Friday, July 18, 2025

Govinda’s Restaurant Inaugurated at ISKCON Chowpatty

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Gauranga Das Highlights Skilling Push for Tribal Youth through Culinary School

Mumbai, July 18, 2025 – Govinda's, ISKCON's signature pure vegetarian dining experience, opened its new outlet today at ISKCON Chowpatty in the presence of Shri C P Radhakrishnan, the Honorable Governor of Maharashtra; Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange; and senior ISKCON leaders. The event included a press conference that elucidated how ISKCON's holistic vision of spiritual wellness, sattvik food and rural empowerment through the skilling process.

Govinda's is a new restaurant to be based on teachings from HH Radhanath Swami with Gauranga Das Prabhu taking a leadership role and opening Govinda's to provide a sattvik (Vedic) dining experience. “This is not simply a restaurant. Govinda'partners with the goal to allow us to grow a culture of compassion, purity and well-being. The food we are serving here is not only nourishing for the body, but also, as prasadam, is purifying for the spirit,” Gauranga Das, ISKCON GBC and Director of Govardhan Ecovillage, explained. Gauranga Das highlighted the impending Govardhan School of Culinary Arts, which is being promoted as the first of its kind internationally, in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation and Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts, which will teach sattvik cooking traditions and provide formal education for tribal and underprivileged youth.

Dhruva Karunakar Shetty, CEO, Govinda’s and Director of Srinathji’s Cuisines Pvt Ltdstated"We are thankful to be launching Govinda's in South Mumbai, blessed by HH Radhanath Swami, and guided by Gauranga Prabhu. With this, we further commit ourselves to providing soulful and delicious cuisine and creating more opportunities through structured skill programs, especially for youth entering the hospitality industry."

ISKCON emphasized recent major food relief projects which have supplied over 3.8 billion free meals around the world. For instance, during the recent Jagannath Rath Yatra, ISKCON delivered over 4 million meals through the Adani Foundation. The introduction of Govinda's further strengthens ISKCON's commitment to promoting sattvik living, coupled with the organization's focus on empowering tribal youth through its shortly to be launched Culinary School, which corporates have the opportunity to support.

 

Thanks & Regards,

Dilip Kalekar

Cell-93240 66600

 


Thursday, July 17, 2025

RRP DEFENCE LTD (RRP GROUP, India), through its dedicated entity "Vimananu Ltd", and CYGR (Franco-American) Partner to Manufacture Advanced Drones in India



*Navi Mumbai, 17th July 2025* — In a significant stride toward strengthening India’s self-reliance in aerospace and defence technology, *RRP DEFENCE LTD (RRP GROUP, India), through its dedicated entity "Vimananu Ltd",* and *CYGR (Franco-American)* have announced a strategic collaboration to set up a drone manufacturing facility in India under the *Make in India* initiative.


This partnership aims to deliver *advanced drone systems* designed for tactical, surveillance, and industrial use—leveraging *French-American technology* and *Indian manufacturing capability*.


The facility, to be located in *Navi Mumbai*, will support the production of next-generation drones including:


* 🔸 *Hand-Launched Fixed Wing Drones* – Lightweight and portable for field deployment

* 🔸 *Nano Drones* – Compact platforms for close-range and indoor surveillance

* 🔸 *ISR Drones* – Designed for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance


*Quotes from Leadership:*


> *Mr. Rajendra Chodankar*, Chairman, RRP Defence Ltd, said:

> *"This collaboration is a defining moment for India’s UAV ecosystem. By combining our local manufacturing strength and field understanding with CYGR’s world-class drone technologies, we’re building systems that meet India’s unique operational needs. It’s a proud step toward Atmanirbhar Bharat."*


> *Mr. George El Aily*, Director, CYGR France, stated:

> *"India is a key strategic partner for us, and we are excited to bring our cutting-edge UAV platforms to this growing market. Through this collaboration with RRP DEFENCE LTD, we are not only transferring technology but also co-developing future-ready solutions that support India’s defence and surveillance landscape."*


The Global Advisor, Dr. Zaynah, also mentioned that they will be offloading an immediate contract valued at over *USD 20 million* for Make in India global exports in defence. The quantities would be in hundreds of units each year. The LoI is also being released.


*Key Highlights:*


* French UAV technology to be manufactured in India

* Facility based in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

* Focus on defence, homeland security, and industrial drone solutions

* Enhanced capability for Indian forces and strategic sectors

* Contribution to India’s high-skill employment and aerospace exports


This partnership underlines India’s emergence as a *global drone hub*, backed by strategic international cooperation and indigenous capabilities.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

YATRI Distributes Free Raincoats to Mumbai Commuters as Part of Monsoon Relief Drive

 


Mumbai, 16th July 2025:  In a heartwarming gesture this monsoon, Yatri - the official app for Central and Western Railways - organised a raincoat and waterproof bag cover distribution drive outside Dadar station today. The initiative aimed to support daily local train commuters who brave the rains to keep the city moving.

The on-ground activity saw YATRI team members, led by Reeva Sakaria, Co-founder of YATRI, personally distributing rain protection gear to hundreds of commuters, including station vendors, workers, and everyday passengers. The simple yet impactful gesture was met with smiles, gratitude, and surprise from Mumbaikars navigating the unpredictable monsoon downpours.

This campaign, under the banner #MumbaiChaYATRI, is part of YATRI’s continued efforts to engage with the city’s commuting community and contribute meaningfully to their everyday travel experience.

Visually striking, the bright raincoats and vibrant branding created powerful moments of community support, captured in real-time by passersby and media present at the venue.

Speaking at the event, Reeva Sakaria said, “We wanted to do something that wasn’t about promotion, but about presence. Mumbai’s local train commuters are the heartbeat of the city, and if we can make even a small difference in their day, especially during the rains, it’s worth it.”

The activation was held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and saw a great engagement and encouragement from the commuters at the venue.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Property Share files for Rs 473 crore Initial Public Offering for India’s 2nd SM REIT scheme to open on Monday, July 21, 2025

Mumbai/Bengaluru, 15th July, 2025: Property Share Investment Trust (“SM REIT”), India’s first registered Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trust, has filed the Key Information of the Trust and Key Information of the Scheme (“Offer Documents”) for PropShare Titania, their second scheme under the trust aggregating to up to Rs 473 crore.

 

The Bid/Issue opens Monday, July 21, 2025 and closes Friday, July 25, 2025. The price band for the Issue is ₹ 10.0 lakhs to ₹ 10.6 Lakhs per Titania Unit. The minimum bid size is Rs 10,00,000 the minimum investment amount. Bids can be made for a minimum of 1 Titania Unit and in multiples of 1 Titania Unit thereafter by bidders.

 

The IPO comprises of a fresh issue of Titania Units with no offer for sale component (the “Issue”). This Issue is being made through the Book Building Process and in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Real Estate Investment Trusts)  Regulations, 2014 (“REIT Regulations”) and the REIT Master Circular dated July 11, 2025, wherein not more than 75% of the Net Issue shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Institutional Investors and balance 25% of the Net Issue shall be available for allocation to Non-Institutional Investors, in accordance with the REIT Regulations.

 

Property Share will also invest a minimum 5% of the Titania Units of the scheme from its capital into the offering as the Investment Manager contribution.

 

PropShare Titania comprises of a 4,37,973 square feet Grade A+ office space in G Corp Tech Park located in Thane, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with ESG Certifications including LEED Platinum (O&M), WELL Health and Safety rating and BEE 5-star certifications. It is 100% occupied by a diversified tenant portfolio comprising Fortune 500 companies, MNCs and blue-chip tenants including Aditya Birla Capital and Concentrix. The scheme offers investors a projected distribution yield of 9.0% for FY26, FY27, FY28 and 8.7% for FY29.

 

PropShare Titania is located on the main Ghodbunder Road, Thane, which is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Thane has a large residential catchment area with robust social infrastructure (Source: JLL Report).

 

The Investment Manager to the Trust is Property Share Investment Manager Private Limited. The Net Proceeds are proposed to be utilized to the extent of Rs 217.00 crore for acquisition of the entire issued and paid-up equity share capital of the Titania SPV as per the Share Purchase Agreement; Rs 232.94 crore for providing loan to the Titania SPV for extinguishment and redemption of the debenture liability of the Titania SPV, by redeeming the OCDs (including any accrued interest); and general corporate purposes. 

 

Kunal Moktan, Co-founder, Property Share said “After the success of our first scheme of SM REIT, we are excited to launch PropShare Titania. This marks another milestone in our mission in creating a transparent, liquid, and institutional-quality real estate investment platform for individual investors. In a volatile equity market environment, rent-yielding commercial assets like SM REITs are emerging as an alternative investment opportunity for investors.”

 

Hashim Khan, Co-founder, Property Share said “PropShare Titania continues to offer investors access to a Grade A+ commercial assets at an attractive entry point. SM REITs are a new vehicle for real estate assets to be owned and traded, and we are proud to be embarking on this transformation with PropShare Titania.” 

 

Property Share has an experienced team comprising 45 members having academic pedigree from leading IITs and IIMs with institutional investing experience across leading international and domestic real estate funds. 11 of its senior investing team come with a cumulative experience of 63 years in commercial real estate investing in India.

 

Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited is the sole lead manager (“BRLM”) to the Issue and KFin Technologies Ltd is the Registrar to the Issue. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is the domestic legal counsel for the Trust and Investment Manager in relation to the Issue and Trilegal is the domestic legal counsel for the sole lead manager in relation to the Issue. Axis Trustee Services Limited is the Trustee for the Issue, and PropShare Investment Manager Private Limited is the Investment Manager for the Issue.. The Titania Units are proposed to be listed on BSE Limited (“BSE”).

 

About SM REITs

SM REITs are a new asset class introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a sub-class within the REIT framework for assets valued between Rs. 50-500 crores. Similar to REITs, SM REIT units are required to be listed on the stock exchange(s) but with a minimum lot size of 1 unit of ₹ 10.0 lakhs. SM REITs are not permitted to invest in under-construction assets or land and must distribute 95% of earnings as distributions to unit holders.

 

About Property Share

Property Share was the first firm to receive the SM REIT license after the securities market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India notified the SM REIT regulations in March 2024. India’s 1st SM REIT scheme - PropShare Platina was listed on the BSE in December 2024 by Property Share.

Property Share was founded in 2015 by Hashim Khan and Kunal Moktan. Prior to this, Kunal spent more than 7 years at global real estate fund - The Blackstone Group, investing in Indian real estate. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad). Hashim has more than 8 years of experience in real estate investing at AltInvest Online Platform Private Limited. Hashim holds a bachelor’s degree in technology from the Indian Institute of Technology (Kanpur) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad). 

Along with Kunal and Hashim, Property Share’s board consists of Ben Cassey – a chartered surveyor with extensive UK real estate experience; Jagdish. C Sharma – a chartered accountant with over twenty years of experience in real estate, including nine years as vice chairman and managing director at Sobha Limited; Rachna Dikshit – a seasoned banking professional, having senior roles at the Reserve Bank of India; and Ramakrishnan Seshan – an IIM-Calcutta alumnus with over twenty years of experience in retail banking and wealth management industry, including  over eleven years as head of wealth and private banking at Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited.

Property Share’s holding company, AltInvest Online Platform Private Limited, is backed by alternative institutional investors including Westbridge Capital, Lightspeed India, BEENEXT and Pravega Ventures.

 

Disclaimer: (*)

DISCLAIMER YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER BEFORE CONTINUING. IMPORTANT:

You must read and agree with the terms and conditions of the following disclaimer before continuing. This press release contains selected information about the activities of Property Share Investment Trust, its second scheme PropShare Titania its schemes, portfolio and the parties to the Trust and (collectively, referred here as the "Trust") and affiliates (together, the "Group") settled by the Property Share Investment Manager Private Limited (the "Investment Manager") as at the date of this press release. It does not purport to present a comprehensive overview of the Group or contain all the information necessary to evaluate an investment in the Trust. this press release (the “Material”) are being made in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014, as amended. In accessing the Material, you agree and acknowledge that the Material does not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to subscribe to any securities offered by the Trust, its schemes and portfolio and the parties to the Trust in any jurisdiction and to any person. Further, you acknowledge and agree that any investment in the Trust or its schemes or portfolio shall be pursuant to offering of securities undertaken by the Trust and its investment manager undertaken in the manner permitted by applicable law and for taking an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the securities, at the time of the offer, including the risks involved. Additionally, the Material must be read along with the risk factors and Key Information of the Scheme and Key Information of the Trust filed with the SEBI, stock exchange and available on the websites of the lead manager, Trust and Investment Manager. The Material has not been and will not be approved by any regulatory authority in India, including the SEBI or any stock exchange in India and may not be accessed in any jurisdiction where the delivery of such materials may not be permitted by law. You must satisfy yourself that you are not subject to any local requirements which prohibit or restrict you from accessing these Material. No representation or warranty express or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the accuracy, completeness or correctness of any information, including any projections, estimates, targets and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein and, accordingly, none of the Trust / Investment Manager, their respective directors, officers or employees or affiliates, advisors or representatives, including the book running lead manager ("BRLM"), or any such person's officers or employees accepts any liability (in negligence or otherwise) whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this Material. The BRLM, directly and/or through their affiliates, are acting for the Trust/ Investment Manager and not the recipient of this document and the receipt of this document by any recipient is not to be taken as the giving of investment advice by the BRLM or its affiliates to that recipient, nor to constitute such person a customer or client of the BRLM or their affiliates. Accordingly, none of the BRLM and their affiliates will be responsible in any manner whatsoever to the recipient for, including but not limited to, providing protections afforded to its customers or clients or advising the recipient in relation to any potential transaction. Each of the BRLM, directly and/or through affiliates may act as market maker or assume an underwriting commitment in the units of any Trusts discussed in these materials, may sell them to or buy them from clients on a principal or discretionary basis and may also perform or seek to perform banking or underwriting services for or relating to those companies, and may, from time to time, perform or solicit banking, financial or other services for or from any Trust mentioned herein, and these activities may give rise to a conflict of interest, which the recipient hereby acknowledges. The information is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly and shall not be copied or duplicated in any form by any means or redistributed. You are reminded that documents transmitted in electronic form may be altered or changed during the process of transmission and consequently, neither the Trust or the parties to the Trust nor any of their affiliates accept any liability or responsibility whatsoever in respect of alterations or changes which have taken place during the course of transmission of electronic data. Further, neither the Trust or the parties to the Trust nor any of their affiliates will be responsible for any loss or damage that could result from interception and interpretation by any third parties of any information being made available to you through this document or any loss to any person or entity caused by any shortcoming, defect or inaccuracy which may have inadvertently or otherwise crept into this document. Neither the Trust or the parties to the Trust or any of their affiliates nor any of their directors, officers and employees will be liable or have any responsibility of any kind for any loss or damage that you incur emanating from the document or Material, or resulting from the act or omission of any other party involved in making this document or the data contained therein available to you, or from any other cause relating to your access to, inability to access, or use of the this document or these Materials. If you are not permitted to view the Material in this document or are in any doubt as to whether you are permitted to view these materials, please do not access and delete/destroy this document.

 

Education, Unlocked: ClassTym Launches to Empower Learners and Teachers


Launched with the mission to democratize quality education by putting power back in the hands of educators

Integrated tools for scheduling, student management and Real-time dashboards offering insights 

Verified educator network

Focused on building trust and long-term student-mentor relationships.

Mumbai, July 16, 2025 — ClassTym, a next-generation interactive teaching platform, built around transparency and personalization launches with a radical mission: to put the power back in the hands of educators thus making quality mentorship accessible to students everywhere while reshaping the future of learning through human connection.

In a digital age where education is increasingly commodified and reduced to influencer content, ClassTym offers a refreshing alternative. Founded by Divya Tej, a visionary entrepreneur and passionate education reformer, the platform rejects rigid, curriculum-heavy systems in favor of flexible, mentor-led learning. At its core, it is a student-centric and educator-first platform that equips independent tutors, coaches, and subject matter experts with the tools to build digital classrooms — without the burden of upfront costs or rigid structures. It offers integrated tools for scheduling, whiteboarding, content delivery, and student management — all designed to make learning interactive, accessible, and impactful.

“At ClassTym, our vision is to create a world where quality education isn’t a privilege, but a right — accessible to anyone, anywhere. We’ve built a platform that connects passionate educators with eager learners in a way that’s seamless, personal, and empowering.” said Divya Tej, Founder of ClassTym.

He further added “Real learning happens when students connect with verified, passionate educators — not algorithms. At ClassTym, we’re not replacing human connection with technology but using technology to enhance it. With intuitive tools and a seamless interface, ClassTym is focused on bridging the gap between students and educators, making knowledge-sharing meaningful and impactful for all.”

Reshaping the EdTech Industry

The launch of ClassTym marks a paradigm shift in the EdTech industry. While most platforms emphasize content delivery and scalability, ClassTym champions student-mentor relationships, academic integrity, and educator empowerment. It enables students to choose their mentors based on demo classes, real reviews, and subject compatibility. By shifting away from a one-size-fits-all model, ClassTym enables personalized learning journeys while supporting educators with smart tools that scale their reach and income.

Unlike other EdTech platforms that thrive on influencers and content creators, ClassTym stands firm on academic integrity. Every educator on the platform is verified, ensuring students learn from qualified, real-world experts — not social media personas.

A Vision Born from Experience

As an alumnus of Good Shepherd International School, Pathways World School, and Bournemouth University (UK), Tej combines global academic exposure with hands-on experience. His leadership comes from working at schools, where he engaged with thousands of students and teachers, giving him firsthand insight into the barriers limiting educator autonomy and student access — especially outside Tier-1 cities. It was this realization that led him to launch ClassTym, a platform that removes geographic, financial, and institutional barriers.

What Sets ClassTym Apart

ClassTym is built from the ground up with a laser focus on transparency, accessibility, and empowerment. Key features include:

Zero Upfront Fees for Educators – Anyone can start teaching on ClassTym without paying a rupee. This reduces entry barriers for passionate educators across the world.

Global Reach – Now live in India, UK, USA, UAE, and Ireland, ClassTym connects educators and students across borders, unlocking global teaching and learning opportunities.

Real-Time Dashboards – Educators can track income, student engagement, and performance metrics all in one place — bringing clarity and control to their teaching careers.

Verified Expert Network – No influencers. Only qualified, vetted educators are allowed on the platform, ensuring credibility and trust for students.

Student Empowerment – Students select educators based on demo sessions, reviews, and subject fit, ensuring a better learning match and stronger academic outcomes.

ClassTym is more than a platform — it is deeply grounded in a powerful philosophy: authentic learning must be rooted in trust, interaction, and mentorship. Built to empower real educators and offer students a truly personalized experience, ClassTym aims to make education interactive, transparent, and deeply human again.



About ClassTym

ClassTym is a next generation teaching and learning platform built to empower educators and personalize education for students worldwide. Founded by education reformer Divya Tej, ClassTym combines intuitive technology with a human-first approach, enabling verified tutors, coaches, and subject experts to build digital classrooms without upfront costs or constraints. With powerful tools for scheduling, content delivery, and student management, the platform fosters meaningful connections between educators and learners across India, the UK, USA, UAE, and Ireland. At its core, ClassTym is reimagining the future of education — making it more accessible, transparent, and deeply human.

To learn more please visit https://www.classtym.com

Indian Racing Festival 2025 Kicks Off With Historic Driver Draft in Mumbai

Indian Racing League announces complete team line-ups for the 2025 season through a first-of-its-kind driver draft featuring 24 drivers across six franchises, including international champions, Indian talents, and women racers.


The 2025 season of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) added another significant milestone to its journey today, with the first-ever official Driver Draft for the Indian Racing League (IRL). Hosted at the iconic Taj Lands End in Mumbai, the event brought together franchise owners, league officials, and media to mark the formal beginning of a season that promises high-stakes competition, global talent, and deeper fan engagement. The event was designed to introduce greater structure and transparency to the process of building teams – a first for Indian motorsport and to reiterate IRF’s  vision of creating a league that is both inclusive and performance-driven.


In a thrilling session earlier in the evening, 24 drivers were selected across six city-based franchises for the upcoming IRL season. Each team picked four drivers, creating a balanced and competitive lineup that includes an experienced international driver, an emerging international or Indian-origin talent, a domestic Indian driver, and a female driver. The selection was not only symbolic  but also strategic, with teams building their rosters around driving styles, track experience, and data-backed performance indicators. 


The final grid features accomplished names like Neel Jani - former Formula 1 test driver and Le Mans winner, Jon Lancaster - with a background in GP2 and endurance racing,  and Raoul Hyman - a two-time IRL champion of Indian origin who returns with strong fan support. On the Indian side, young talents such as Ruhaan Alva, Sohil Shah, Sai Sanjay, & Akshay Bohra bring proven speed and sharp racecraft, while female racers like Fabienne Wohlwend, Gabriela Jilkova, and Caitlin Wood round out the grid with international experience across W Series, F3, and GT formats.


The draft was followed by a joint press conference where all six team owners including public figures from Indian cinema and sport took the stage to reveal their teams and discuss their vision for the league. Team owners & key personnel from the franchises were present during the event, as teams finalised upon their picks. Each owner, along with their technical teams, worked closely to build a roster tailored to both competitive goals & regional identity. This high-engagement approach signals a new level of dedication and investment from franchise owners, not only in the sport but in shaping the narrative around their teams.


“This brings our collective vision to life when it comes to the Indian Racing Festival 2025,” said Mr. Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL), the organisation behind IRF. “With this driver draft, we’re building a new foundation for motorsport in India – one that’s inclusive, structured, and deeply competitive. The Driver Draft for IRL 2025 celebrates talent, promotes competence, and builds serious anticipation for the racing season. What we’re doing here is building a sport for India, by India, with the world watching.”, he added.


Each franchise from Delhi’s Speed Demons to the newest entrant, Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru now heads into the season with a race-ready lineup. The 2025 season will begin in August and will feature races across multiple cities, including permanent circuits and urban street tracks throughout India. 


The evening concluded with an media interaction where the management, owners and the press engaged– a fitting end to a day that marked the beginning of a pivotal & memorable chapter in Indian motorsport.


IRL 2025 Driver Draft – Final Team Line-Ups


Speed Demons Delhi (Owner: Arjun Kapoor)


Alister Yoong (Malaysia) – Regular in Asian single-seaters, son of former F1 driver Alex Yoong


Sai Sanjay (India) – Consistent domestic performer across Indian circuit championships


Shahan Ali Mohsin (India) – Former F4 SEA champion and one of India’s top karting graduates


Caitlin Wood (Australia) – Experienced in W Series and GT World Challenge



Hyderabad Blackbirds (Owner: Naga Chaitanya)


Jon Lancaster (UK) – Former GP2 winner and Le Mans podium finisher


Akshay Bohra (India) – Promising Indian-origin driver with F4 experience in Europe and UAE


Mohamed Ryan (India) – Young talent with strong sim-racing and F4 credentials


Gabriela Jilkova (Czech Republic) – Sim and GT racing expert with international recognition



Goa Aces (Owner: John Abraham)


Raoul Hyman (UK/SA) – Two-time IRL champion and F3 veteran


Akash Gowda (India) – Versatile Indian racer with multiple podiums in national series


Chetan Surineni (India) – Emerging domestic competitor known for pace and consistency


Fabienne Wohlwend (Liechtenstein) – W Series and Ferrari Challenge star



Kolkata Royal Tigers (Owner: Sourav Ganguly)


Tom Canning (UK) – British GT Champion with endurance racing experience


Sohil Shah (India) – F4 India podium finisher and consistent IRL performer


Sandeep Kumar (India) – Returning driver with national championship wins


Alexandra Hervé (France) – F4 and Eurocup contender with strong racecraft



Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru (Owner: Sudeep Kichcha)


Neel Jani (Switzerland) – Le Mans winner and former F1 test driver


Ruhaan Alva (India) – Bengaluru’s young prodigy and F4 India front-runner


Kyle Kumaran (India) – National karting and F4 talent


Jem Hepworth (UK) – British endurance and GT racing driver



Chennai Turbo Riders (Owner: Keerthivasan)


Aqil Alibhai (Kenya) – Formula 4 UAE race winner with strong international pedigree


Shibin Yousaf (India) – Consistent performer in Indian circuit racing


Tijil Rao (India) – Part of India’s new wave of single-seater talent


Laura Camps Torras (Spain) – Ferrari Driver Academy alumna and standout karting graduate


_______


About Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL)


Founded by Akhilesh Reddy, Armaan Ebrahim, and Aditya Patel, RPPL powers the Indian Racing Festival and India’s motorsport ambitions. With innovation, inclusivity, and identity at its core, RPPL is building a homegrown, FIA-recognised racing ecosystem for India and beyond.

Indian Institute of Creative Technologies Announces Cutting-Edge Courses in AVGC-XR for Inaugural Batch Starting in August, 2025


: Mumbai, 15 July 2025

India’s burgeoning digital and creative economy is set for a transformational leap as the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) opens admissions for its first batch of students starting this August. The institute will offer a robust portfolio of industry-driven courses in the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector.
The institute, which was announced by Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, at World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in May 2025, is backed by prestigious global partnerships and industry leaders. The inaugural academic offering includes six specialized courses in Gaming, four courses in Post Production and eight courses in Animation, Comics and XR. These programmes have been meticulously designed in collaboration with top industry players to ensure students are equipped with the skills required to thrive in the ever-evolving creative technology landscape.
IICT recently signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of York, United Kingdom, paving the way for collaborative research, faculty exchange and global certification pathways. Adding to its strong foundation, leading global companies such as Google, YouTube, Adobe, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA and JioStar have committed to long-term collaborations with IICT. Their support encompasses curriculum development, scholarships, internships, startup incubation and placement opportunities.
IICT, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vishwas Deoskar stated that the vision is to make India a global powerhouse in the AVGC-XR sector by nurturing world-class talent. The courses are designed to meet global standards while being rooted in India’s dynamic creative potential. The detailed curriculum is expected to be announced later this month.
The Governing Board of IICT consists of Shri Sanjay Jaju, Shri Vikas Kharge, Smt. Swati Mhase, Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Shri Ashish Kulkarni, Shri Manvendra Shukul, and Shri Rajan Navani. The Governing Council members include Shri Munjal Shroff, Shri Chaitanya Chichlikar, Shri Biren Ghose, Shri Bhupendra Kainthola, and Shri Gaurav Banerjee.
With the global AVGC-XR industry projected to grow exponentially, IICT’s comprehensive course offerings aim to build a future-ready talent pool that will contribute significantly to India's creative economy and position the country as a leader in immersive and digital content technologies.