ECLAT Health Achieves HITRUST r2 Certification, Demonstrating Commitment to Cybersecurity and Information Protection

Technology

ECLAT Health Achieves HITRUST r2 Certification, Demonstrating Commitment to Cybersecurity and Information Protection

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

HITRUST Certification validates ECLAT’s evaire platform and healthcare performance solutions are meeting rigorous cybersecurity and data protection standards through independent assessment and assurance

Herndon, Va. (June 11, 2026) — ECLAT Health Solutions, a leading risk adjustment and coding technology partner for Medicare, Medicaid and ACA plans, today announced its AI-powered evaire risk adjustment platform and healthcare performance solutions have earned certified status from HITRUST for cybersecurity and information protection.

The HITRUST r2 Certification demonstrates that ECLAT has met the requirements defined by a leading cybersecurity assurance leader, confirming that strong controls are in place to protect sensitive data and manage risk effectively.

Built on the HITRUST Assurance Program, this achievement reflects independent third-party testing, centralized quality assurance, and certification backed by HITRUST’s Cyber Threat-Adaptive engine. These elements ensure continuous alignment with the latest threat intelligence and evolving standards across NIST, ISO, and OWASP.

“As cybersecurity expectations rise, our stakeholders expect credible, validated assurance,” said Gabe Stein, CEO at ECLAT. “Achieving HITRUST Certification reinforces our ongoing commitment to protecting data, managing risk, and maintaining the trust of those we serve.”

“The HITRUST Assurance Program is rigorous and reliable because of the comprehensiveness of control requirements, depth of review, and consistency of oversight,” said Bimal Sheth, EVP, Standards Development & Assurance Operations at HITRUST. “HITRUST Certification demonstrates ECLAT is taking the most proactive approach to cybersecurity, data protection, and risk management.”

Education

Odisha Govt Pulls Up Colleges Over Low Usage of Free Wi-Fi, Orders Immediate Corrective Measures

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Bhubaneswar, June 11 (UDN): Concerned over the underutilisation of free Wi-Fi services in higher educational institutions, the Odisha Government has directed colleges and universities across the state to take immediate measures to increase student engagement with the facility.

The Higher Education Department observed that despite the availability of free internet access in campuses, daily data consumption by students remains significantly below expectations in several institutions. The government has expressed concern that the low usage is preventing students from fully benefiting from digital learning resources and online academic opportunities.

Odisha Govt Pushes Colleges to Boost Use of Free Wi-Fi Facilities

Representational image

As part of its digital education initiative, the state government had established free Wi-Fi infrastructure in 130 higher educational institutions to bridge the digital divide and provide students with seamless access to e-learning platforms, research materials, online journals and educational content.

In a recent communication, the department instructed college authorities to identify the factors responsible for the poor utilisation of the service and implement corrective measures without delay. Institutions have been asked to create greater awareness among students regarding the availability and benefits of the facility.

The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) has recommended organising orientation programmes for both new and existing students, along with campus-wide awareness campaigns. Colleges have also been directed to prominently display Wi-Fi login details, registration procedures and usage guidelines at strategic locations such as libraries, laboratories, classrooms and student common areas.

To encourage meaningful use of the internet facility, faculty members have been advised to integrate digital learning tools into classroom teaching. Students should be encouraged to access online journals, e-books, open educational resources and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to enhance their academic learning and research capabilities.

Officials said improving the utilisation of free Wi-Fi services is crucial to achieving the government’s vision of creating digitally empowered campuses and ensuring that public investments in educational technology deliver maximum benefits to students.

Business

MSDE to Convene First Meeting of SARTHI to Drive Holistic Transformation of India’s ITI Ecosystem

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Mumbai, June 11: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will convene the first meeting of the SARTHI — Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation, on 12 June 2026 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The meeting will be chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, bringing together senior representatives from Central and State Governments, industry, regulatory institutions and the skilling ecosystem to deliberate on the future direction of vocational training in India.

SARTHI has been established as an apex advisory mechanism under CTS to create a structured platform for strategic dialogue, policy convergence and coordinated action among key stakeholders involved in vocational education and training. The initiative aims to strengthen Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and ensure that vocational training systems remain aligned with evolving industry requirements and future workforce needs.

CTS continues to serve as one of India’s largest institutional skill development frameworks and currently operates through a network of 13,888 ITIs across the country, including 3,326 Government and 10,562 Private ITIs, delivering training across 169 NSQF-compliant trades. As the skill ecosystem expands and labour market requirements evolve, SARTHI aims to provide long-term strategic guidance for reforms across curriculum, assessment, governance, quality assurance, institutional development and industry engagement.

In this inaugural meeting of SARTHI, the Council will deliberate on a comprehensive agenda covering critical areas of vocational training reform. Key discussion areas include the current status of the Craftsmen Training Scheme, implementation of the National ITI Grading Framework, institutionalisation of the Annual All India ITI Skill Competition, strengthening assessment processes through technology-enabled reforms, increasing women’s participation in ITIs, instructor development and qualification standards, expanding access pathways, and improving institutional governance and industry linkages.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for participating States and stakeholders to share implementation experiences and discuss approaches for improving quality, responsiveness and outcomes across the ITI ecosystem.

Through SARTHI, MSDE seeks to establish a sustained institutional mechanism that enables stronger Centre–State coordination, structured industry participation and informed policymaking to support a more future-ready, inclusive and outcome-oriented vocational training system for India.

Education

AI-Powered Railway Control System for Efficient Urban Train Operation

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Researchers develop a new reinforcement learning framework for precise, real-time, and sustainable automatic railway control

AI-Powered Railway Control System for Efficient Urban Train Operation

Urban railways play a key role in sustainable transportation systems. However, achieving precise and energy-efficient train control under diverse operating conditions of urban railways remains a challenge. Researchers from Japan have now developed a recurrent reinforcement learning framework for urban railway speed control that combines expert-guided learning and safety filtering. The proposed method demonstrated stable, real-time operation and energy-saving performance, highlighting its potential for next-generation automatic train operation systems.

As cities continue to expand,railways are expected to become an important component of urban mobility systems. Compared to automobiles and air transport, railways are highly energy efficient and produce relatively low environmental impacts and therefore form an important component of sustainable transportation systems. Thus, researchers have been exploring advanced train control technologies for further improvement of operational efficiency, passenger comfort, and punctuality while reducing energy consumption.

In this context, Professor Masafumi Miyatake from the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences in collaboration with doctoral studentMingyu Lyu from Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University,investigated a new AI-based framework for urban railway speed control. The findings were published in Volume 14 of IEEE Access on March 25, 2026.

Reinforcement learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) which has attracted attention as a promising approach for automatic train operations as it enables an AI agent to learn optimal control strategies by interacting repeatedly with an environment and improving its behavior through trial and error. However, implementing this in railway operation presents several practical challenges including incomplete information about operating conditions, train inertia, braking delays, and strict safety requirements.

To overcome this, researchers developed a recurrent reinforcement learning framework based on Recurrent Soft Actor–Critic (RSAC) algorithm. RSAC is an AI method that enables train control systems to learn from past driving patterns and adapt to changing railway conditions over time.

“Our reinforcement learning-based algorithm was capable of adapting train driving control to a wide range of track and rolling stock conditions,” explains Prof. Miyatake.

Unlike conventional reinforcement learning methods,the proposed approach used arecurrent neural network that can retain information from previous train states. This allowed the system to capture time-based relationships associated with train operation, such as traction response delays, braking history, and inertial effects, thereby improving decision-making under partially observable conditions.The team also used a training approach that allowed the AI system to first learn from examples of expert driving behavior before learning on its own. By studying these optimized driving patterns early in training, the AI was able to learn faster, make better decisions, and develop more stable and efficient train control behavior.

Apart from this, the team also integrated a safety filter into the framework. The safety filter would override potentially unsafe control commands generated by the AI policy and ensure compliance with the operational constraints such as speed limits and braking feasibility. This mechanism also helped ensure safe operation when the learned policy encountered unfamiliar situations.

The proposed framework was evaluated through various simulations of urban railway operations over approximately two-kilometer sections between stations. The simulation environment was designed to closely resemble real-world railway conditions, including uphill and downhill tracks, changing speed limits, and required train arrival times.

Additionally, the proposed AI framework was also compared with several other widely used reinforcement learning algorithms. These included Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG), Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3), and Soft Actor–Critic (SAC), which are commonly used to train autonomous decision-making systems.

“Among all the methods tested, our developed frameworklearned faster and performed better than all tested methods,” explains Prof. Miyatake.

The research also demonstrated strong energy efficiency. While dynamic programming achieved the theoretical minimum energy consumption under ideal conditions, the developed system attained comparable performance while remaining suitable for real-time operation. Meanwhile, conventional reinforcement learning approaches exhibited less stable behavior and higher energy consumption.

The findings suggest that this framework could help introduce a cleaner and more convenient public transportation by facilitating accurate and energy-efficient train operation at relatively low cost. The study refines the advantages of railways as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation system contributing towards a sustainable future. Looking ahead, the study may contribute to enhancing the role of railways as a sustainable transportation system—supporting climate change mitigation and sustainable urban development.

The findings also highlight the potential of AI-driven railway systems to support safer, greener, and more reliable urban transportation in future smart cities.

 

Education

RMetS Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 Opens for Entries

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

The world’s favourite weather photography competition returns today as the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) officially opens entries for the Weather Photographer of the

Year 2026. Now entering its second decade, the competition invites photographers from around the globe to submit striking images that capture the power, beauty and impact of

weather. It celebrates outstanding photography that showcases both dramatic weather events and the growing influence of climate change.

The dedicated Climate Award also returns for 2026, recognising images that connect weather with wider environmental change. As a visual medium, photography offers a

powerful way to communicate complex scientific ideas and engage global audiences.

RMetS Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 Opens for Entries

Prof Liz Bentley FRMetS, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said:

 “The Weather Photographer of the Year competition continues to showcase the remarkable ways in which weather shapes our world, from moments of natural beauty to events of significant impact. As our climate changes, these images play an increasingly important role in helping people understand and engage with the science behind weather and climate.”

The competition is free to enter and open to photographers of all levels, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic amateurs.

The 2026 categories include:

 • Weather Photographer of the Year – awarded to the most striking image of weather in action (£1,500 prize).

 • Mobile Weather Photographer of the Year – celebrating the best images captured on a smartphone or tablet (£500 prize).

 • Climate Award – recognising photography that tells a compelling story about our changing climate (£500 prize).

 • Public Favourite – decided by a global public vote.

 Key Dates

• Entries open: 11 June – 20 August 2026

• Shortlist announcement and public vote: 22 October 2026

• Winners announced: 17 November 2026

Business

Autodesk Bets on Digital-First India: Revamps Autodesk store to a self-serve platform for country’s next gen creators and builders

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

New Delhi, India  June 11: Autodesk today announced a significant evolution of the Autodesk Store in India, transforming it into a full self–serve procurement platform designed to make professional design and make technology more accessible to startups, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the country. The move underscores Autodesk’s intent towards a digital–first go-to-market model, simplifying how customers discover, evaluate, purchase, and manage its Design and Make solutions.

India now has 958 million active internet users, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India‘s latest edition of the Internet in India report, making it one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing digital economies. Given the scale of internet adoption, professional technology purchase experience of Autodesk’s creator community has fundamentally evolved as well. By simplifying access to professional-grade technology and introducing new purchasing and consumption options, the reimagined Autodesk Store aims to lower barriers for businesses of all sizes, particularly emerging businesses and first-time users looking to innovate, design and build for India or Viksit Bharat.

Since its launch in 2017, the platform has steadily grown into one of Autodesk‘s most strategically important customer acquisition channels in India. Today, startups, freelancers, and emerging businesses account for more than 50% of first-time customers on the digital Store reflecting both the scale of India‘s entrepreneurial class and the degree to which digital–first procurement has become the default for a new generation of professionals.

This shift is equally evident beyond traditional metro markets, where growing entrepreneurial activity and rising digital adoption are creating new opportunities for innovation with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities accounting for than more than 20% of Autodesk‘s online customers. The data reinforces how emerging business hubs are becoming key engines of India’s next wave of growth and digital technology adoption.

“India has nearly a billion active internet users — and for this generation, digital is not a channel. It is the expectation. Today, the Autodesk creator community that includes designers, animators, manufacturers want to explore, evaluate and purchase professional technology instantly, just as they would any other product or service online.” said Kamolika Gupta Peres, Vice President, Autodesk India and SAARC. 

“Over the past year, we analysed the online buying behaviour and preferences of our customers and Autodesk’s creator community across India. The insights and feedback have shaped the evolution of the Autodesk Store into a more intuitive, inclusive, seamless and locally relevant experience, designed around the needs of modern Indian businesses and professionals. As Autodesk’s reach expands across Bharat, we are making it easier to access professional design technology, regardless of where they are located.” Gupta added. 

The enhanced platform introduces a set of purchasing models and capabilities designed specifically around how India‘s independent professionals and small businesses operate:

  • Wide range of products and payment options: The official Autodesk online Store hosts the complete product range offered in India with over 60 products available for purchase using a wide range of payment options that include Credit card, Net banking, UPI and Debit cards.
  • Monthly subscriptions: Professionals can now subscribe to Autodesk products month by month, with entry pricing starting at ₹1,062 per month for AutoCAD Web. A freelance architect taking on a three-month commission, or a startup testing its first product prototype, or any firm with a short-scope design project can access industry-standard tools for exactly as long as they need them.
  • Flex tokens (pay-per-use meter): Autodesk Flex, available exclusively on the India Store, lets teams purchase usage tokens starting at ₹29,300 for 100 tokens, valid for a year and usable across multiple users and select Autodesk products.
  • Full self–serve commerce, no callbacks required: Customers can generate and share quotes internally for faster approvals, complete multi-product orders in a single checkout, renew multiple subscriptions simultaneously, and manage GST compliance, the full procurement cycle, entirely self-directed.

As software procurement becomes increasingly digital–first, Autodesk has expanded payment options on the platform to include UPI, along with debit cards, net banking, and credit cards—making it easier for customers across India to purchase solutions through familiar, everyday payment methods.  

Business

UTI Flexi Cap Fund – A flexi-cap portfolio with emphasis on business sustainability

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Bangalore , June 11 : Setting a realistic financial goal is the first-step towards successful investing for any investor. While looking for an investment option which can consistently reward you is important, it is equally important to understand the risk associated with it to aim for an optimal outcome in the long-term. Mutual fund options can be explored for meeting financial goals ranging from short-term to long-term, while choosing to invest from wide-range of products across the asset class. Here is one mutual fund product category that investors can look for investing in meeting long-term wealth creation goals.

Flexi-cap funds are open-ended equity funds investing at least 65% of total assets are invested in equity assets of companies across the different market capitalizations viz., large-cap, mid-cap or small-cap fund. UTI Flexi Cap Fund is one of the oldest funds in the category and has a long-term track record of consistent performance. The Fund has a corpus of over Rs. 22,200 crores . This offering from UTI Mutual Fund is suitable for any long-term investor looking for a fund that endeavors to invest in quality businesses having potential for creating economic value for investors.

UTI Flexi Cap Fund’s investment philosophy is built around the three pillars of Quality, Growth and Valuation. The portfolio strategy would be to focus on businesses that have the ability to show strong growth for a long period of time and are run by seasoned management.

“Quality” signifies the ability of a business to sustain a high Return on Capital Employed or Return on Equity over a long period of time. Truly high quality businesses are those that are able to generate high RoCEs and also RoEs even during difficult times for their respective industries or sectors and therefore operate above their cost of capital at all times. More often than not, a business with a high RoCE/ RoE shall be able to generate strong cash-flows and these strong cash flows become the source of economic value creation.

“Growth” on the other hand signifies long term secular growth for the business. The fund emphasizes on businesses that have steady and predictable growth trajectory rather than cyclical and volatile growth. Cyclical growth or de-growth can be very sharp and unpredictable and can surprise investors in either directions, as against secular growth where there is relatively more certainty in understanding the long term drivers and hence future outcomes. While high quality businesses create economic value, a high growth business enables compounding of this economic value. It is for this reason that the fund’s favorite hunting ground for stock selection is the intersection of quality and growth.

The last pillar of the fund’s investment philosophy is “Valuations”. Valuations are an important metric as an entry point into a great business and therefore one should very carefully study this before entering a stock. Although a Price to Earnings  multiple is a good starting point for understanding the valuations of a business, it is also a widely misunderstood valuation technique. The P/E is merely a shorthand metric for the firm’s cash flow generation and value creation potential over a long period. More often than not, a high RoCE and high growth business creates more value over the long-term and would hence mathematically deserve a higher P/E. It would still be an attractive investment for long term investors who invest on the basis of business fundamentals rather than on the basis of what would outperform in the next few months or quarters. Therefore, before reaching a judgement by looking solely at P/Es, one has to carefully study the characteristics of each business and then establish the fair valuation band for each of them. The P/E hides more than it reveals and must always be considered in the context of RoCE, opportunity to reinvest in the business and free cash flow.

The Fund invests across the market capitalization spectrum following the “Growth” style of investment. The scheme’s top ten holding consists of ICICI Bank Ltd., Bajaj Finance Ltd., Eternal Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., Titan Company Ltd., Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., Avenue Supermarts Ltd., Bhart Airtel Ltd., Coforge Ltd., Info-Edge  Ltd., which account for around 44% of the portfolio’s corpus as of May 31, 2026.

UTI Flexi Cap Fund is suitable for those equity investors looking to build their “core” equity portfolio and seeking long term capital growth through investment in quality businesses that generate economic value. Investors with moderate risk-profile and looking to invest for at least 5 to 7 years to meet a long-term financial goal, may consider investing in this fund.

News

ODMP, BMC and HCCB Launch ‘#GreenSweep’ PET Bottle Collection Drive to Promote Plastic Waste Management Awareness in Bhubaneswar

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Bhubaneswar, June 11 (UDN): The Odisha Development Management Program (ODMP), in collaboration with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), launched the #GreenSweep Used PET Bottle Collection Drive along with a public awareness campaign on Plastic Waste Management in the city. The initiative aims to promote responsible disposal and recycling of PET bottles while encouraging citizens to adopt sustainable waste management practices.

ODMP, BMC and HCCB Launch ‘#GreenSweep’ PET Bottle Collection Drive to Promote Plastic Waste Management Awareness in Bhubaneswar

The programme was inaugurated by BMC Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das in the presence of BMC Commissioner Shri Chanchal Rana, Ekamra MLA Shri Babu Singh, Deputy Mayor Smt. Manjulata Kanhar, senior officials, corporators, environmental stakeholders, and other distinguished guests. Representing Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), Shri Tushar Pattnaik and Shri Milan Lenka were also present and actively participated in the event, reaffirming the company’s commitment to sustainable waste management and environmental conservation initiatives.

The dignitaries appreciated the collaborative efforts of BMC, HCCB, and ODMP in promoting responsible plastic waste disposal and recycling practices, emphasizing the importance of public participation in creating a cleaner and greener Bhubaneswar.

Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries underscored the importance of collective action in tackling plastic pollution and building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Bhubaneswar. They called upon citizens to actively participate in waste segregation, recycling, and environmental conservation initiatives.

The campaign seeks to strengthen awareness on plastic waste management, encourage responsible disposal of used PET bottles, and enhance recycling systems through community participation. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission and supports Bhubaneswar’s vision of becoming a model city for sustainable urban waste management.

ODMP, BMC and HCCB Launch ‘#GreenSweep’ PET Bottle Collection Drive to Promote Plastic Waste Management Awareness in Bhubaneswar

A major attraction of the event was a vibrant Nukkad Natak (street play) and awareness dance performance aimed at educating the public about the harmful effects of plastic pollution and the importance of responsible waste disposal. Through engaging storytelling, music, and dance, the performers effectively conveyed the message of environmental conservation and the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste.

The awareness programme received an enthusiastic response from dignitaries, officials, students, and members of the public, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere. The cultural performances successfully combined entertainment with education, making the environmental message more impactful and accessible to the audience.

Appreciating the initiative, Mayor Smt. Sulochana Das commended the performers and organizers for promoting environmental awareness through innovative cultural activities. She emphasized that such community-driven programmes play a vital role in inspiring citizens to adopt eco-friendly practices and contribute towards making Bhubaneswar cleaner, greener, and plastic-free. Other dignitaries also praised the campaign and expressed their support for similar awareness initiatives in the future.

ODMP, BMC and HCCB Launch ‘#GreenSweep’ PET Bottle Collection Drive to Promote Plastic Waste Management Awareness in Bhubaneswar

The event was coordinated by the Odisha Development Management Program (ODMP) under the leadership of Shri Jyoti Ranjan Mishra, Chairman; Shri Sushant Kumar Tripathy, Convenor; Smt. Pritilata Mishra, Joint Convenor; Shri Bishnu Prasad Mishra, Programme Director (Puri); and Shri Sibasis Mahapatra, Programme Director.

Speaking on the occasion, ODMP representatives highlighted the importance of stronger public engagement and multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing the growing challenge of plastic waste and promoting environmental sustainability across Odisha.

The launch of #GreenSweep marks a significant step towards fostering environmental responsibility, enhancing recycling practices, and creating a cleaner and more sustainable future through effective plastic waste management.

Business

Australia’s Universal Fitness Group Enters India in Partnership with EBG Group

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

June 11: EBG Group has announced an exclusive partnership with Australia-based Universal Fitness Group to introduce a new category of integrated health, fitness, rehabilitation and wellness destinations in India, backed by a planned investment roadmap of ₹300 crore over the next five years. The partnership seeks to address a rapidly evolving opportunity within India’s wellness economy, where consumers are increasingly moving beyond traditional gym memberships towards holistic solutions that combine fitness, recovery, preventive health and lifestyle experiences under one roof.

Australia's Universal Fitness Group Enters India in Partnership with EBG Group

The Deloitte India and Health & Fitness Association India Fitness Market Report 2025 put India’s commercial fitness market at roughly ₹16,200 crore currently, with projections pointing to ₹37,700 crore by 2030. Membership numbers are expected to follow a similar trajectory, moving from 12.3 million to 23.3 million over the same window. What stands out, though, is a figure that cuts against the optimism somewhat: penetration is still only forecast to hit 1.7 per cent by 2030. In a country of 1.4 billion, it is an indication of how much of the market remains untouched, and it is where EBG Group and Universal Fitness see the clearest opportunity.

Under the partnership, EBG Group will lead development, rollout and operations of Universal Fitness across India. The two companies plan to establish more than 30 premium Health and Fitness Sanctuaries and two destination wellness retreats over five years. Hyderabad and Bengaluru come first, with subsequent expansion into Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune and other high – growth urban centres.

Each facility will span between 40,000 and 45,000 square feet, a footprint considerably larger than a conventional gym and reflective of the breadth of services the platform is designed to house. The facilities have been conceived as integrated wellness campuses, with dedicated zones for advanced fitness training, group studios, Pilates programmes, swim schools, physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation, and AI-enabled body composition analysis. Recovery infrastructure forms an equally central part of the offering, encompassing magnesium mineral pools, infrared salt rooms, cold-plunge therapy and recovery lounges. Select locations are expected to operate round the clock, subject to regulatory approvals. Technogym will power the equipment and digital wellness ecosystem across all sites. The format represents a meaningful departure from how wellness has historically been structured in India.

Dr. Irfan Khan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EBG Group, said

“India is entering a new era of health consciousness. While the fitness industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, consumers today are looking for far more than access to equipment. They are seeking structured ecosystems that support performance, recovery, preventive health and long-term wellbeing. This partnership reflects our conviction that wellness infrastructure will become one of the defining growth sectors of the coming decade.”

On the market opportunity itself, he added,

 “The numbers clearly indicate the scale of what is possible. A market expected to approach ₹37,700 crore by 2030, combined with low penetration levels and increasing awareness around preventive healthcare, creates the foundation for a new category of premium wellness destinations. Through Universal Fitness, we aim to build spaces that seamlessly connect fitness, rehabilitation, recovery and lifestyle experiences while creating meaningful economic and employment opportunities across the country.”

Speaking on the launch, Kumar Ramachandra, Founder of Universal Fitness Group Australia, was measured but pointed in his assessment of where the Indian market currently stands. “The consumer in India has genuinely outpaced the infrastructure. We were seeing people who understood exactly what their bodies needed – structured recovery, continuity between fitness and rehabilitation, long-term preventive care – and yet had no single destination that could deliver all of it. That is not a gap at the margins.”

Anthony Kerkmez, Co-Founder of Universal Fitness Group Australia, added,

“What we are building here is not another fitness network. The ambition is larger than that, to establish a new standard for what integrated wellness can look like in India, in facilities designed from the ground up around the member’s full health journey rather than a single service. India is one of the most discerning consumer markets in the world. It deserves infrastructure that reflects that.”

For most consumers, accessing fitness, rehabilitation, recovery and preventive health has meant navigating an assortment of separate providers, each operating independently of the others. The Universal Fitness model is premised on a different logic entirely, that these services are most effective, and most valuable to the consumer, when they are brought together within a single membership – led ecosystem. The facilities have been designed with that continuity in mind, as spaces oriented towards long – term community membership rather than transactional, single – service engagement.

Lifestyle disorders are climbing across age groups, awareness around preventive healthcare is no longer confined to older demographics, and a younger urban population is putting real money behind its interest in longevity and recovery. Taken together, these shifts are rewriting what Indian consumers expect from a wellness offering. The demand is there. The more pressing question now is whether the market can build supply sophisticated enough to meet it.

The partnership also carries a significant employment dimension. With each centre expected to hire between 50 and 60 professionals directly – across fitness coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, wellness operations, hospitality, technology support, facility management and community engagement -the network is projected to create thousands of jobs as expansion progresses across cities. As the next phase gets underway, EBG Group and Universal Fitness are finalising site selection, operational frameworks and launch timelines for the first set of flagship locations, laying the groundwork for what both partners intend to build into one of India’s largest premium wellness infrastructure platforms.

News

Proposed NOAA Cuts Would Leave Kansans Unprepared for Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters

Jun 11, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments
New Report Lays Out Risks of Cuts for Sunflower State, From Extreme Weather Vulnerability to Drought-fueled Farm Losses

WASHINGTON, June 11 – Today, Ocean Conservancy released a new report detailing the role that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plays in supporting public safety and economic productivity in Kansas, from tornado warning systems to drought monitoring to aviation forecasting. As Congress weighs whether to pass $1.6 billion in federal budget cuts to NOAA, the report provides clarity on how cuts would impact Kansas and what leaders can do to protect NOAA services Kansans rely on. 

“NOAA touches nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives, even in landlocked Kansas,” said Katherine Tsantiris, Ocean Conservancy’s director of government relations. “The ocean does not stop mattering at the shoreline, and Kansas weather doesn’t start at its border. Weather across the Great Plains is shaped by conditions in the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and changes thousands of miles away can have profound impacts across the state. NOAA gives Kansans the advance warning they need by spotting life-or-death threats long before they arrive.”

Kansas has unusually high exposure to weather risk. According to NOAA estimates, Kansas has experienced 102 weather and climate disaster events with at least $1 billion in damages from 1980-2024. This year, Kansas City saw record-breaking severe weather, recording 244 severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.

Through an evaluation of NOAA data and government reporting, the report provides a snapshot of how the agency impacts everyday life in Kansas and supports key sectors of the Kansas economy. This includes its aerospace industry, which contributes $7 billion annually to Kansas’ gross domestic product, and its wind-powered electric generation, which supplied more than half of Kansas’ net generation in 2024. 

Drought is among the costliest hazards to the economy, with Kansas’ 2011 losses exceeded $1.7 billion. Across Kansas and the Great Plains, ranchers use weekly U.S. Drought Monitor maps, which draws on NOAA data, to make critical decisions — and the USDA uses the U.S. Drought Monitor to determine eligibility for specific aid programs. Without this monitoring, farmers lose access to vital information and face a harder time getting aid — exactly when speed and clarity matter most.

Key services provided by NOAA to Kansas include weather forecasting and tornado warning systems, agricultural data and drought monitoring, and aerospace and wind-power generation forecasting. The report predicts that proposed federal cuts to NOAA would likely lead to:

  • Less accurate weather forecasting.
  • Slower modernization of tornado, flood and flash-drought services.
  • Erosion of NOAA’s U.S. Drought Monitor to accurately predict drought in Kansas.
  • More expensive and uncertain infrastructure and water management operations, such as bridges and roads that rely on NOAA data to ensure they are built to withstand future climate and weather extremes.

“American farming and ranching families work incredibly hard, but their livelihoods are often at the mercy of weather patterns shaped hundreds or even thousands of miles away,” said Jeff Watters, Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of External Affairs. “Their success depends on having reliable, up to date information to make crucial decisions on what to plant and when, and to prepare when severe weather threatens crops, livestock and equipment. NOAA provides the forecasts, data and certainty farmers need to make these decisions with confidence.” 

According to the report, even making targeted cuts to NOAA funding and services could have wide-ranging consequences. For example, the report explores how cuts to NOAA’s U.S. Drought Monitor, which draws on data from distant ocean conditions, would have direct impacts on Kansas ranchers, farmers and agencies. Data from the monitor feeds into NOAA’s Southern Plains Drought Early Warning System, which Kansas communities rely on for confidence and clarity when decisions are most costly and time-sensitive. It similarly explores how cuts to NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory would undermine the future readiness and safety of Kansas communities in reacting to tornados and extreme weather.

“NOAA operates as an interconnected whole that extends well beyond the forecast people see on their phone,” said Tsantiris. “Cutting one program or service will undermine NOAA’s ability to provide timely guidance and warnings for Kansas communities. It’s like stripping key nutrients out of the soil and expecting it to produce the same harvest. It may not be obvious right away, but the entire ecosystem suffers.”

Ahead of the September 30, 2026, deadline for Congress to decide on $1.6 billion in NOAA funding cuts proposed by the Trump administration, the report provides the following recommendations for Kansas leaders:

  • Fully fund NOAA as an integrated system, not a set of disconnected programs.
  • Protect NOAA observation systems and satellite continuity that feed weather forecasting and severe-storm monitoring.
  • Support efforts to transform innovative research into operational solutions to reduce risk and improve severe-weather warnings.
  • Maintain NOAA drought monitoring and reporting systems.
  • Support NOAA data infrastructure and applied climate services.
  • Treat NOAA operations and maintenance as public safety spending, not overhead.

“NOAA is not a distant federal agency, it’s an integral part of our public safety net, our economy and our daily lives,” said Tsantiris. “Congress should once again stand united in rejecting proposed cuts to this critical agency. Weakening NOAA would have irreparable consequences for the safety and economic well-being of Kansas and communities across America.”