India Press Releases

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Meghna Chettri, famed for her work at ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, launches Amã Foods to bring India’s GI-tagged, slowfarmed foods to homes across the country

Meghna Chettri, famed for her work at ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, launches Amã Foods to bring India’s GI-tagged, slowfarmed foods to homes across the country

Pre-orders open now on Instagram at @amaorigin; Amazon, Flipkart and amaorigins.com go live in December 2026 with Meghalaya’s Lakadong Turmeric and Manipur’s Chakhao Black Rice; Quick Commerce and modern trade follow in 2027.

Shillong, Meghalaya – October 2026: Meghna Chettri, the award-winning digital marketer famed for her work at ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, with a 15-year career that also spans Accenture and Cognizant, has founded Amã Foods, a Shillong, Meghalaya registered brand launching this month with a single idea: that India’s finest ingredients already exist, are already protected by law, and have simply never been put in front of the people who would pay for them. The brand sells Geographical Indication (GI) tagged foods, grown slowly by farmer collectives in their place of origin, under the line “The Origin of Purity”.

The launch range leads with Lakadong Turmeric from Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills, prized for its high curcumin content, and Chakhao Black Rice from Manipur, alongside Makhana and a small premium tea. Every pack is sourced from a farmer producer organisation (FPO) in the product’s home district, lab-tested per batch, and sold under the GI name only where Amã holds authorised-user rights.

The range is open for pre-order now through Instagram at @amaorigin. Amazon, Flipkart and the brand’s own site, amaorigins.com, go live in December 2026, shipping pan-India.

Thc launch range

Product

Origin

Pack sizes

Lakadong Turmeric

 Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya 100g, 250g

Chakhao Black Rice

Manipur

1kg

Makhana (flavoured and plain)

Bihar

80g, 55g
Premium Tea Darjeeling, West Bengal

100g, 50g

From April 2027, Amã adds two GI products a month, taking the range to 30 byApril 2028: Naga Mircha, Kashmir Saffron, Sundarban Honey, Byadagi Chilli, Coorg Green Cardamom, Sikkim Large Cardamom, Malabar Pepper, Koraput Kalajeera Rice and others, each sourced from its home district.

Why GI matters

A GI tag is a legal certificate of origin: it ties a product’s name to the place and the method that made it, the way Darjeeling tea or Champagne are protected. India has registered hundreds of food GIs, most of them farmed by small growers in districts far from the cities that could pay a premium for them. Amã exists to close that gap: buy from the FPO at origin, pack it with the GI story intact, and sell it where the demand is.

From the founder

Meghna Chettri, Founder, Amã Foods

“I grew up in Shillong watching Lakadong turmeric leave the Jaintia Hills in sacks with no name on them, to be blended into something ordinary somewhere else,” said Meghna Chettri, Founder, Amã Foods. “The farmer gets a commodity price for a product that is, by law, one of the best in the world. Amã is built to change that equation. We buy at origin, we keep the name on the pack, and we put it on the same shelf as the imported brands it beats.”

“We are starting with four products and the discipline to earn each new one. Every product on amaorigins.com will have been lab-tested, GI-verified and bought directly from the collective that grew it. That is the whole brand.”

Chettri comes to food from the other side of the shelf. An award-winning digital marketer with more than 15 years of experience, she has built and run digital programmes for Accenture, Cognizant, ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, among others. Amã applies that discipline – performance marketing, marketplace operations, brand-building at scale – to a category that has had none of it.

A Meghalaya native, Chettri has registered Amã Foods in Shillong and runs it from a corporate office in Lower Parel, Mumbai. The supply chain is built around written agreements with farmer producer organisations in Meghalaya, Manipur and Darjeeling, with the FPOs storing the harvest and dispatching monthly.

Watch the founder’s launch video: instagram.com/reel/Dei37VasvjK

Where to buy

  • Now: Pre-order on Instagram at amaorigin
  • December 2026: Amazon, Flipkart and com, shipping pan-India from fulfilment centres in Kolkata and Bengaluru
  • 2027: Quick Commerce (Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart), then modern trade and premium stores in Mumbai and Hyderabad

The Lakadong Turmeric 250g pack is the brand’s hero line. Each 100g pack carries a code for the 250g on the website.

About Amã Foods

Amã Foods is a Shillong, Meghalaya registered food brand, headquartered in Lower Parel, Mumbai, founded in 2026 by Meghna Chettri. It sources Geographical Indication tagged, slow-farmed foods directly from farmer producer organisations across India. Pre-orders are open on Instagram at @amaorigin; from December 2026 the range sells pan-India on Amazon, Flipkart and amaorigins.com, with Quick Commerce and modern trade to follow in 2027. Its tagline is “The Origin of Purity”. The launch range is led by Lakadong Turmeric from Meghalaya and Chakhao Black Rice from Manipur, with 26 further GI products planned through 2028.

About Meghna Chettri

Meghna Chettri is the Founder ofAmã Foods. An award-winning digital marketer from Meghalaya with over 15 years of experience, she has led digital marketing forAccenture, Cognizant, ICICI Bank and State Bank of India, among many others. Amã Foods is her first consumer brand.

Media contact:

Press Office, Amã Foods Corporate office: Lower Parel, Mumbai
Email: info@amafoods.in
Instagram: @amaorigin
Launch video: instagram.com/reel/Dei37VasvjK
Web: amaorigins.com

VENSPAN Unveils Plan to Connect Specialist SMEs with Global Corporate Opportunities Across 33+ Sectors

VENSPAN Unveils Plan to Connect Specialist SMEs with Global Corporate Opportunities Across 33+ Sectors

Planned sector-specific umbrella brands will combine complementary business capabilities to pursue larger contracts and international market access.

MUMBAI, INDIA | 16 October 2026: VENSPAN has announced plans to develop a multi-sector venture-building platform spanning more than 33 industries, designed to connect specialist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with larger corporate buyers and cross-border business opportunities.

At the heart of the initiative is a challenge faced by capable businesses: strong manufacturing, engineering or service expertise does not always translate into access to major customers. VENSPAN proposes to address that gap by bringing complementary enterprises together under distinct, sector-focused umbrella brands, supported by coordinated business development, brand building and venture management.

Rather than asking specialist companies to broaden their capabilities independently, each planned umbrella brand would help present an integrated sector offering to potential buyers. Participating businesses would continue contributing their core expertise while pursuing opportunities that may be harder to access on their own.

For corporate customers, the model is intended to make it easier to engage with a broader set of specialist capabilities through a clearly positioned sector brand. For participating SMEs, the potential benefits include stronger market visibility, access to larger contracts and opportunities to build long-term customer relationships.

The proposed portfolio spans manufacturing, industrial engineering, technology, healthcare, renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics and business services, among other sectors. VENSPAN expects to introduce brands in phases, with each launch dependent on commercial readiness, qualified business participation and applicable sector requirements.

India is expected to be a key foundation for the initiative. VENSPAN aims to connect capabilities within the country’s SME ecosystem to domestic demand and international opportunities, while progressively developing relationships with buyers, partners and specialist businesses in other markets.

The envisaged structure includes Singapore-based holding entities and potential subsidiaries in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia and selected European markets. Any entities would be established in stages, subject to legal requirements and business priorities.

VENSPAN intends to operate across venture creation, venture building, scaling and management. Its longer-term ambition is to develop a portfolio of recognisable sector businesses capable of competing internationally—while creating new commercial pathways for the specialist enterprises behind them.

Further announcements are expected to detail individual umbrella brands, participation opportunities and market-specific developments as the rollout advances.

ABOUT VENSPAN

VENSPAN is being developed as a multi-sector venture creation, building, scaling and management company. Its planned sector-specific umbrella brands aim to connect specialised business capabilities with larger commercial opportunities in India and international markets.

MEDIA CONTACT

Mr. Mayuresh Pawar

Associate Director – Corporate Communication  |  +91 98206 89385

Website: https://venspan.global

Premium Cookware Emerges as a Thoughtful Diwali Gifting Choice

Premium Cookware Emerges as a Thoughtful Diwali Gifting Choice

New Delhi, India, 15 October: SUNCASA highlights its Hammered and Mitrix Plus ranges as festive gifting moves towards products that combine design, utility and long-term value.

As Diwali gifting continues to evolve beyond traditional sweets, dry fruits and decorative products, premium cookware is emerging as a practical gifting option for consumers looking for something that combines everyday usefulness with lasting value.

This festive season, Indian cookware brand SUNCASA is highlighting its Hammered and Mitrix Plus ranges as part of a broader shift towards thoughtful home and kitchen gifting.

Cookware has always had a natural connection with Indian celebrations. Food, hospitality and family gatherings are at the centre of Diwali, making the kitchen an important part of the festive experience.

What is changing is the way cookware is being designed and presented.

Premium finishes, contemporary forms and improved cooking technologies are allowing everyday kitchen products to move beyond purely functional purchases and become suitable for gifting as well.

SUNCASA’s Hammered range brings a distinctive visual character to familiar cookware. The textured finish adds a more premium and festive appearance while allowing the product to retain its practical role in everyday cooking.

The aesthetic makes hammered cookware particularly relevant for consumers who want a Diwali gift that feels special when presented but continues to serve a purpose long after the celebrations are over.

The Mitrix Plus range addresses a different type of gifting consumer—one looking for contemporary cookware that combines design with modern cooking convenience. Its positioning makes it particularly relevant for newly married couples, new homeowners, young professionals and families upgrading their kitchens.

This ability to match cookware to different lifestyles gives the category an advantage over more generic gifting options.

A well-selected kadai, tawa or other cookware product can become part of the recipient’s daily routine, creating value well beyond the festive season.

Premium cookware is also becoming increasingly relevant for corporate gifting, where companies often look for products that are useful, presentable and suitable for a broad recipient base.

Unlike consumable gifts that are enjoyed for a short period, durable kitchen products can remain in use for years.

For SUNCASA, this combination of design, practicality and longevity makes cookware a natural fit for contemporary Diwali gifting.

The brand’s festive proposition is therefore centred on a simple idea: a Diwali gift can be visually appealing and celebratory while still becoming something the recipient genuinely uses.

About SUNCASA

SUNCASA is an Indian cookware and kitchenware brand backed by more than 30 years of stainless-steel manufacturing expertise. Its portfolio spans stainless-steel cookware, triply cookware, pressure cookers and design-led kitchen products created for contemporary Indian homes.

Sirca Paints Hosts an Exclusive Architects’ Meet in Agra

Sirca Paints Hosts an Exclusive Architects’ Meet in Agra

Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October15: Sirca Paints India Ltd. recently hosted an exclusive Architects’ Meet at the Taj Hotel in Agra on 23 September, bringing together architects and interior designers from Hapur, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Khurja, Hathras and the surrounding region. The evening created a vibrant platform for dialogue, collaboration and creative exchange within the design community of western Uttar Pradesh.

As one of India’s leading brands in luxury wood coatings and decorative finishes, including the Italian wall textures by OIKOS Italy, Sirca has consistently aligned itself with design excellence and innovation. The Agra meet was a natural extension of that ethos: to be an active participant in shaping the visual and material culture of modern India, beyond providing premium finishes.

Set against the refined backdrop of the Taj Hotel, the evening unfolded as a sophisticated networking experience infused with warm hospitality and rich conversations. Far from a typical corporate showcase, it was a celebration of relationships, a space where Sirca’s signature wood coatings and Oikos wall textures met the minds that shape spaces.

The programme began with an address by Mr. Apoorv Agarwal, Joint Managing Director of Sirca Paints India Ltd., who welcomed the guests and spoke about the brand’s vision, its commitment to craft and quality, and its intent to build lasting partnerships with the architectural and design fraternity.

The purpose of the evening was clear: to foster meaningful connections between Sirca and a curated circle of design professionals from across the region. Architects and designers interacted closely with Sirca’s team, exchanging ideas, exploring new materials and discussing how the brand’s surfaces could be integrated meaningfully into future projects.

Among the attendees from Hapur were Ar. Jatin of Janus Designs, Ar. Bhavya Saini of Bhavya Architects and Ar. Gaurav Goel of Abstraction Art of Design. Aligarh was represented by Ar. Pawan Rawat of A to Z Builders and Developers, Ar. Mayank Sharma of Riddhi Interiors, Ar. Zeeshan of Line & Space Designer, Ar. Ajay Khanna of Allied Studio, Ar. Raju Sharma of Aakar Interiors, Ar. Kavisha of Artnesta Studio and Ar. Shubangi of Jyoti Creations.

From Bulandshahr came Ar. Manu Aggarwal of Manan Studios, Ar. Sparsh of SG Architects and Ar. Ankit Aggarwal of Space Creation & Design Studio. Khurja was represented by Ar. Ankit Sharma, Ar. Anshul Sharma of Vidhan Studio / Vidhan Architects and Ar. Harsh Goel of Goel Construction House. Joining from Hathras were Ar. Gaurav Verma of RKV Architects and Ar. Vivek Sharma of Konark Architects.

Throughout the evening, attendees had the opportunity to experience Sirca’s latest surface solutions firsthand. From Italian wood coatings to innovative Oikos wall textures, the finishes sparked discussions on their application across residential, commercial and bespoke luxury projects.

The event reaffirmed Sirca’s commitment to being more than a supplier: a collaborator, a creative partner and a voice in the wider design discourse. As the evening came to a close, what lingered was not just the memory of elegant textures and flawless finishes, but the energy of connection and the promise of new ideas and shared ambitions. Through events like these, Sirca continues to invest in the relationships that inspire its future.

For more information, visit www.sircapaints.com or follow @sircapaints on Instagram.

Urban Indian households likely to spend nearly INR 20,000 on average this festive season; 6% lower than 2025

Urban Indian households likely to spend nearly INR 20,000 on average this festive season; 6% lower than 2025

New Delhi [India], October 14: With Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali approaching, India’s festive season, traditionally the biggest window for discretionary purchases, is opening against a tightening economic backdrop. Retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 5.54% in September 2026 from 4.83% in August, its eleventh consecutive monthly increase, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on October 12. Food inflation surged to 7.74% from 5.97%, with onion prices more than doubling year-on-year, and a home-cooked vegetarian thali cost about 10% more than a year earlier. On October 7, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%, its first hike in over three and a half years, and shifted its stance to calibrated tightening. Governor Sanjay Malhotra said rate cuts are off the table in the near term. The RBI raised its FY27 CPI inflation projection to 5.2% from 5.0%, and expects inflation to peak at 6.0% in the October-December quarter, which coincides with the festive season.

• In total, 57% urban Indian households surveyed likely to spend this festive season.

• 34% of households spending likely to fund a significant part (25% or more) of festive spending from Savings.

• 72% of households spending likely to buy clothing/fashion products; 45% also buying appliances.

• 9% households likely to spend over INR 1 lakh this festive season; 30% between INR 10,000 and 1 lakh.

The RBI has flagged that price pressures are becoming broad-based, with 37% of items in the CPI basket rising more than 4% by August, and that cyclical inflation risks are no longer benign given elevated oil prices, tighter global conditions and a deficient monsoon. Brent crude was trading at about USD 101 per barrel on October 6, over 50% higher than a year ago, and wholesale inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), jumped to 11.39% in September from 9.92% in August on higher fuel and manufacturing costs, according to government data released on October 14. The hike will also make festive borrowing costlier: if passed on in full, the EMI on an INR 50 lakh, 25-year home loan rises by about INR 817 a month.

While the RBI raised its FY27 GDP growth projection to 7.1% from 6.7%, citing resilient private consumption, its household surveys point to growing caution. In the July 2026 round of the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey, the Current Situation Index fell to 88.3 from 90.7 and the Future Expectations Index to 115.3 from 118.7. The net response on current spending on non-essential items stood at just 3.3, against 86.7 for essential items, while the employment net response fell to -21.9 from -14.4. Households also expect prices to rise 9.4% over the next year, according to the RBI’s Inflation Expectations Survey of Households. These expectations carry weight: RBI working papers by Purnima Shaw and RK Sinha find that since the pandemic, household inflation forecasts have been more accurate than professional forecasts about 65% of the time, against 39% for professional forecasts.

Household balance sheets are also under strain. While net household financial savings improved to 7% of Gross National Disposable Income (GNDI) in FY25 from 5.8% in FY24, largely due to lower borrowings, an Economic and Political Weekly analysis published in early September notes that household financial liabilities reached 45.8% of GDP by March 2026, having grown faster than financial assets since mid-2022. New fixed deposits offered 5.67% in August, below the 9.4% inflation households expect, implying negative real returns, yet the share of term deposits in total bank deposits rose from about 55% to nearly 62% between March 2022 and March 2026.

Early festive indicators point to spending that is selective. Gross GST collections rose 14.7% year-on year to INR 2.04 lakh crore in September 2026, though domestic GST grew a more modest 10.1%. Vehicle retail sales hit a record 25.37 lakh units in September, up 31.8% year-on-year, though the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) cautioned that growth was flattered by a low base, as buyers had deferred purchases ahead of GST 2.0 in September 2025.

Online festive sales, which opened with Amazon’s Great Indian Festival on October 8 and Flipkart’s Big Billion Days on October 9, show a similar split. Platforms have reported strong traffic, with Flipkart recording 6.3 million concurrent users and about 60% of demand from non-metro customers, and Meesho reporting a 75% year-onyear rise in Day 1 orders across fashion, beauty and festive décor. Big-ticket electronics, however, are under pressure: Counterpoint Research expects festive smartphone volumes to fall 12% year-on-year as rising memory chip costs push up device prices, even as market value rises 5%. Unlike last year, when GST rate cuts effective September 22, 2025 coincided with the start of major sales, there is no tax-led tailwind this season.

Against this backdrop, LocalCircles conducted its Mood of the Consumer survey to understand how much urban Indian households plan to spend this festive season, what they intend to buy and how they plan to fund it. The survey received over 67,000 responses from urban household consumers located across 307 districts of India.

The survey indicates that urban Indian households are likely to spend INR 20,000 on average on discretionary purchases this festive season. Based on the spending levels indicated in the survey, LocalCircles estimates total urban household festive spending at INR 1.97 lakh crore in 2026, 6% lower than INR 2.10 lakh crore in 2025. This reverses last year’s rise from INR 1.85 lakh crore in 2024, a year in which the GST rate cuts effective September 22, 2025 coincided with the start of the festive season. While 57% of households surveyed are likely to spend this festive season, 31% plan no discretionary spending at all. Of those spending, 72% will buy clothing/fashion products, and 83% will dip into savings to some extent, including 34% who will fund 25% or more of their festive spending from savings. The key findings are detailed below.

57% of urban Indian households surveyed likely to spend this festive season; 9% likely to spend over INR 1 lakh and 30% between INR 10,000 and 1 lakh

To gauge festive spending plans, the survey asked urban households, “During the upcoming festive season (September-November 2026), approximately how much does your household expect to spend on discretionary purchases (excluding regular monthly expenses like groceries, utilities, rent/EMIs, school fees, etc.)?” This question received 22,904 responses. In response, 31% said no discretionary spending is planned, while 18% expect to spend less than INR 10,000 and 15% between INR 10,001 and INR 25,000. Another 9% expect to spend INR 25,001-50,000, 6% INR 50,001-1 lakh and 9% INR 1-10 lakh, while 12% could not say.

In aggregate, 57% of urban households surveyed are likely to spend this festive season. 30% expect to spend between INR 10,000 and INR 1 lakh and 9% over INR 1 lakh, while 18% will keep their festive budget below INR 10,000. With nearly 1 in 3 households planning no discretionary spending at all, the findings mirror the caution visible in the RBI’s latest urban consumer confidence survey, where the net response on current spending on non-essential items stood at just 3.3.

Urban Indian households likely to spend INR 20,000 on average this festive season; total urban festive spending estimated at INR 1.97 lakh crore, 6% lower than 2025

Based on the discretionary spending levels indicated by households in the survey, LocalCircles estimates that urban Indian households are likely to spend INR 20,000 on average this festive season, and that total urban household festive spending will fall to INR 1.97 lakh crore in 2026 from INR 2.10 lakh crore in 2025, a decline of 6%. Festive spending had risen about 14% in 2025 from INR 1.85 lakh crore in 2024, as the GST 2.0 rate cuts effective September 22, 2025 coincided with the start of the festive season. This year, with no such tax-led tailwind, retail inflation at 5.54%, food inflation at 7.74% and the RBI’s October 7 rate hike making credit costlier, households are scaling back, although spending remains about INR 12,000 crore above 2024 levels. The pullback is most visible in big-ticket categories, with Counterpoint Research projecting a 12% year-on-year fall in festive smartphone volumes as device prices rise.

72% of urban Indian households spending this festive season likely to buy clothing/fashion products; 45% also buying home appliances & furniture

The survey next asked households, “What are all the discretionary purchases that your household plans to make during the upcoming festive season?” This question received 20,916 responses, with respondents able to select more than one option. In response, 72% said clothing, footwear & accessories, making it the clear top category, followed by 45% each for home appliances & furniture and travel & holidays. 39% plan to spend on gourmet foods & gifting, 22% each on mobile phones, consumer electronics & gadgets and on home renovation/interiors, and 10% on an automobile/two-wheeler. Only 6% plan to buy jewellery, while 10% listed other categories.

The low share for jewellery comes as domestic gold prices rose 12% in August to about INR 1.59 lakh per 10 grams, with the World Gold Council noting that sharp price swings are keeping jewellery buyers cautious ahead of the festive season. CPI data for August also show silver jewellery prices up over 107% year-on-year. Prices remain elevated going into Dhanteras and Diwali, with gold trading at about INR 1.50 lakh per 10 grams and silver at about INR 2.26 lakh per kg on MCX on October 7.

Early online sales mirror this, with Meesho reporting a 75% year-on-year rise in Day 1 orders across fashion, beauty and festive décor, while pricier smartphones weighed on electronics.

34% of urban Indian households spending this festive season likely to fund a significant part (25% or more) of it from savings; 83% to dip into savings to some extent

To understand how festive purchases will be funded, the survey asked households, “If your household plans discretionary spending this festive season, what proportion do you expect to fund from savings?” This question received 23,451 responses. In response, 17% said none, as spending will come entirely from earnings, while 49% expect to fund less than 25% from savings and 18% between 25% and 50%. No respondent chose 51-75% or more than 75%, while 16% said their spending will be funded entirely from savings. None indicated that borrowing would be required.

In aggregate, 83% of urban households planning festive spending expect to dip into savings, and 34% expect to fund a significant amount, 25% or more, from savings, including 16% who will rely on savings entirely. With retail inflation already at 5.54% in September, the RBI projecting it to peak at 6.0% in the October-December quarter and its October 7 rate hike making credit costlier, drawing on savings appears to be how many households plan to protect festive spending from pressure on monthly budgets.

In Summary

The LocalCircles Mood of the Consumer survey indicates that urban India’s festive season will be more subdued than last year. Urban Indian households are likely to spend INR 20,000 on average, and LocalCircles estimates total urban household festive spending at INR 1.97 lakh crore in 2026, 6% lower than INR 2.10 lakh crore in 2025, when GST rate cuts coincided with the festive season, though still above INR 1.85 lakh crore in 2024. While 57% of urban households surveyed plan discretionary purchases, 31% plan none, and budgets are largely modest: 30% expect to spend between INR 10,000 and INR 1 lakh and only 9% over INR 1 lakh. Spending is concentrated on clothing/fashion products, which 72% of those spending plan to buy, followed by home appliances & furniture and travel & holidays at 45% each, while jewellery purchases are limited to 6% amid elevated gold and silver prices.

The findings on funding are the most significant. 83% of households planning festive spending will dip into savings, and 34% will fund 25% or more of it from savings, including 16% who will rely on savings entirely. In other words, for many urban households this festive season is being paid for out of past savings rather than current income. This corroborates the RBI’s finding of resilient spending intentions despite weakening sentiment on the economy and jobs. With the RBI’s October 7 rate hike raising borrowing costs and rate cuts ruled out in the near term, savings, not credit, will be the cushion.

That cushion is thinning. Retail inflation has risen for eleven consecutive months to 5.54% in September, wholesale inflation has crossed 11%, food inflation is at 7.74% and crude oil remains above USD 100 per barrel, while household liabilities have been growing faster than financial assets. With wholesale prices rising at more than twice the pace of retail prices, more of that pressure could reach store shelves in the coming months, just as the RBI expects CPI inflation to peak at 6.0% in the October-December quarter. Households drawing down savings now may have less of a buffer for the wedding season and the expenses that follow into 2027. Urban India will light its diyas this Diwali as it always does; the difference this year is how much of the oil is being drawn from household savings.

Survey Demographics

The survey received over 67,000 responses from urban household consumers located across 307 districts of India. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women. 41% of respondents were from tier 1, 28% from tier 2 and 31% respondents were from tier 3 & 4 districts. The survey was conducted via the LocalCircles platform, and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.

Survey Methodology

This survey has been conducted using the proprietary LocalCircles stratified sampling methodology. With a minimum target of 30% participation of each gender and a minimum target of 25% participation from three location groups (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3-4 districts) on each poll, all polls were run. After the minimum participation criteria were met, all polls were run till they achieved steady state. Post achievement of steady state, the LocalCircles system using the bootstrapping technique drew additional samples to test for the margin of error. All polls were found to have a margin of error under 7% and a confidence level of over 93%.

About LocalCircles

LocalCircles, India’s leading Community Social Media platform enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables the Government to make policies that are citizen and small business centric. LocalCircles is also India’s # 1 pollster on issues of governance, public and consumer interest. More about LocalCircles can be found on http://www.localcircles.com.

Media Contact: media@localcircles.com, 91-8585909866

Jayesh Jaidka on PREET: A Story Conceived in Silence, crafted for the World

Jayesh Jaidka on PREET: A Story Conceived in Silence, crafted for the World

The 23-time international award-winning filmmaker reflects on an extraordinary journey that he has travelled from cricket pitches and theatre stages to standing in front of the camera and then shaping stories for the World cinema. A creative entrepreneur from the age of 20, he founded his production company, Pillowtalk Productions, embarking early on a path of independent storytelling & filmmaking.

His latest story marks an ambitious new chapter: Preet, a gripping suspense thriller and Hollywood–Bollywood crossover feature film that shines a light on domestic violence, hope, and the invisible lives of undocumented immigrants, weaving a powerful human story through a dark and compelling cinematic world.

Some films are written at a desk. Others are discovered while life quietly unfolds. For filmmaker Jayesh Jaidka, PREET was born not in a writer’s room, but in the stillness of a tiny New York apartment during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Jayesh’s journey has been anything but conventional. It has taken him from cricket academies to Delhi University’s vibrant theatre culture, from Boston University and the New York Film Academy to the director’s chair of an ambitious international feature film to what unfolds next?

PREET is a gripping crime and suspense thriller woven around two deeply human issues that transcend borders, domestic violence and the fragile existence of undocumented immigrants in New York City. What first emerged as a short film and proof of concept has now evolved into a full-length cinematic vision, the one that transcends boundaries and promises some of the best talent from across the globe.

The film is jointly produced by Harjot Kaur, Sarvesh Jaidka and Jayesh Jaidka. Jayesh forged the crew in both countries, US and India, provided the company setup and casted international and national known actors from India, US, UK, Canada, Mexico and Central Asia. As a director, story writer and screenplay writer, Jayesh shaped the creative soul of the film.

With production entering its final phase, Jayesh speaks about the long journey behind PREET, a journey fuelled as much by emotion as imagination.

Q: Jayesh, you have finally finished the shoot. How does it feel to finally see PREET taking shape?

Jayesh Jaidka: It feels surreal. When you’ve lived with a story for close to 6 years, you start observing the growth in it and sometimes it’s almost crazy how much everything has changed from the first draft to what we shot.

What astounds me more is how much I have evolved over the years. While Preet grew in story, teammates and the whatnots, I sometimes have a hard time recognizing when I went from a boy that had a hard time setting up his closet in NYC in 2020 to a man that now runs a whole company and is leading an indo-US feature film, while dealing with jealousies, insecurities and rivalry but also successful having a network base in both, US and India.

There’s a lot that I want to share in between but all I will say until the film is completed, the pain of all the rejections takes a back seat when the confidence of who you truly are, starts shaping in your personality. If you’re a filmmaker or actor trying to break in – use the power of those rejections to prove everyone wrong – anything is possible if you put your mind to it. That and learn the business – nothing is possible without it.

Q: You also brought a female co-writer into the project. Why was that important?

Preet is a woman’s story and not having a female voice leading it was the missing sauce to the script. Even before the short film/proof of concept, I took a swing at the feature film script and failed miserably. Partly, because I badly wanted to succeed at Sundance Film Festival, hence I wasn’t doing justice to myself by writing an art house film that had no correlation to myself as a filmmaker and entertainer.

It was when I decided to at least shoot the proof of concept to keep my passion alive that I realized that I have a heavy penchant for making a mystery thriller of this film and while I feel for the topic heavily, I want to showcase a domestic abuse survivor as a roaring power fighting back, which is when I knew I needed a female voice to lead the writing department.

A film that experiments with twists through psychological turn arounds of a domestic abuse survivor required a strong female writer and Jessica Jiji was the perfect partner I could find. I searched for a writing partner for a whole year, not wanting to work with writers that wanted to follow a simple writing formula written in books like Save The Cat. Taking nothing away from the book and while; both Jessica and I have read it, I wanted a brave writer that understood that a script that breaks these rules after having a foundation on them is a script that will transcend tremendously on screen.

Jessica Jiji is a fantastic, ever so happy and just the most amazing human to have worked with and dare I say it, my long lasting partner in crime in this film. I had a video chat with her where I showed her the rushes and she was able to tell the scene with just the frames and that’s how you know she knows her job and aces it without trying very hard. God’s gift.

I’m already developing my next with her – a band movie. I think I have a great friend in Jessica. Most likely taking off my shirt in this one, if I can sustain my stress to fun levels until the end of Preet, haha.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge in bringing PREET to life?

The patience, uncertainty, counts where I was taken lightly and just the sheer restraint I have had to show during the development of this film. This film has matured me in ways I didn’t know I could. I think the period of April 2024 – February 2026 was the most emotionally grilling and exhausting period of my life. The Bermuda triangle of travels between New York City, New Delhi and Mumbai really had me lost, pun intended.

As I answer this question, I am still doing a lot of things for the first time. It can be challenging trusting my own gut sometimes with all the opinions thrown at me. I guess that’s why my ideal, Mr. Ratan Tata used to say – Every Tough decision is a lonely decision.

Building a robust system for merging two of the biggest film industries is a task as is but to also be mindful of the risk involved in using family finances, personal loan and all my savings is a whole new ball game.

It builds you to a different stage altogether. Once a man goes through the pressures and confusions of doing everything for the first time, the self-confidence achieved at every stage is an immaculate feeling. Fully counting on character growth to not be my only reward after the film’s success haha! I have my eyes on a new BMW to begin with.

Q: Was filmmaking always your first love?

My first love will always be my family. Good people but can be a handful. My second love was a girl in high school that dumped me in 3 days. Lets never talk about that again. Still stings!

After that, yes – I was torn between acting and cricket. Acting took precedence because I was a sucker for attention, still am but now I’ve learnt to also be a giver and share space. Acting took me theatre days in Ramjas College where I studied economics. Post a 4 week acting course to NYFA LA and my theatre society not letting me direct a Kashmiri adaptation of the Pillowman by Martin Mcdonagh ; I started a film company out of revolt. Revolt led me to making films with friends and somehow I just fell in love with filmmaking.

Q: Beyond filmmaking, who is Jayesh Jaidka?

A goofy ambitious adventurous passionate sensitive travel bugging super talkative human seeking his full potential and a cute girlfriend.

Q: Finally, what should audiences expect from PREET?

It will blow your minds away, that’s what you can expect. The actors and crew members are some of the tightest performers and muscles out there. From my lead actress to the spot boy on the set in India, I am so proud of how everyone has contributed to the film. I also had the time of working with some of the most amazing talent in NYC that were a part of the B-wing shoot in NYC.

If you’re a lover of unsettling psychological suspense thrillers, this one is for you. If you’re not, I may have to drug and drag you to the theaters.

Q: What was the difference between your shoots in New York City and India?

The crew. I feel like the passion in India blew me away. This was my first stint of shooting in India and this told me so much about my home country. I felt a sudden surge of passion and mutual respect that all crew members that had for each other; which naturally translated to fun and frolic even in stressful situations. I would like to give special shoutouts to Ojas Jain (Director of Photography), Vishal Pandey (Production Designer), Anoop Tiwari (1st AD), Irshit Sharma (2nd AD), Sumit Dubey (Line Producer), Harshit Bakshi (Head of Production), Ritu Meebisht (Costume Designer) and my literal back bone – Sanand Saxena (Associate Producer and Director’s Assistant). A dream team that will carry forward!

Taking nothing away from the crew in NYC. We had a whole stint of stolen hard drives by a few delinquents but I’d rather like to shed light on some of the most amazing people that came onboard to resume the shoot and truly make the production experience in NYC enjoyable and how I remember the city as. I want to give them a shoutout here – Eleni McClain(1st AD), Tal Kissos(DP and Gaffer), Jenil Mehta(1st AC), Malvika Bajaj(Costume Designer), Emili Weintraub(Script Supervisor), Sebastian Holst (Sound) , Lou Serrano(Grip) and Esteban Campagne(Grip), to name a few.

Yakh Unveils Spooky Halloween Sale

Yakh Unveils Spooky Halloween Sale

NEW DELHI, DELHI — Yakh.in, the Curated online destination for stylish timepieces, today announced the launch of its highly anticipated Halloween Sale, showcasing its exclusive collection of ring watches. Combining precision engineering with bold, gothic aesthetics, Yakh is positioning its standout Skull Ring Watch as the must-have accessory and perfect gift for the upcoming spooky season.

As Halloween approaches, fashion enthusiasts and holiday revelers look for unique ways to elevate their costumes and autumn wardrobes. Yakh’s latest collection redefines wearable tech and jewelry by shrinking the classic timepiece into an elegant, statement-making ring.

The crown jewel of this year’s seasonal lineup is the Skull Ring Watch. Crafted with intricate detailing, it features a menacing yet sophisticated skull design that flips open to reveal a high-precision clock face. It serves as both a functional timepiece and a striking piece of statement jewelry, making it the ultimate Halloween wear or a uniquely memorable gift for lovers of alternative fashion.

“Our ring watches are designed for individuals who want to stand out, and Halloween is the perfect occasion to showcase that individuality,” said the spokesperson for Yakh.in. “The Skull Ring Watch bridges the gap between hauntingly beautiful gothic jewelry and everyday utility. Whether you are dressing up for a Halloween event or looking for a timeless gift with an edge, this collection delivers.”

Highlights of the Yakh Halloween Sale include:

  • The Ultimate Halloween Accessory: The Skull Ring Watches, will perfectly complement any costume or dark-aesthetic wardrobe.
  • Exclusive Holiday Discounts: Limited-time pricing across the entire ring watch catalog.
  • Premium Craftsmanship: Durable alloys, comfortable expandable bands, and reliable quartz movement.
  • The Perfect Gift: A ring watch makes an exceptionally unique and stylish gift, perfectly blending the utility of a timepiece with the elegance of statement jewelry. The best options feature stretchable expansion bands or custom size spacers, visit the official website at yakh.in.

The Spooky Halloween Sale is now live for a Limited period, giving shoppers the opportunity to explore exclusive offers before they disappear into the shadows. Customers are encouraged to shop early to secure their favorite styles and take advantage of seasonal promotions while supplies last.

For more information, visit yakh.in and discover the magic of the Yakh Spooky Halloween Sale today.

About Yakh

As consumers increasingly look for unique and meaningful products, Yakh continues to redefine the jewelry experience through innovation and creativity. The Halloween Sale reflects the brand’s mission to make elegant craftsmanship more accessible while celebrating festive moments with customers across India.

Yakh is an innovative e-commerce brand specializing in unique, miniature timepieces and statement jewelry. Committed to quality and distinctive style, Yakh.in provides curated accessories that allow customers to express their personal style in a bold, compact format.

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7Seas Entertainment Shifts into Higher Gear with “Formula Ride”

7Seas Entertainment Shifts into Higher Gear with “Formula Ride”

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 12: 7Seas Entertainment Limited (BSE: 540874) today announced Formula Ride, an upcoming mobile racing game designed to place players at the centre of high-speed competition while introducing strategic decisions that can influence the outcome of every race. Formula Ride is currently available for pre-registration on Google Play and pre-order on the App Store, ahead of its proposed commercial launch on Android and iOS.

Developed in India for domestic and international audiences, Formula Ride is being built as a feature-rich racing experience in which raw speed is only part of the challenge. Planned gameplay elements include tyre management, pit-stop strategy, vehicle-damage response, braking dynamics and race-control decisions as conditions change on the track.

A racing experience built around choice and competition

Formula Ride is planned to include a range of modes intended for both quick-play users and players seeking longer-term progression:

  • Championship Mode: a structured racing season proposed to feature 10 teams and a 20-driver grid.
  • Career Mode: progression through racing tiers, with opportunities to unlock vehicles and upgrades and build a racing reputation.
  • Quick Race and Classic Modes: accessible racing sessions offering different ways to experience the game.
  • Real-time Multiplayer: proposed competitive gameplay with supporting features such as leaderboards, achievements and daily rewards.

The game is intended to combine accessible controls with deeper systems that reward timing, judgement and consistent improvement. This balance is expected to make the title accessible to new players while providing progression and competitive features intended to support continued player engagement.

Advancing original gaming intellectual property

Formula Ride reflects the Company’s continuing focus on original gaming intellectual property and mobile-first product development. Its proposed combination of competitive gameplay, progression systems and multiplayer features is intended to provide a foundation for future product enhancements and content updates, subject to user adoption, commercial viability, technical feasibility and platform requirements.

For 7Seas Entertainment, the title is also an opportunity to showcase Indian game-development capabilities to a wider audience. The project brings together the Company’s teams across concept development, gameplay design, software engineering, visual production, quality assurance and publishing.

Management commentary

“Formula Ride is being designed to deliver more than the excitement of racing. Our focus is on creating an engaging experience in which players can compete, make meaningful strategic choices and grow through the game over time.

The title reflects our ambition to build original games in India for players everywhere. Its combination of race strategy, career progression and real-time multiplayer gives us a strong creative foundation on which we can continue to develop the experience. We are encouraged by the progress made so far and look forward to the commercial launch of Formula Ride and bringing the game to players in India and international markets.”

— L. M. Shankar, Managing Director, 7Seas Entertainment Limited

Designed for a wider audience

Formula Ride is being developed for mobile players who enjoy fast, competitive sessions as well as those who prefer structured championships and long-term career progression. Following its commercial launch, the Company intends to refine and update the title based on player feedback, performance data, technical considerations and applicable platform policies.

Launch availability, platform details and further updates will be communicated through the Company’s official website and channels.

About 7Seas Entertainment Limited

7Seas Entertainment Limited is a developer and publisher of digital games and interactive content headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The Company develops original gaming intellectual property and digital experiences across mobile, PC and web platforms and works across game design, software development, animation, quality assurance, publishing and AI-assisted content production.

Media contact

7Seas Entertainment Limited

Website: www.7seasent.com

Email: info@7seasent.com

Telephone: +91 40 4953 3636

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations. Actual outcomes may differ due to development timelines, player response, market conditions and platform requirements, and the proposed launch does not assure any immediate financial or commercial benefit.

Space Zone India Demonstrates Mid-Air Rocket Engine Restart with RRR-1, Eyes Commercial Expansion After Successful Launch

Space Zone India Demonstrates Mid-Air Rocket Engine Restart with RRR-1, Eyes Commercial Expansion After Successful Launch

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 12: Chennai-based aerospace company Space Zone India Private Limited has reported the successful demonstration of an in-flight rocket engine restart mechanism through its RRR-1 (RHUMI Restart Rocket), launched as part of Mission RHUMI TWIN 2026 from the Thiruvidanthai coastline near Chennai on October 10.

The experimental mission marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to develop indigenous restart-capable hybrid rocket propulsion systems, a technology with potential applications in reusable launch vehicles, satellite launch systems and advanced aerospace research.

Engine Restarted After Three-Second Shutdown

According to the mission team, RRR-1 successfully completed a programmed propulsion sequence involving two powered-flight phases separated by a controlled engine shutdown.

The rocket engine initially operated for approximately nine seconds, generating thrust during the first phase of flight. The propulsion system was then intentionally shut down for three seconds, during which the vehicle continued along its flight trajectory without engine thrust.

At the 12-second mark, the engine was reportedly reignited for another five seconds, completing the planned 17-second sequence.

The demonstration involved a total of 14 seconds of powered engine operation, separated by a three-second unpowered interval.

The company said the flight was supported by onboard instrumentation and tracking systems designed to monitor the rocket’s trajectory and propulsion performance.

Hybrid Propulsion Offers Greater Control Over Rocket Operations

RRR-1 uses hybrid rocket propulsion technology, which combines solid fuel with a separately supplied oxidiser.

Unlike conventional solid-propellant motors, hybrid rocket engines can be designed to allow controlled shutdown by interrupting oxidiser flow. Restart capability, however, requires additional engineering to ensure reliable reignition under changing flight conditions.

The successful demonstration of the planned sequence provides an experimental basis for further studies into engine restart reliability, ignition response, combustion stability and propulsion performance.

The technology could eventually support rockets requiring multiple engine burns during a single mission, allowing propulsion to be managed according to different phases of flight.

Potential to Improve Fuel Efficiency and Reduce Launch Costs

One of the principal advantages being investigated is the ability to operate rocket engines only during selected phases of a mission.

Rather than relying on a single continuous burn, restart-capable propulsion systems can potentially provide greater flexibility in trajectory planning and propellant utilisation.

Such systems may help optimise mission performance, particularly in applications requiring multiple propulsion events, orbital adjustments or controlled recovery manoeuvres.

The company is examining whether the technology could contribute to improved propellant efficiency, lower operating costs and more economical launch systems.

However, these benefits would require further validation through propulsion testing, vehicle-level analysis and repeated flight demonstrations.

Technology Could Support Future Reusable and Re-Entry Vehicles

Engine restart capability is an important feature in several reusable rocket architectures, particularly those requiring additional powered-flight phases for recovery and landing.

The technology demonstrated through RRR-1 could provide a foundation for investigating future reusable launch systems and certain powered re-entry vehicle concepts.

In such systems, controlled reignition may enable propulsion-assisted manoeuvres, trajectory corrections and deceleration during selected phases of flight.

Further research would be required to establish whether the hybrid propulsion system can meet the performance, reliability and control requirements of larger reusable vehicles.

Applications in Advanced Aerospace and Defence Research

The programme also has potential relevance to advanced aerospace and defence research, particularly in the study of controlled propulsion, programmable engine operation and multi-phase powered flight.

Restart-capable engines may allow researchers to investigate how propulsion can be managed at different stages of a vehicle’s trajectory.

In certain specialised aerospace applications, controlled reignition could potentially influence vehicle speed and terminal-phase flight conditions. Such applications remain conceptual for the RRR-1 programme and would require dedicated development, validation and applicable regulatory approvals.

Distinguished Dignitaries Witness the Mission

The rocket launch was witnessed by the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Padma Shri Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, Former Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, and Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Several scientists associated with ISRO and DRDO, senior government officials, administrators and thousands of students were also present.

The mission was led by Anand Megalingam, Founder and CEO of Space Zone India, who served as Mission Director.

The programme also provided students with exposure to rocket propulsion, satellite systems and experimental aerospace engineering.

Mission Supported by Indian and International Partners

Mission RHUMI TWIN 2026 received support from The Global Help International Inc., a private foundation based in the United States and The Martin Group.

Their contributions supported the mission and its associated educational initiatives, helping students gain practical exposure to space science and rocket technology.

Company to Approach Investors Following Successful Technology Demonstration

Following the successful launch, Space Zone India is now preparing to initiate discussions with potential investors and strategic industry partners to support the next stage of its technological development.

The company had not initiated a formal investment-raising process before the mission, choosing instead to focus its resources on developing, testing and demonstrating the restart-capable propulsion system.

With the flight demonstration completed, the organisation is now working towards preparing an investment and expansion plan based on the results of its experimental programme.

The proposed investment strategy will focus on strengthening propulsion research infrastructure, expanding engineering capabilities, conducting additional static-fire and flight tests, and developing larger restart-capable hybrid propulsion systems.

The company also intends to explore partnerships with aerospace manufacturers, research institutions and commercial space organisations.

The investment plan is expected to support the transition from experimental demonstrations towards more advanced technology development and eventual commercial applications, subject to further qualification and regulatory approvals.

Next Phase to Focus on Technology Validation and Scaling

The next stage of the RRR programme is expected to involve further technical validation, including repeated ignition testing, engine performance assessment, combustion stability studies and evaluation of restart reliability.

The company is also considering the engineering challenges involved in adapting restart-capable hybrid propulsion systems to larger vehicles.

While the October 10 demonstration established an important experimental milestone, additional testing will be necessary to evaluate operational reliability, performance consistency and commercial feasibility.

The successful RRR-1 demonstration positions Space Zone India to pursue a new phase of aerospace research, strategic investment and indigenous propulsion development, with the longer-term objective of contributing to India’s growing private space industry.