Kelvinator Brings Onam to Life on Thiruvananthapuram’s MG Road with a Grand 3D Anamorphic Billboard

Kelvinator Brings Onam to Life on Thiruvananthapuram’s MG Road with a Grand 3D Anamorphic Billboard

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 17: This Onam, Kelvinator, the trusted name synonymous with cooling comfort for generations, has turned one of Thiruvananthapuram’s busiest landmarks into a canvas of Kerala’s most cherished festival. Installed on MG Road, the brand’s new 3D anamorphic billboard reimagines the joy, colour and tradition of Onam through a striking sequence of hyper-realistic visuals, seamlessly weaving in Kelvinator’s range of refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines.

The 30-second anamorphic experience opens with a traditional snake boat gliding forward, its oars cutting through water as splashes appear to break through the screen. As it drifts on, the boat reveals a Kelvinator refrigerator wrapped like a cherished Onam gift in flowing silk, which is swept away by the wind to unveil the appliance. The refrigerator door opens to release fresh coconuts, bananas, pineapples and other harvest produce, swirling into a graceful whirl that transforms into a ribbon of cool blue silk and morphs into a Kelvinator air conditioner, sending out a refreshing breeze and drifting flower petals. The petals then weave themselves into a golden-bordered Kasavu Mundu, rising crisp and bright from a Kelvinator washing machine. In the final flourish, the mundu unfurls into a shimmering stage, bringing the entire Kelvinator range together, framed by the brand’s Onam offer and branding.

The billboard captures the essence of Onam through symbols deeply rooted in Kerala’s cultural heritage—from the Vallam Kali and the abundance of the harvest season to the refreshing monsoon breeze and the timeless elegance of the Kasavu Mundu. These elements come together seamlessly with Kelvinator’s promise of dependable cooling and home comfort.

As part of the Onam celebrations, Kelvinator is offering assured cashback of up to ₹7,500 on select refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines. Through this festive offer, Kelvinator invites consumers across Kerala to celebrate Onam in true Kerala style while upgrading their homes with trusted, high-performance appliances.

The MG Road billboard is designed to draw attention through the festive season, with the immersive visual experience generating strong visibility and interest among residents and visitors passing through one of Thiruvananthapuram’s busiest stretches. The activation forms part of Kelvinator’s broader Onam campaign, which spans retail and digital media across Kerala.

Worldmark Gurugram Lights Up Independence Day with High-Energy Performance by MJ5

Gurugram, 17th August, 2026 : This Independence Day, Worldmark Gurugram, Sector 65, a marquee mixed-use development by BGRE, formerly known as Brookfield Properties, brought the festive spirit to life with an evening of music, dance and celebration.

At the heart of the festivities was a live performance by MJ5, one of India’s most celebrated dance crews. Taking centre stage with its signature blend of moonwalk, popping, locking, animation and Bollywood choreography, the group delivered a high-energy performance that drew enthusiastic crowds throughout the evening.

The celebration welcomed MJ5 fans, live-performance enthusiasts, families and visitors, creating a lively setting to come together and mark the occasion. The performance and festive atmosphere added to the sense of community across the destination, making for a memorable evening ahead of Independence Day.

Through a year-round calendar of cultural, entertainment and community-led programming, Worldmark Gurugram continues to create experiences that extend beyond work, shopping and dining. These initiatives contribute to its evolving role as a vibrant lifestyle destination in NCR, offering people more ways to connect, engage and spend time together.

Govt to Set Up High-Level Panel to Review Banking Sector: Sitharaman

New Delhi, August 17: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government will soon constitute a high-level committee to comprehensively review India’s banking sector and align it with the country’s next phase of economic growth.

Addressing the two-day PSB Confluence in New Delhi, Sitharaman said the announcement of the high-powered committee on ‘Banking for Viksit Bharat’ is expected shortly. The panel will examine the banking sector and submit its recommendations to the government.

The committee was proposed by Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2026-27 to assess the sector’s requirements as India moves towards its long-term development goals. Its mandate includes safeguarding financial stability, financial inclusion and consumer protection while supporting the next phase of growth.

The proposed review is aimed at ensuring that India’s banking system has the scale and capacity required to meet the country’s growing financing needs. Sitharaman had earlier said the exercise should not be viewed narrowly through the lens of public sector bank mergers.

The government has also highlighted the need to strengthen the role of banks and financial institutions in providing adequate credit to businesses, infrastructure projects and the wider economy as India works towards becoming a developed economy.

The proposed panel comes at a time when the government has been focusing on strengthening the financial sector, improving the efficiency of public sector institutions and expanding access to credit.

The Budget had also proposed restructuring the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to improve scale and efficiency in the public sector non-banking financial company segment.

The committee’s recommendations are expected to provide a roadmap for further reforms in India’s banking sector and help align financial-sector capacity with the country’s long-term growth ambitions.

India’s Prime Office Market Rents Surge Up to 10% on Strong Demand

New Delhi, August 17: India’s leading office markets continued to witness strong demand in the second quarter of 2026, with prime office rents rising sharply across major cities, driven by sustained leasing activity, expansion by Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and demand for high-quality commercial spaces.

According to a Knight Frank report, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR together recorded around 9.8 million sq ft of office leasing in Q2 2026. While leasing moderated from the exceptionally high levels seen in 2025, occupier demand remained robust despite more than 7 million sq ft of new office completions.

Bengaluru recorded the strongest rental growth among the major markets, with prime office rents increasing 10.7 per cent year-on-year. Delhi-NCR followed with a 7.6 per cent rise, while Mumbai recorded 4 per cent growth.

Prime office rents in Bengaluru reached around Rs 163 per sq ft per month during the quarter, compared with Rs 148 per sq ft per month a year earlier.

The strong rental momentum reflects continued demand for premium office space, particularly from GCCs, technology companies, financial services firms and flexible workspace operators.

GCCs remained a key driver of occupier activity across India’s major office markets. At the same time, flexible workspace operators accounted for more than 30 per cent of leasing volumes across Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, highlighting the growing adoption of flexible workplace strategies by large organisations.

The broader office market also remained resilient. A separate Cushman & Wakefield report showed that gross leasing across India’s top eight office markets stood at about 21.4 million sq ft in Q2 2026, while net absorption was around 11.6 million sq ft. New Grade A completions stood at approximately 12.2 million sq ft.

The sustained demand comes despite global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, indicating that India’s office sector continues to benefit from structural factors such as the expansion of GCCs, India’s talent pool and increasing demand for high-quality workplaces.

With occupiers increasingly prioritising premium and future-ready office buildings, rental growth is expected to remain supported in key micro-markets, particularly where supply remains constrained and demand continues to outpace availability.

Anurag Jain Assumes Charge as NITI Aayog CEO

New Delhi, August 17: Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain on Monday took charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, marking his return to the Central government after serving as Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh.

Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was appointed CEO of NITI Aayog by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in July. His tenure will run for an overall period of two years, or until further orders, subject to the terms specified in the government order.

The appointment comes as NITI Aayog continues to play a central role in policy coordination, economic reforms and Centre-State cooperation. Jain brings extensive administrative experience in infrastructure, industrial policy, finance, logistics, urban development and public administration.

During his career, Jain has held several important positions at both the Centre and in Madhya Pradesh. He has also been associated with major government initiatives, including work related to infrastructure planning and implementation.

As CEO, Jain will oversee the day-to-day functioning of NITI Aayog and coordinate with Union ministries, state governments and other stakeholders on key development priorities. His responsibilities are expected to include supporting policy formulation, monitoring flagship programmes and advancing reforms linked to infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics and inclusive growth.

Jain succeeds Nidhi Chhibber, who had been holding additional charge of the NITI Aayog CEO post following the completion of B.V.R. Subrahmanyam’s tenure in February 2026.

His appointment is being viewed as a move that could strengthen NITI Aayog’s focus on implementation-oriented governance and closer coordination between policy design and execution as India pursues its long-term Viksit Bharat@2047 development agenda.

Shremoha Launches as India’s Premium Longevity Living Platform, Announces Two Senior Living Partnerships in Pune and Gurugram

Mumbai, Aug 17: Shremoha, India’s premium senior independent living platform, was officially launched at the Longevity Summit India 2026 held at Fairmont Mumbai. This marked a significant step in the evolution of senior living in India. Formed in July 2026 through a strategic partnership between Shrem Group and Emoha, a part of Age Care Labs—the parent company of Emoha and Epoch Elder Care—Shremoha aims to redefine senior living by establishing new gold standards in geriatric-grade personalised care, preventive health and wellness within hospitality-led longevity ecosystems designed to help young elders live with greater independence, purpose and dignity.

As part of the launch, Shremoha announced its first two flagship development partnerships – Kekarav by TRU Realty in Pune and KREEVA in Gurugram – marking its entry into two of India’s fastest-growing markets for premium senior living. The projects are designed for independent seniors seeking a premium, active and socially connected lifestyle while having access to wellness, hospitality and support services that can evolve with their needs.

Speaking about the two projects, Saumyajit Roy, Co-founder & CEO, Emoha Elder Care and Co-founder of Shremoha, said, “Shremoha is the first expression of a vision we have believed in for a long time—that the future of senior living is not about care alone but about creating places where people can continue to live with purpose, independence and meaningful human connections. Through our years of taking care of elders at Emoha, we have understood what seniors truly value. Shremoha brings those learnings together with hospitality and thoughtful community design to build environments where life continues to flourish. Our first projects in Pune and Gurugram are only the beginning of this larger journey.” 

Nitan Chhatwal, MD Shrem Group and Co-founder of Shremoha, said, “Senior living is no longer the destination after ageing. It is the platform that enables longevity. With Shremoha, our vision is to build communities that are designed not around limitations but around possibility—where hospitality, wellness, thoughtful design and operational excellence come together to create a richer way of living. We believe India has an opportunity to set a new global benchmark for longevity living, and Shremoha is our commitment towards building that future.”

The launch took place during the Longevity Summit India 2026, where Shremoha was unveiled following a thought leadership panel titled “The New Luxury of Longevity: How Senior Living is Becoming the World’s Most Powerful Platform for Healthy Ageing”. The discussion brought together leaders from real estate, hospitality, healthcare and geriatric care to examine how senior living is evolving globally—from a real estate and care proposition into integrated longevity ecosystems that combine preventive healthcare, movement, nutrition, purpose, community and technology-enabled care. 

The first two partnerships reflect this philosophy across two distinct markets. Both projects will combine geriatric-grade personalised care with a hospitality-led independent living experience, offering preventive health and wellness programmes, curated dining, resident-led experiences and integrated support designed to evolve with residents’ changing needs.

Commenting on the strategic alliance, Sujay Kalele, Managing Director, TRU Realty, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Shremoha to bring a world-class senior living experience to the vibrant community of Kekarav Township at Bavdhan, Pune. This collaboration perfectly aligns with our vision of creating thoughtfully designed, life-enriching spaces that prioritise comfort, community and well-being. By combining TRU Realty’s development expertise with Shremoha’s dedicated focus on senior care, we aim to deliver 250 thoughtfully designed residences that set a new benchmark for active, independent and secure senior living in Pune.” 

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Gautam Kanodia, Founder, KREEVA, said, “We are pleased to welcome Shremoha as our senior care partner for our upcoming multigenerational project in Sector 70A, Gurugram. For us, multigenerational living is about bringing generations closer while giving each one the independence, comfort, dignity and care they deserve. With Emoha’s expertise in senior care, we look forward to creating an environment where families can live, connect and thrive together. This partnership reflects our belief that the homes of tomorrow should be designed not just for every stage of life but for every generation.”

With Kekarav in Pune and KREEVA in Gurugram, Shremoha is establishing its presence across two key urban markets. The destinations are envisioned as thoughtfully designed communities where residents can pursue active lifestyles, build social connections and participate in meaningful experiences while benefiting from an ecosystem of hospitality, wellness and care.

With its premium senior independent living proposition, Shremoha aims to establish a new benchmark for senior living in India, one that brings together healthspan, independence, community, hospitality and purpose. Through Kekarav, KREEVA and its evolving portfolio, the platform seeks to create a new generation of communities where seniors can continue to live actively, independently and meaningfully.