Mission Journalisam

Dilip Patel appointed as Gujarat State Vice-President of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party

Santosh Sahu 0 State September 16, 2026

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</div></b></div><div><b>Dilip Patel appointed as Gujarat State Vice-President of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party</b></div><div><br></div><div><b>Mumbai: Dilip Patel</b>, a senior journalist and Chief Editor of Mumbai Tarang (Gujarati and Hindi newspaper) and Western India Times (English daily Newspaper), has been appointed as the <b>Gujarat State Vice-President of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party</b>.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Dilip Patel</b> is known for his impartial and fearless writing in the field of journalism. He actively engages the public, the government, and the administration through his newspaper in Mumbai, as well as throughout Gujarat, including Delhi. The appointment of this important party position to a person who has always raised the voice of workers, farmers, and soldiers, and who has lived up to Sardar Saheb's principles of "The Foundation of a Strong India, Sardar's Thought" and "Nation First" will further strengthen the party in Gujarat.</div>

Dilip Patel appointed as Gujarat State Vice-President of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party

Dilip Patel appointed as Gujarat State Vice-President of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party Mumbai: Dilip Patel , a senior journalis...

DRYDOCKS WORLD AND COCHIN SHIPYARD FORM JOINT VENTURE TO STRENGTHEN INDIA’S SHIP REPAIR INDUSTRY

Santosh Sahu 0 Business September 15, 2026

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</div></div><div><b>Mumbai: </b>Drydocks World, a DP World company, and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) announced the signing of a joint venture agreement to operate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) Cochin.</div><div><b>The agreement was signed by Captain Rado Antolovic, PhD, CEO, Drydocks World, and Jose V J, Chairman & Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and H.E. Omran Sharaf Alhashimi, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology. </b></div><div>The agreement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Drydocks World (DDW) and CSL during India Maritime Week 2025, under which the two organizations agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in ship repair and allied maritime services. The companies have now formalised this collaboration through a 50:50 joint venture, marking the establishment of a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership in India’s ship repair sector.</div><div>Under the arrangement, the joint venture will operate, consolidate and expand the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) in Cochin, creating additional capacity to service a wider range of vessels and meet the growing requirements of Indian, regional and international customers.</div><div>The partnership is expected to strengthen Cochin’s position as a maritime services hub, while creating opportunities across ship repair, engineering, fabrication and associated maritime services in Kerala.</div><div><span><b>Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, </b>said, “This joint venture is a significant step in strengthening India’s ship repair ecosystem and a major opportunity for Kerala to emerge as a leading maritime services hub. By combining Cochin Shipyard’s expertise with Drydocks World’s global capabilities, the partnership will create new capacity, skills and economic opportunities for Kerala, while enhancing India’s maritime competitiveness. It supports our vision under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 to build a self-reliant and globally competitive maritime sector.”</span></div><div><span>His Excellency <b>Omran Sharaf Alhashimi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, UAE</b>, said, “The UAE and India share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual trust, economic cooperation and a common ambition to create new pathways for growth. The joint venture between Drydocks World and Cochin Shipyard is a strong example of how this partnership can translate into tangible industrial outcomes, bringing together complementary expertise to strengthen India’s maritime capabilities. By combining India’s growing maritime potential with the UAE’s global experience, collaborations such as this can support more efficient ship repair services, strengthen maritime connectivity and contribute to the continued growth of trade and commerce between our two countries.”</span></div><div><b>Captain Rado Antolovic, PhD, CEO, Drydocks World, </b>said, “This partnership with Cochin Shipyard is an important milestone for India’s ship repair industry and builds on the strong foundation of our MoU last year. By combining Cochin Shipyard’s local expertise and skilled workforce with Drydocks World’s global capabilities and technology, we are creating a world-class ship repair offering. Our ambition goes beyond one facility - we see opportunities to expand ship repair and fabrication capabilities across India.”</div><div><b>Jose V J, Chairman and Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Ltd.,</b> said, “This joint venture with Drydocks World Dubai marks a defining moment in India’s journey to become a global ship repair hub. By combining CSL’s deep domestic experience with DDW’s world-class expertise, we are not just scaling up business - we are onboarding global best practices, accelerating turnaround times, and setting new benchmarks for quality and safety. Anchored at the International Ship Repair Facility in Kochi, this partnership will catalyse a thriving repair cluster, attract international fleets, generate high-skilled employment, and advance the vision of Maritime India 2030 and Amrit Kaal 2047.”</div>

DRYDOCKS WORLD AND COCHIN SHIPYARD FORM JOINT VENTURE TO STRENGTHEN INDIA’S SHIP REPAIR INDUSTRY

Mumbai: Drydocks World, a DP World company, and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) announced the signing of a joint venture agreement...

Mission Journalism Epaper - 14 September to 20 September 2026

Santosh Sahu 0 Epaper September 14, 2026

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</div></b></div><b>Mission Journalism Epaper - 14 September to 20 September 2026</b>

Mission Journalism Epaper - 14 September to 20 September 2026

Mission Journalism Epaper - 14 September to 20 September 2026

TeamLease EdTech Hosts Industry Roundtable on Talent Creation for Viksit Bharat

Santosh Sahu 0 Business September 13, 2026

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</div></div><div><span><b>Mumbai: TeamLease EdTech</b> hosted an industry roundtable on “<b>Talent Creation for Viksit Bharat: Building Future-Ready Capabilities through Stronger Academia-Industry Collaboration</b>” at The Orchid, Vile Parle, Mumbai. The two-hour discussion brought together around 25 CHROs, HR Heads, CSR Heads and business leaders.</span></div><div><b>Chaired by Prof. Rajiv Prakash, Director, IIT Bhilai</b>, the roundtable focused on the capabilities India’s workforce will require as AI, automation, digitalisation and emerging technologies continue to reshape industries and job roles.</div><div>The discussion examined how academia and industry can move beyond a largely recruitment-led relationship towards a model where employers participate more actively in talent creation. Key areas included industry inputs into curriculum, live projects, internships, mentorship, applied research and greater workplace exposure for students.</div><div>Participants also discussed the need for graduates to combine strong academic foundations with problem-solving ability, digital fluency, adaptability and exposure to real business environments.</div><div><span><b>Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease EdTech,</b> said, “India cannot build the workforce required for Viksit Bharat by treating education and employment as two separate stages. Industry needs to become a participant in talent creation, not merely a consumer of talent at the end of the education process. Curriculum inputs, projects, mentorship and workplace exposure can create a much deeper connection between universities and employers.”</span></div><div>The roundtable also explored how academia-industry partnerships can become more structured, scalable and outcome-oriented, particularly around experiential learning, emerging skills, faculty-industry engagement and sustained employer participation in higher education.</div><div><b>Prof. Rajiv Prakash, Director, IIT Bhilai</b>, said, “Higher Education Institutions must provide strong conceptual foundations, but those foundations become more valuable when students can apply them to real-world problems. Meaningful academia-industry engagement can bring contemporary context into education while enabling industry to contribute to the capabilities it will need in the future.”</div><div>Insights from the discussion will contribute to a forthcoming TeamLease EdTech whitepaper titled “Talent Creation for Viksit Bharat”, which will capture industry priorities and recommendations for strengthening industry readiness, employment outcomes and innovation.</div>

TeamLease EdTech Hosts Industry Roundtable on Talent Creation for Viksit Bharat

Mumbai: TeamLease EdTech hosted an industry roundtable on “ Talent Creation for Viksit Bharat: Building Future-Ready Capabiliti...

Pop-Culture universe expands, Comic Con India expands to Navi Mumbai debuting on November 28 and 29

Santosh Sahu 0 Business September 12, 2026

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</div></div><div><b>Navi Mumbai:</b> India’s pop-culture festival is all set to take over new territories, as Comic Con expands its fandom by announcing its first ever Navi Mumbai edition scheduled for November 28 and 29 at CIDCO Exhibition & Convention Centre, Navi Mumbai. With Navi Mumbai added to the calendar, Comic Con will bring its signature mix of comics, anime, gaming, cosplay, pop culture and fandom experiences to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement comes shortly after Visakhapatnam (Vizag) was announced as the first city to kick off the new 2026–27 season, reinforcing NODWIN Gaming’s vision of taking Comic Con to newer audiences and emerging markets across the country. With Navi Mumbai joining the calendar, the expansion is taking the convention beyond its traditional city footprint.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India</b>, said, “Navi Mumbai is evolving rapidly. We see constant efforts by the Maharashtra government to strengthen the city's infrastructure, new industries setting up, young professionals moving in and a new generation of audiences shaping its culture. We have seen fans and cosplayers from Navi Mumbai travelling to Mumbai to be part of Comic Con, which tells us a strong and passionate community already exists in the city. Bringing Comic Con to Navi Mumbai is our way of meeting that audience where they are and giving them a platform of their own.”</div><div><br></div><div><b>Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming</b>, said, “The city represents a new generation of urban India. It is where people from diverse backgrounds and cultures have come together to build new communities while embracing new experiences and ideas. We have seen the city’s cosplay and pop-culture community steadily grow, with local initiatives, community groups and regional events creating stronger connections with the wider Mumbai metropolitan region. Comic Con’s entry into Navi Mumbai can bring this growing fandom community together, connecting young professionals, students, creators and pop-culture enthusiasts through their shared love for stories, characters and self-expression. We look forward to seeing Navi Mumbai bring its own energy to Comic Con, from fans expressing themselves and adding their unique perspectives, making this a celebration distinctly of Navi Mumbai.”</div><div><br></div><div>The debut edition will bring Navi Mumbai an action-packed celebration of pop culture, with something for every kind of fan. From high-energy live performances and gaming zones to creator interactions, cosplay showcases, exclusive merchandise and immersive brand experiences, fans can expect a full weekend of entertainment, fandom and experiences. Navi Mumbai’s growing young and cosmopolitan audience makes it a natural fit for Comic Con India, offering fans an exciting new destination to enjoy a fun-filled weekend of pop culture, entertainment and shared experiences with friends and loved ones.</div>

Pop-Culture universe expands, Comic Con India expands to Navi Mumbai debuting on November 28 and 29

Navi Mumbai: India’s pop-culture festival is all set to take over new territories, as Comic Con expands its fandom by announcin...

Amazon and FluxGen to deploy water conservation project at National Chemical Laboratory campus in Pune

Santosh Sahu 0 Business September 11, 2026

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</div></b></div><div><b>Amazon and FluxGen to deploy water conservation project at National Chemical Laboratory campus in Pune, replenishing 178 million litres annually</b></div><div><br></div><div>·  Integrated water management system to be deployed across the 380-acre National Chemical Laboratory (NCL)campus</div><div><br></div><div>·   Smart sensors and efficient systems to reduce consumption, recycle wastewater and recharge groundwater</div><div><br></div><div>·   Amazon recently achieved water positive status in India, returning more water than it uses across all direct operations</div><div><br></div><div><b>Pune: Amazon India</b> announced a collaboration with <b>FluxGen</b>, a water technology start-up, to deploy an integrated water conservation project at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) research campus in Pune. The project, spanning the 380-acre campus, is expected to replenish an estimated 178 million litres of water annually, once completed by end of this year. It will use smart sensors and efficient fixtures including aerators and waterless urinals to reduce consumption, capture and recycle wastewater, and recharge groundwater across the campus. The collaboration is part of Amazon’s wider water stewardship efforts in India, where the company recently achieved its goal of becoming water positive—returning 120% of the water it uses across its direct operations to communities and the environment—ahead of its 2027 target.</div><div>"This collaboration with FluxGen reflects our deep commitment to water stewardship in India. The NCL campus in Pune is an ideal setting to demonstrate how technology-driven interventions can make a real difference at scale. By investing in integrated water management solutions here, we’re not just addressing local water challenges—we’re building a model that can be replicated across offices, commercial spaces, schools, hospitals, multi-unit housing, and institutional campuses nationwide. At Amazon, we believe responsible water management is essential, and collaborations like this one help us deliver both immediate community impact and long-term environmental benefits," said <b>Karan Chugh, Director, Operations Amazon India.</b></div><div>"At NCL, we have always believed that scientific research must translate into real-world impact. This collaboration with Amazon and FluxGen allows us to transform our campus into a model for sustainable water management. The integrated approach—combining smart sensors, rainwater harvesting and recycling, and groundwater recharge—aligns perfectly with our vision of advancing science for societal benefit. We look forward to this project serving as a benchmark for research institutions across the country," said <b>Kanika Goel, Controller of Administration, National Chemical Laboratory.</b></div><div><span>“What makes this project unique is the integration of various water technologies in one location to create a comprehensive water management system," said <b>Ganesh Shankar, CEO and Founder of FluxGen.</b> "The NCL campus will become a living demonstration of how research institutions can operate more sustainably while contributing to local water security."</span></div><div>The project also encompasses an experiential learning initiative, scheduled to launch in 2027, aimed at building awareness of water conservation among young people. The programme will include quarterly student visits to the NCL campus for hands-on exposure to water management technologies, the establishment of water conservation clubs in local schools, and the introduction of “HydroQuest”—an educational board game that teaches water conservation principles through interactive gameplay.</div><div>Recently, <b>Amazon</b> announced that it has become water positive in India, meaning the company now returns more water to communities than it uses across its direct operations, including corporate offices, data centres, and fulfilment centres across the country. Amazon had set a goal to become water positive in India by 2027 and has now achieved it ahead of time. The company has committed more than Rs 62 crore towards water stewardship initiatives across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi NCR, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. These projects are expected to replenish more than 4 billion litres of water annually through watershed restoration, lake rejuvenation, efficient irrigation, groundwater recharge, and water quality improvement initiatives tailored to local needs.</div>

Amazon and FluxGen to deploy water conservation project at National Chemical Laboratory campus in Pune

Amazon and FluxGen to deploy water conservation project at National Chemical Laboratory campus in Pune, replenishing 178 million...

CM Fadnavis and Pankaja Munde gave a message of environmental conservation by making the idol themselves

Santosh Sahu 0 City September 11, 2026

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</div></div><div>Maharashtra enters Guinness Book of World Records for making eco-friendly Ganesh idols, More than 10,000 students simultaneously made Ganesh idols out of clay</div><div><br></div><div><span><b>Navi Mumbai: </b>Devotion and environmental conservation are more important than the size of the Ganesh idol. It is the responsibility of each of us to celebrate a festival like Ganeshotsav, which is a festival of faith and preserves cultural heritage, in an environmentally friendly manner, and students should take the message of an environmentally friendly Ganeshotsav to every household through practical actions, <b>Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis</b> said. 'Environmental Maha Ganesh Murti Workshop 2026' was organized at CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre, Vashi. He was speaking on the occasion. On this occasion, <b>Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Chairman Siddhesh Kadam, MLA Manda Mhatre, Ravindra Phatak, Secretary of Environment and Climate Change Department Smt. Jayashree Bhoj, Navi Mumbai Mayor Sujata Patil, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Kailash Shinde, District Collector Dr. Shrikrishna Panchal, Director of the Directorate of Arts Dr. Nitin Ingle and other dignitaries were present</b>. </span></div><div><span>Chief Minister Fadnavis said, Ganesha is the god of wisdom. We start any auspicious work in the name of Ganpati Bappa. Environment is of utmost importance in the culture of Maharashtra and India. The creation was created from the five elements, and only if these five elements are protected and conserved can human life be safe. Therefore, it is everyone's responsibility to celebrate a festival like Ganeshotsav, which preserves faith and cultural heritage, in an environmentally friendly manner. After the Guinness World Record examiners announced the results, CM Fadnavis said that the real creators of this record were the participating students. He appealed to the students to be proud that they are also part of this record. The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of Minister Pankaja Munde, Environment Department, concerned officers and employees, J.J. School of Art and Directorate of Arts for the concept of this initiative. Minister Pankaja Munde, while congratulating the students, said that this is an attempt to reach the concept of eco-friendly Ganeshotsav to every section of the society through students. In this innovative workshop organized at CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Center, Vashi, thousands of students and citizens made Ganesh idols from clay under the guidance of sculptors. CM Fadnavis inspected the workshop and appreciated the idols made by the students. After that, he himself made a Ganesh idol. The enthusiasm of the students doubled when they saw the Chief Minister making the idol of Bappa with them. Minister Pankaja Munde also gave the message of an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav to the participating students by making a Ganesh idol herself. As CM Fadnavis and Minister Pankaja Munde made a clay Ganesh idol themselves, this message was given a practical touch. “If we can do it, every family can also make an eco-friendly Bappa,” was the positive message given through this initiative.</span></div>

CM Fadnavis and Pankaja Munde gave a message of environmental conservation by making the idol themselves

Maharashtra enters Guinness Book of World Records for making eco-friendly Ganesh idols, More than 10,000 students simultaneously...

Small Cities, Big Leap: India's First Digital Credit & Inclusion Index Finds Tier-2 Cities Leading the Charge

Santosh Sahu 0 Business September 11, 2026

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</div><br></div><div>•	Tier-2 cities lead digital credit and inclusion, with an average score of 58.64, ahead of Tier-1 and Tier-3 cities</div><div>•	94.4% of respondents are aware of digital credit instruments, trust in digital borrowing trails digital payments by 17 points—even on the same app.</div><div>•	Formal employment narrows the gender gap on digital inclusion: salaried women score 62.0 versus 60.2 for salaried men</div><div><br></div><div><b>MUMBAI: Pahlé India Foundation, in collaboration with Amazon Pay, launched the Digital Credit & Inclusion Index (DCII) 2026</b>—India’s first composite benchmark providing a comprehensive view of the country’s digital credit journey. Based on a primary survey of more than 5,000 respondents across 100 cities in 20 states, the DCII addresses a critical gap in India’s financial inclusion landscape by examining who accesses digital credit, how easily and frequently they use it, why they borrow, whether they trust it, and whether its use contributes to stronger financial outcomes, going beyond existing benchmarks that largely track payment adoption or aggregate loan volumes.</div><div>In its inaugural edition, India achieves a national DCII score of 55.85 out of 100, placing the country in the "Emerging and Served" category (51–75). The score reflects a maturing ecosystem where payment infrastructure and digital loan awareness are well established. Access is the strongest pillar at 61.24, followed closely by Adoption at 57.17. Impact which is the measure of whether digital credit is making households more financially secure lags at 49.16. This shows that India has made significant progress in expanding access to digital credit. The next opportunity is to deepen trust and adoption, help consumers borrow more purposefully, build confidence in digital credit on par with digital payments, and translate access into measurable financial resilience and savings outcome.</div><div><b>Rajiv Kumar, Chairman, Pahle India Foundation</b>, “Financial inclusion must be measured by outcomes, not just access and usage. The DCII tracks this, whether digital credit is strengthening financial resilience across cities, genders and income groups. Developed with Amazon Pay and tracked annually, we hope the index helps policymakers and financial institutions identify gaps and direct efforts where they matter most.”</div><div><b>Vikas Bansal, CEO, Amazon Pay India</b>, “India’s world-class digital payment infrastructure has transformed how millions transact. The next step is to make digital credit equally accessible, trusted and relevant. The finding that Tier-2 cities lead digital credit inclusion signals where the next wave of growth could emerge. With 75% of our customers based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, insights from the DCII will help us build more relevant credit and savings experiences in these markets while addressing untapped opportunities in Tier-1 cities. As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, the DCII will help track how digital credit translates into real financial progress.”</div><div><br></div><div><span><b>KEY FINDINGS</b></span></div><div><b>Tier-2 borrowers are driving India’s digital credit story</b></div><div>The DCII reveals a shift in the geography of digital borrowing. Tier-2 cities lead digital credit inclusion across age, gender, income, occupation and education, with an average score of 58.64, compared with 53.1 for Tier-1 and 55.7 for Tier-3 cities. This marks an important distinction between India’s digital payment and credit journeys. While Tier-1 cities continue to lead in digital payments, Tier-2 cities are emerging a s the strongest centres of digital credit adoption. Coimbatore, Surat, Nagpur, Indore, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Ghaziabad and Ludhiana are among the cities driving this growth. Tier-2 cities also show the narrowest gender gap in digital credit inclusion—2.8 points, compared with 9.1 points in Tier-1 cities—suggesting that stronger adoption is also accompanied by more balanced participation.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Economic opportunity is narrowing India’s digital credit gender gap</b></div><div>Economic agency is a powerful enabler of women’s financial inclusion. While men score higher than women overall on digital credit inclusion, the gap reverses among salaried respondents. Salaried women record a DCII score of 62.0, compared with 60.2 for salaried men. The trend is also narrowing across generations. The gender gap narrows to 2.9 points among respondents aged 18–29, compared with 4.6 points among those aged 60 and above. The findings suggest that equal economic access, particularly through formal salaried employment, can help close—and even reverse—the gender gap in digital credit inclusion.</div><div><br></div><div><b>India knows about digital credit. The next challenge is trust and impact.</b></div><div>Awareness is no longer the primary barrier: 94.4% of respondents know of at least one form of digital credit. Trust, however, remains a challenge. Confidence in digital borrowing stands at 52.5, compared with 69.7 for digital payments—a 17-point gap that underscores the need to bring greater trust, transparency and simplicity to the borrowing experience. Digital credit also plays a limited role during financial stress. When respondents last faced a cash shortfall, 48.2% turned to savings, while only 6.9% used a digital loan app and 3.4% used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). Digital credit may be increasingly available, but it has yet to become a meaningful financial cushion.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Digital participation is growing, but credit visibility remains uneven</b></div><div>The benefits of this momentum are uneven. The DCII highlights a persistent structural challenge: being digitally active does not necessarily make someone visible to the formal credit system. Homemakers, gig workers, daily-wage earners, students and others outside of formal salaried employment scores around 11 points lower than salaried and business respondents on digital credit inclusion. Closely linked to income and occupation, this divide highlights the need to complement traditional income documentation with digital transaction histories and cash-flow-based assessments, particularly for self-employed, gig and other irregular-income workers.</div><div><br></div><div><b>From consumption to productive use</b></div><div>Digital credit is largely used for consumption, with 59% of respondents using it to purchase electronics and home appliances. Productive use of digital credit such as investing in a business, building assets, or supporting financial planning—remains relatively low, with a score of 43.2. However, it rises significantly among frequent users with 64% reporting using digital credit productively. This suggests that as people become more familiar with digital credit, they are more likely to use it for longer-term financial goals. The next goal is not simply acquiring new users—it is deepening the habits of existing ones.</div><div>The DCII signals a new phase in India's digital financial journey. With access and rails established, the opportunity now is to make credit more trusted, purposeful and inclusive, and translate adoption into stronger financial outcomes. The report sets priorities for government, regulators, financial institutions, fintechs and researchers: measure digital credit inclusion consistently; use consent-based data for alternative underwriting; design for irregular incomes; strengthen transparency and responsible borrowing; deepen Tier-2/Tier-3 participation; and strengthen the credit-savings link while tracking whether access improves resilience.</div>

Small Cities, Big Leap: India's First Digital Credit & Inclusion Index Finds Tier-2 Cities Leading the Charge

• Tier-2 cities lead digital credit and inclusion, with an average score of 58.64, ahead of Tier-1 and Tier-3 cities • 94.4% of ...

IFAT India 2026 opens in Mumbai as government and industry focus on water security, sanitation and circular resource management

Santosh Sahu 0 Business September 10, 2026

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</div><br></div><div><span><b>Mumbai: </b>The 13th edition of <b>IFAT India</b>, the country’s largest trade fair for water, sewage, solid waste management and recycling solutions, opened at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (NESCO), Mumbai.</span></div><div><br></div><div>The opening brought together Smt. Agnimitra Paul, Minister-in-Charge, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal, Smt. Isha Kalia, IAS Joint Secretary & Mission Director (NULM & PM SVANidhi), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and senior representatives from state governments, municipal bodies, diplomatic missions, professional associations, international networks and the environmental technology industry.</div><div><br></div><div>Across the three-day event, IFAT India 2026 provides a platform for discussions, technology showcases and industry–government engagement around water security, wastewater management, sanitation, municipal solid waste, recycling and circular resource management. The programme is designed to help public- and private-sector decision-makers assess solutions, compare approaches and build partnerships for projects across the water and waste value chains.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Bhupinder Singh, President IMEA, Messe München GmbH, and CEO, Messe Muenchen India,</b> said, “India’s environmental infrastructure needs solutions that can perform reliably at scale. IFAT India connects public authorities, industry and technology providers to evaluate these solutions, exchange implementation experience and build partnerships for projects across the water and waste sectors.”</div><div><br></div><div><b>Opening dialogue puts implementation at the centre</b></div><div>The inauguration was followed by a fireside conversation moderated by •Prabal Bhardwaj, Partner – Health, Human & Social Services (HHSS) Government & Public Services (G&PS), KPMG in India with Smt. Agnimitra Paul. The discussion placed urban infrastructure delivery at the centre of the opening day agenda, connecting policy priorities with the practical requirements of cities, utilities and project teams.</div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span><b>Agnimitra Paul, Minister-in-Charge, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal</b>, said, “IFAT India has given us an excellent opportunity to explore new technologies and understand best practices in solid waste and wastewater management from India and around the world. We are keen to identify solutions that can be effectively implemented in West Bengal and strengthen the way our cities manage these critical areas.”</span></div><div><br></div><div><b>Isha Kalia, IAS Joint Secretary & Mission Director (NULM & PM SVANidhi) Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs</b>, said, “With technologies and innovations across water, wastewater, pumps, networks and sludge management under one roof, there is a lot to understand and explore at IFAT India. As the sector evolves rapidly, all stakeholders need to stay aware of new developments and adapt the right solutions to local needs.”</div>

IFAT India 2026 opens in Mumbai as government and industry focus on water security, sanitation and circular resource management

Mumbai: The 13th edition of IFAT India , the country’s largest trade fair for water, sewage, solid waste management and recyclin...

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