, sustainability and material innovation become central to construction practices. Platforms like Roof India enable architects and engineers to engage directly with evolving technologies, especially in pre-engineered and steel structures. Such forums not only facilitate knowledge exchange but also influence how the industry responds to changing environmental and functional demands, encouraging more integrated, efficient and future-ready building practices.”

Brajesh Nahar Director & COO, APL, Apollo Building Product Ltd. said, “The construction sector is witnessing a clear shift towards integrated, steel-led building solutions, driven by infrastructure growth and evolving project demands. Steel is now central across roofing, structural systems and pre-engineered solutions, enabling faster, more efficient execution. While India is the second-largest steel producer globally, per capita consumption remains significantly lower than China, indicating strong headroom for growth. Industry platforms like Roof India continue to showcase innovations that support this transition toward modern, user-friendly construction systems.”

Amarnath CB, President, India BIM Association Digitalisation said, “It is becoming foundational to modern construction, where building plans are first translated into digital models and then used for simulation, optimisation and on-site execution. What stands out

today is a multidisciplinary perspective, which includes convergence of architecture, engineering and contracting, within a shared digital ecosystem. Platforms like Roof India enable aligning industry practices with emerging national policies and accelerating the adoption of IT-led construction approaches across infrastructure and building projects.”

Mr Gagan Saini, Group Director, Informa Markets in India, said, “The vision and direction of the event were clearly articulated, with valuable insights from industry leaders on current priorities and future expectations. Participating brands, including APL, also highlighted the innovations they are set to showcase.”

Day 1 of the expo delivered a dynamic lineup of Open Seminar & Business Meets sessions, under the theme ‘Reshaping the Future of Steel Infrastructure & Pre-Engineered Buildings’. The sessions spotlighted key advancements and trends in the roofing and construction industry. The day began with discussions on digital initiatives in construction, passive cooling strategies for hot climates, and sustainable approaches to built environments. Keynote sessions highlighted the role of sandwich panels in sustainability, high-performance roofing frameworks, and innovations in stainless steel roofing systems for demanding environments. Special sessions explored precast lightweight composites, advancements in 3D concrete printing, and future-ready infrastructure solutions. The day concluded with the 1st edition of ROOF INDIA DESIGN TITAN AWARDS, organised by the Construction & Infrastructure Forum (C&IF), celebrating innovation and excellence across the industry.

Commenting on the launch Goldee Patnaik, Head of Communications, OPPO India, said, “The F Series has earned its reputation as India’s Durable Champion, a smartphone that is built for real life. The F33 series keeps that promise and raises the bar by adding a segment-best 50MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera with 100° FOV and a suite of AI imaging features. Our effort is that durability and great photography are not a trade-off. You should not have to choose between a phone that survives a monsoon trek and one that captures every face in the group, shot at the top. The F33 Series does both, and we believe that is exactly what India’s mobile-first generation deserves.”

Segment-Best Selfie Camera with Smart Auto-Switch to 0.6x

OPPO’s Selfie Champion, the F33 Series, comes with a 50MP Ultra-Wide Front Camera with 100° Field of View, the widest and highest-resolution selfie camera in its segment. Equipped with EIS, autofocus, and the GC50F6 sensor (f/2.0, 18mm focal length, 5P lens), it captures approximately 30% more area at a one-metre distance compared to previous-generation framing, meaning more faces, more context, and more of the moment without anyone getting cropped out.

The F33 Pro’s camera intelligence goes beyond resolution. OPPO’s AI Groupfie Expert automatically widens to 0.6x the moment more than two faces enter the frame, no tap, no fumble, no missed moment. A face distortion correction algorithm simultaneously tracks up to six subjects, preserving natural proportions even at the edges of a 100° field of view. The result is group selfies that feel effortless, whether you’re packed into a rooftop in Jaipur or stretched across a viewpoint in Coorg.

Rounding out the front camera system is a Colourful Front Fill Light. The multi-colour flash delivers soft, skin-tone-friendly illumination in place of a standard white flash, particularly effective in low-light scenarios where most front cameras struggle. Selfies come out looking naturally lit, not flashed.

The rear system is anchored by a 50MP main camera built around the OV50D40 sensor a pairing that brings genuine detail retention to everyday shooting. Images hold up under cropping and reframing, making the camera as useful for reviewing a document on a client visit as it is for capturing an unplanned moment on a weekend trip. A 2MP depth camera works in the background, giving the ISP enough spatial data to render convincing portrait bokeh without manual input.

Studio-Quality Edits, Made Easy

The F33 Series introduces AI Editor, expanding OPPO’s on-device creative toolkit to make photo editing simpler and more intuitive. At its core is AI Portrait Glow, which intelligently analyses each scene and automatically applies the most suitable lighting style, whether Natural Light, Flashlight, Rim Light, or Studio Light so portraits look balanced and flattering even in challenging conditions.

OPPO’s Popout feature takes creativity further. By combining multiple photos into a single composition, it lets subjects literally step out of the frame, adding depth, dimension, and a visual punch that is hard to achieve without dedicated editing software. The results go straight from the gallery to social media.

Building on OPPO’s existing AI photography strengths, the series continues to offer familiar tools such as AI Recompose, AI Perfect Shot, AI Livephoto 2.0, AI Best Face, AI Unblur, AI Studio, AI Reflection Remover, and AI Eraser, allowing users to refine, enhance, and reframe moments effortlessly. Together, these features deliver a seamless, AI-first editing experience that helps users get share-ready results with minimal effort.

Moreover, Dual-View Video solves a problem every video creator knows choosing between the moment and the reaction to it. By recording front and rear cameras simultaneously into one combined clip, the F33 Series removes that trade-off entirely making it as capable of a storytelling device as it is a photography one.

Design Reimagined: Craftsmanship at Every Angle

The F33 Pro 5G debuts the Starry Sea Lens Module, the most significant visual redesign in F Series history. Inspired by night stars in a quiet forest, sparkling sand accents within the module create a shimmering, radiant glow. Two bold circular lenses sit in a clean vertical stack inside a large flush rounded-rectangular island alongside a distinctive ring-flash element.

At the structural level, the F33 Series is the first smartphone in its segment to feature a One-Piece Cold Carving build that creates seamless high-gloss camera platform contrasted by a matte soft-touch surround, all tied together by a skin-friendly hard coating on a single unibody piece.

This series features a 6.57-inch flat AMOLED display with 120Hz Smart Adaptive Refresh, 1400 nits’ local peak brightness, 93.5% screen-to-body ratio, 1.7mm ultra-thin bezels, and AGC DT-STAR D+ screen protection. The Pro variant comes in three colourways: Misty Forest, with an industry-first Dynamic 3D Depth coating that shifts visual depth with movement; Passion Red, inspired by supercar metal finishes; and Starry Blue, a deep, moonlit finish that sits calm and timeless in hand. The OPPO F33 is available in Pearl White and Forest Green.

Durability Champion: IP69K and 360-Degree Armour Body

The OPPO F33 Series carries the highest waterproof certification in its segment: IP69K + IP68 + IP66. Certified against high-pressure water jets, hot water up to 85°C, 10,000+ immersion cycles, and up to 12 hours of full immersion, the device is engineered to withstand 36 real-world water scenarios from monsoon rain and poolside splashes to steam and everyday cleaning solutions.

Beneath the surface, the F33 Series is protected by a Damage-Proof 360-Degree Armour Body comprising of Aerospace-Grade AM04 Alloy an ultra-high-strength aluminium alloy originally developed for aerospace applications, delivering 10% greater strength than its predecessor AM03, Multi-Layer Airbag Cushioning around critical components that act as micro shock absorbers during drops and 7 MIL-STD-810H Military Standard certifications covering extreme temperatures, humidity, rain, dust, salt mist, and sustained vibration.

Performance: Smooth, Smart, Secure and Built for India’s Heat

Both devices are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6360 MAX (6nm) processor paired with up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM. The 4,289mm² SuperCool Vapor Chamber System maintains smooth performance up to 40°C (SGS certified), supporting up to 4 hours of uninterrupted video calls and navigation through third-party apps at up to 45°C essential for India’s peak summer conditions.

ColorOS 16: AI That Works for You with Google Gemini

The F33 Series ships with ColorOS 16, bringing flagship-grade AI and productivity features to the mid-range segment for the first time. Backed by the All-new Trinity Engine and the Luminous Rendering Engine that delivers 22% improvement in overall smoothness, 26% faster app installation, 50% faster album loading, and 18% faster control response.

OPPO also offers 72-Month Fluency Protection system that ensures like-new performance for up to six years, while the industry-first Quick Switch Bar (App Hub) by Outdoor Mode consolidates the most-used apps into a single productivity hub.

ColorOS 16 brings OPPO’s AI features tools like AI Ultra Clear Document Scanner One-click document scanning with AI enhancement for text sharpness, defect removal, noise reduction, and curve correction, AI Recorder automatically generates summaries, AI Writer assists with writing across Notes and social apps. Deep integration with Google Gemini enables natural language commands to control everyday functions like Circle to Search, Settings, Calendar, and Clock. Deep integration with Google Gemini enables natural language commands to control everyday functions like Settings, Calendar, and Clock. An OLock feature that remotely lockdown system for theft protection that prevents forced exit, USB data theft, firmware flashing, and disables NFC when the device is reported lost

Reliable Connectivity

India’s first JIO-certified 5G++ smartphone, the F33 Series leverages 5G carrier aggregation for faster speeds, stronger stability, and a 100%–200% improvement in signal strength through the Hunter Antenna Architecture verified by TÜV Rheinland High Network-Performance certification.

Additionally, Quick Switch Bar on the OPPO F33 series is an industry-first App Hub designed to enhance productivity by housing a user’s most-used apps and tasks in one unified location. Included as part of the device’s Outdoor Mode, this feature allows for instant access and seamless switching between applications, facilitating smoother multitasking with fewer interruptions. For users such as field professionals, delivery personnel, or business owners who often operate under time pressure, Quick Switch Bar improves efficiency by keeping essential tools constantly within reach and minimizing interruptions during active use.

7000mAh Battery + 80W SUPERVOOC

The F33 Series packs a 7000mAh battery with 1,800-cycle durability, paired with 80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charging that takes the device from 0 to 100% in approximately 69 minutes. A 5-minute charge delivers up to 1.84 hours of YouTube streaming, 1.71 hours of Instagram browsing, 1.13 hours of WhatsApp video calling, or 1.07 hours of BGMI gaming. Additional capabilities include 10W Reverse Wired Charging to top up earbuds or accessories, and Bypass Charging for battery-safe extended gaming sessions.

Price and Availability

The OPPO F33Pro Series will be available across offline stores, OPPO E-Store, Flipkart, and Amazon from 23^rd April 2026 while F33 will be available from 29^th April 2026.

Customers can avail the following offers:

• Pre-book and first-day buyers will get bank discounts or exchange bonuses, bringing effective prices lower across all three models.
• 180 days protection for free accidental damage, liquid damage protection and free screen damage protection
• OPPO India is offering up to 10% instant cashback on leading bank cards
• Avail no-cost EMI for up to 6 months
• Paper finance EMI up to 12 months with zero down payment on select leading financiers
• Customer can also avail up to 10% exchange bonus

Specifications at a Glance

Specification	OPPO F33 Pro 5G	OPPO F33 5G
Display	6.57″ flat AMOLED, 1080×2372, 120Hz, 1400 nits	6.57″ flat AMOLED, 120Hz, 1400 nits
Processor	MediaTek Dimensity 6360 MAX (6nm)	MediaTek Dimensity 6360 MAX (6nm)
RAM & Storage	8GB+128GB / 8GB+256GB / 12GB+256GB	6GB+128GB / 8GB+128GB / 8GB+256GB
Front Camera	50MP Ultra-Wide, f/2.0, 100° FOV, OIS, AF	16MP
Rear Camera	50MP (OV50D40, f/1.8) + 2MP Portrait	50MP + 2MP
Battery	7,000mAh, 80W SUPERVOOC	7,000mAh, 80W SUPERVOOC
Water Resistance	IP69K + IP68 + IP66	IP69 + IP68 + IP66
Weight	~194g	~189g
OS	ColorOS 16 (Android-based)	ColorOS 16 (Android-based)
Connectivity	5G, JIO-certified 5G++	5G, JIO-certified 5G++
Military Grade	MIL-STD-810H	MIL-STD-810H
Colours	Misty Forest, Starry Blue, Passion Red	Forest Green, Pearl White

The facility — inaugurated by Shri Priyank Kharge, minister for Electronics, IT and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka supports the continued expansion of capabilities across AI engineering, cloud platform development, data and analytics, digital transformation and insurance operations aligned with the company’s global strategy.

The inauguration marks the opening of The Standard India’s permanent Bengaluru office facility, with plans for long-term expansion of capabilities in software engineering, total experience, AI and enterprise platforms as the company continues strengthening in-house technology expertise aligned with its long-term transformation roadmap.

“Our operations in India play an increasingly important role in our technology transformation,” said Greg Chandler, executive vice president of Information Technology at The Standard. “The launch of The Standard India strengthens our ability to fuel ongoing growth, innovate, scale technology capabilities, accelerate digital transformation and offer new solutions to our customers faster. This centre represents a long-term investment in world-class talent and reflects our confidence in India as a strategic partner in shaping the future of our business.

Since establishing its presence in India in November 2025, The Standard continues to strengthen its local leadership team across finance, human resources, talent acquisition, information technology, administration and communications.

“The Standard India is an integrated capability hub that supports engineering, data, AI and insurance operations,” said Mohua Sengupta, senior vice president and country head at The Standard India. “Our structure combines enterprise scale with startup agility, giving employees both stability and the opportunity to build greenfield capabilities while working closely with our global teams. As we continue expanding leadership roles and high-impact technology functions in India, the centre will have an important role in advancing The Standard’s long-term growth, innovation and transformation priorities.”

Strategic capability mandate
The Standard India will significantly contribute to advancing companywide priorities. It will also support the transition of select technology work from vendor-led delivery to in-house engineering teams — strengthening agility, operational efficiency and long-term innovation capabilities.

India continues to be a strategic destination for global capability centres that support financial services innovation, offering deep expertise across engineering, digital platforms and enterprise technology transformation. Bengaluru’s mature innovation ecosystem, strong academic institutions and global technology workforce make it a natural location for The Standard’s inaugural centre.

ಪ್ರತಿ ಸಂಜೆ ಉತ್ಸವ ಮೂರ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಿ ಹನುಮದ್ ವಾಹನ, ಗರುಡ ವಾಹನ, ಅನಂತ ಶೇಷ ವಾಹನ ಮತ್ತು ಕಲ್ಪ ವೃಕ್ಷ ವಾಹನಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಳ್ಳಿರಿಸಿ, ಕೀರ್ತನೆಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ದೇವಾಲಯದ ಸುತ್ತ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆ ನಡೆಯಿತು. ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆಯ ನಂತರ ನೃತ್ಯ, ನಾಟಕ ಮತ್ತು ಭಕ್ತಿ ಸಂಗೀತದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳೂ ನಡೆದವು. ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 12ರಂದು ತೆಪ್ಪೋತ್ಸವದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹಬ್ಬಕ್ಕೆ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಸಮಾಪ್ತಿ ನಿಡಲಾಯಿತು. ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಧಾ ಕೃಷ್ಣಚಂದ್ರರನ್ನು ಸುಗಂಧಭರಿತ ಹೂಮಾಲೆಗಳಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಿದ ಪುಷ್ಪ ಪಲ್ಲಕಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವಾಲಯದ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿಗೆ ಕರೆತರಲಾಯಿತು. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ದೀಪಾಲಂಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಉತ್ಸಾಹಭರಿತ ಕೀರ್ತನೆಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ತೆಪ್ಪೋತ್ಸವದ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

ಈ ಉತ್ಸವಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆಸರಾಂತ ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ ಗುರುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಗಣ್ಯರು ಆಗಮಿಸಿ ಮೆರಗು ನೀಡಿದರು. ಉಡುಪಿಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಪುತ್ತಿಗೆ ಮಠದ 30ನೇ ಪೀಠಾಧಿಪತಿ ಪರಮಪೂಜ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ ಸುಗುಣೇಂದ್ರ ತೀರ್ಥ ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ, ಶ್ರೀ ಕಾಣಿಯೂರು ಮಠದ 30ನೇ ಪೀಠಾಧಿಪತಿ ಪರಮಪೂಜ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಲ್ಲಭ ತೀರ್ಥ ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ, ವಿದ್ವಾನ್ ಶ್ರೀ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಪೂರ್ಣಪ್ರಜ್ಞ ವಿದ್ಯಾಪೀಠದ ಪ್ರಾಂಶುಪಾಲರಾದ ವಿದ್ವಾನ್ ಶ್ರೀ ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದು ತಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರವಚನಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶನ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಇಸ್ಕಾನ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಧುಪಂಡಿತ ದಾಸ್ ಅವರು ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಧಾ ಕೃಷ್ಣಚಂದ್ರರ 29ನೇ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮೋತ್ಸವವು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಸಂತೋಷ ಮತ್ತು ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆಯಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿಸಿದೆ. ಕಳೆದ 29 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ   ಗಿರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಅದೃಷ್ಟ. ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳು, ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಮತ್ತು ಯುವಕರು ಸೇರಿ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಭಕ್ತರು ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನಮಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಖುಷಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಬ್ರಹ್ಮೋತ್ಸವದಂತಹ ಹಬ್ಬಗಳು ಜನರನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಸೇವೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಭಕ್ತಿಯ ನಂಟನ್ನು ಗಟ್ಟಿಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಧಾ ಕೃಷ್ಣಚಂದ್ರರು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ, ಶಾಂತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಭಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ದಯಪಾಲಿಸಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ” ಎಂದರು.

Naveen Shankar, film actor & Kannada Filmfare award winner, commended the initiative of Jain University and the festival, stating “Opportunities like these film festivals remind us that cinema is not just about big screens, but about ideas, passion, and the courage to start. What starts as a small effort in a college campus can grow into something truly impactful. It’s encouraging to see students being given the space to explore their creativity and build a voice of their own.” Further he added, “short films, in particular, offer an incredible platform for aspiring filmmakers to experiment, understand the craft, and experience the realities of cinema at a foundational level. I am truly impressed by the initiative taken by Jain University to create such platform of opportunities to showcase creative talents and connect enthusiastic students with film industry.”

Underscoring the importance of creativity and its origin in the category of short films, Dr. Dinesh Nilkant, Pro-Vice Chancellor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) “Creativity makes a difference with the best talents always budding from the colleges and universities and not from big studios. We at Jain University are building such platforms to nurture future film makers.”

Accentuating the development of short films from a base to important platforms, Dr. Kiran S Deputy-Dean of Academics, Jain (Deemed-to-be University) stated “Short films are no longer stepping stones, they are powerful storytelling formats in their own right.”

Dr. Sangeeta Devanathan, Deputy-Dean of Academics, Professor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) highlighted the importance of critical thinking in short films stating “Critical thinking requires us to think creatively.” She further compared the current scenario of short films to mainstream films stating that “Gone are the days of movies running two to three hours giving the audience a compelling reason to stay, however now, the short film format is truly the future of storytelling in this art form.”

Dr. Bhargavi D. Hemmige, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Jain (Deemed-to-be University) reiterated, “The third edition of Jain University short film festival received an impressive number of over 90 short film registrations from across India, reflecting its growing reach and recognition among emerging filmmakers nationwide.” She further added, “notably, JUSFF’26 received submissions associated with reputed names in the film industry, including Vijay Sethupathi Productions and Ravi Basrur, renowned music director of KGF and Salaar, among others.”

Reflecting on his experience as the Jury, Mr. Naveen Dwarakanath Producer, Director, Theatre Actor and Writer, “As a jury member, I’ve watched several films and what stands out is the evolving storytelling quality among young creators; Cinema connects people, it builds emotional bonds, even within families. That’s the beauty of it!” Applauding the event, he stated “This is not just about organizing an event, it truly feels like a festival. From start to finish, the process is thoughtfully executed, and the quality of films has seen a remarkable leap for the film industry.”

The first day of the event showcased the talents and skills under the student category by screening 12 shortlisted short films in JUSFF, a platform dedicated to the upcoming filmmakers. The second day will feature the professional category short films, followed by valedictory announcing the winners under the following categories: Best Actor Male, Best Actor Female, Best Cinematography, Best Film & Best Director for both the categories.

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಜಯನಗರದ ಶಾಸಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸಿ.ಕೆ. ರಾಮಮೂರ್ತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಧರ್ಮಪತ್ನಿ, ಮಾಜಿ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾದ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ನಾಗರತ್ನಾ ರಾಮಮೂರ್ತಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಆಗಮಿಸಿದರು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದ ಆಯೋಜಕರಾಗಿ ಮಾಜಿ ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ್ ರಾಜು, ವಾರ್ಡ್ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಆನಂದ್ ಬಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಂಘಟಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.

ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಧನೆಗೈದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ಸನ್ಮಾನಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಡಾ. ದೀಪ ದೇವರಾಜ್ (MBBS, MD, FICC, FEM), ನೃತ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಪತಿ ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ ಮಂದಸ್ಮಿತಾ ಭಟ್, ಗಾಯನ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ಗಾಯಕಿ ಚಂದ್ರಿಕಾ ಗುರುರಾಜ್, ಯೋಗ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣವೇಣಿ, ಸಂಗೀತ-ಗಮಕ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಮಲ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಮಾಜ ಸೇವಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ನಾಗರತ್ನಾ ರಾಮಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಗೌರವಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ರಾಧಾ ಕೇಶವ ಹೆಬ್ಬಾರ್ ನಿರೂಪಿಸಿದರು. ಶ್ರೀ ತೀರ್ಥಹಳ್ಳಿ ರಮೇಶ್ ಮತ್ತು ತಂಡದಿಂದ ಗಾಯನ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ, ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಂದ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಮಂದಸ್ಮಿತಾ ಭಟ್ ಅವರ ನೃತ್ಯ ತಂಡದಿಂದ ನೃತ್ಯ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ ನಡೆಯಿತು.

Commenting on the initiative, Manish Khandelwal, Managing Director, Haworth India, said, “When women lead with intention, progress accelerates. Through ‘Give to Gain’, Haworth brought together diverse industry perspectives to examine how inclusive leadership and workplace design can move beyond social intent to become performance drivers for organisations. Conversations around mentorship, collaboration and return-to-work pathways are critical to building workplaces where women can contribute meaningfully across different stages of their professional journeys.”

The Bengaluru panel, hosted at Haworth India’s Indiranagar experiential centre, featured Varsha Kempaiah, Director, Spacelab at RC Architecture; Devanshi Patel, Corporate Real Estate Leader; Reema Bhandari, Director at M Moser and Aruna R, Director at Space Matrix. Opening with reflections on Personal Journeys and Turning Points, speakers discussed early influences, defining breakthrough moments and professional challenges that shaped their leadership approach.

The discussion then progressed to Winning in the Workplace, focusing on how mentorship, collaboration, professional networks and structured support systems such as return-to-work programmes and knowledge sharing strengthen leadership capability and business performance. In the third arc, Workplaces That Help Women Thrive, the panel explored how inclusive policies, leadership culture and supportive workplace solutions enable creativity, trust, innovation and sustained participation.

The final segment, How Workplaces Can Actively Support Women, highlighted practical steps such as fostering inclusive decision-making, implementing balanced policy frameworks, and encouraging leadership behaviours that create measurable impact. The session concluded with Nuthan Prabhu, Associate at M Moser, sharing perspectives on resilience.

Commenting during the discussion, Reema Bhandari, Director, M Moser, said, The workplace today is far more than a physical setting, it is a strategic enabler of culture, performance, and growth. The real opportunity is to create environments that are human-centric, adaptable, and aligned with the changing needs of both people and business.
As part of a larger initiative, the ‘Give to Gain’ leadership roundtable series was hosted across five major cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai engaging a diverse cross-section of industry leaders and fostering meaningful dialogue around inclusive leadership and workplace transformation.

The ‘Give to Gain’ theme positioned inclusive workplace design as a strategic driver of productivity and innovation, while reinforcing Haworth India’s role in advancing cross-sector leadership dialogue across the architecture and corporate real estate ecosystem.
.
Visit: http://haworth.com/

This year’s SprintFest is expected to draw over 3,000 runners across three categories namely, 1K, 3K, 5K, and 10K, making it one of the most inclusive community sporting events in the city.

Senior students at The Brigade Schools will take the lead in organising SprintFest 2026, from outreach and logistics to fundraising and will gain invaluable hands-on experience in event management and social impact. The students aim to collect around ₹40 lakhs from participation and related sponsorships for the run, which will be directed towards supporting the health and education of marginalised children.

Ms. Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director, Brigade Group, who is the Brand Ambassador for SprintFest 2026 unveiled the official race-day T-Shirt and medal. To give serious runners ample time to train, The Brigade Schools have opened registrations at www.brigadeschools.edu.in

Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of the International Institute of Hotel Management, addressed the gathering virtually, said, “At IHM, we take immense pride in fostering an environment where women are not just participants, but leaders. Today, we celebrate the incredible professional and personal milestones of the achievers on our campus. By providing a gourmet hospitality experience curated by our students, we are not just hosting an event; we are honouring the spirit of leadership that defines the modern woman in the hospitality industry and beyond.”

Hon’ble Shabinaa Sultana, Honorary Consul, Republic of Tunisia, who attended the event, said, “Emotional well-being is not a gender-specific issue; it is a human requirement that must be regulated and prioritized across every aspect of our lives. We must move past the social stigma surrounding mental health and understand that seeking help is not an act of escape, but a necessary step toward healing, no different than any other medical prescription. By learning to tackle our emotions rather than suppressing them and by supporting one another across the physical and emotional realms, we create a stronger, more balanced society where every professional can truly thrive.”

The panel discussion addressed the often-overlooked challenges women encounter while balancing personal well-being with professional demands in today’s high-performance environments. It aimed to foster awareness, encourage open dialogue and highlight actionable approaches to achieving holistic health.

Speaking about the importance empathy at workplace, Ms. Sanchari Chowdhury, said, “To create a healthy and productive workplace, we must foster a culture rooted in empathy and flexibility. True flexibility should never be penalized; rather, it should be built on a foundation of faith in our people, our organizational structure and our collective ability to deliver results. When we move away from rigid monitoring and instead trust in the outcome, we bridge the gap between simple presence and genuine performance, creating an environment where every professional can thrive.”

Esteemed panelists from Industry shared valuable perspectives on managing stress, maintaining hormonal balance, improving nutrition and building emotional resilience. The discussion also underscored the importance of supportive institutional and workplace ecosystems in enabling women to succeed in demanding roles.

Reaffirming its commitment to women’s empowerment, IIHM emphasized the role of education, dialogue and community engagement in driving meaningful change. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students, faculty and industry professionals, making it a significant and impactful observance of International Women’s Day.

The celebrations concluded on a high note with a thoughtfully curated eight-course menu on Indian Progressive cuisine , meticulously prepared by third-year IIHM students. The menu reflected both creativity and culinary excellence, leaving attendees with a memorable and delightful experience.

The new center will serve as ScaleFlux’s India Design and Innovation Center focused on advancing next-generation storage technologies for Al, cloud, and hyperscale infrastructure. The India team will play a key role in global product development, contributing to areas such as ASIC/SOC design, storage architecture, performance optimization, and platform validation.

With India emerging as a key hub for engineering talent and digital infrastructure, ScaleFlux’s Bengaluru center will support the development of high-performance, efficient storage solutions for data-intensive workloads across enterprises and hyperscalers. As part of its expansion, the company has previously invested $30 million in India and plans to invest an additional $30 million over the next 2-3 years, while also hiring 100+ engineers during this period. The center is now operational, marking a significant step in ScaleFlux’s global innovation and engineering roadmap.

“India represents a critical pillar in our global innovation strategy, and the launch of our Design and Innovation Center in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone in our growth journey. With the rapid evolution of Al, cloud, and data-intensive applications, the need for intelligent and efficient storage infrastructure has never been greater. India’s strong engineering talent ecosystem enables us to accelerate innovation and build next-generation storage technologies,” said Hao Zhong, CEO and co-founder, ScaleFlux.

“The launch of our Bengaluru center marks an important step in building ScaleFlux’s engineering presence in India,” said Romesh Mehta, Managing Director, ScaleFlux India Private Limited. “Our focus will be on developing high-impact capabilities across chip design, system integration, and storage performance, while creating opportunities for specialized talent to work on complex, real-world infrastructure challenges.”

This expansion also reflects ScaleFlux’s commitment to building a strong engineering ecosystem in India, creating opportunities for specialized talent in semiconductor design, storage architecture, and system-level optimization. As the company scales its presence, it aims to foster a high-impact innovation environment that not only supports global product development but also contributes to India’s growing role in advanced technology and infrastructure innovation.