Archive: January 26, 2026

Srishti Group Celebrates Republic Day with ‘Builders of Our City’ Labour Appreciation Initiative at GMLR One

Mumbai, Jan 26: Marking the spirit of Republic Day and this year’s national theme of ‘Vande Mataram’, Srishti Group organised a meaningful on-site Labour Appreciation Day at its ongoing project Srishti Oasis at GMLR One, honouring the construction workforce that plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s urban landscape.

Titled “Builders of Our City”, the initiative paid tribute to construction workers—the unsung heroes behind the city’s growth—reinforcing Srishti Group’s people-first philosophy and commitment to nation-building. The celebration brought together gratitude, inclusivity, and patriotism, echoing the true essence of Republic Day.

As part of the initiative, labourers actively participated in a powerful visual formation highlighting the ‘VANDE MATARAM’ theme. A group of workers, wearing safety helmets as a symbol of dignity of labour and construction safety, assembled together holding placards spelling out the patriotic message, creating a striking visual.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kamlesh Thakur, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Srishti Group said, “Republic Day is a reminder that nation-building goes beyond policies and infrastructure—it is about the people who turn vision into reality. Through ‘Builders of Our City’, we wanted to honour the hands that build our cities and express our deep respect for our workforce, who remain at the heart of every project we develop.”

The event also included the distribution of snacks and appreciation hampers to the workers as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude for their relentless efforts and contribution to the city’s development.

The initiative not only celebrated India’s constitutional values but also underscored Srishti Group’s belief in inclusive growth and responsible development. The Republic Day activity at GMLR One stands as a reflection of the developer’s long-term commitment to workforce welfare, safety, and social responsibility.

With its strong patriotic message and impactful visuals, the initiative resonated strongly with Republic Day sentiments and reinforced Srishti Group’s ethos of recognising and celebrating those who contribute to building the nation from the ground up.

Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge and PropEquity, India to launch new partnership for teaching, research and industry engagement

Collaboration will facilitate the creation of the first Real Estate School in India going forward

Jan 26: P E Analytics Ltd, the parent company of PropEquity and the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge are delighted to announce the establishment of partnership between the Department of Land Economy and PropEquity. The partnership will broaden educational offerings and develop skills for the real estate sector in India, leading to the establishment of a Real Estate educational programme by P E Analytics Ltd, with technical assistance and curriculum support from the Department of Land Economy. This collaboration will facilitate the creation of the first Real Estate School in India going forward.

The collaboration will create opportunities to exploit opportunities for cutting-edge research in the real estate domain, including the development of AI-led predictive models at a time when PropEquity is already building the first AI conversational Chat GPT equivalent for Real Estate Industry to be launched in India and then to be expanded globally.

The Department of Land Economy has a wealth of experience in leading education for senior, mid-career, and high-potential early-career professionals through its two existing MSt degrees: the MSt in Real Estate, whose initial cohort commenced in 2016, and the MSt in Climate, Environmental and Urban Policy, which launched in 2024.

This multifaceted relationship with PropEquity is being launched as part of the Department of Land Economy’s new strategic initiative ‘Global Land Economy’, which features international educational and research collaborations with universities and organisations abroad.

Professor Shailaja Fennell, Deputy Head of the Department of Land Economy, said

We are excited to establish a partnership between the Department of Land Economy and PropEquity which will broaden educational offerings and develop skills for the real estate sector in India.

Samir Jasuja at PropEquity said,

With Cambridge expertise guiding our curriculum design and academic frameworks, we are very excited to create India’s most prestigious Real Estate School cum Centre of Excellence. The programmes offered will be highly unique, specialised and industry backed, designed specifically for the core real estate domain covering every vertical.  

Further details on the partnership will be made available in due course.

The Department of Land Economy

The Department of Land Economy sits within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge. The Department offers undergraduate and postgraduate education across law, economics, and environmental policy. It also has a strong reputation for research: in the latest research excellence framework, 67% of the work in Land Economy’s joint submission with the Department of Architecture was rated as ‘world leading’, the best result in the country in the relevant field and ahead of the Cambridge average of 62%.

P.E Analytics Ltd (PropEquity)

PropEquity (NSE-listed) is India’s largest real estate data and analytics company, tracking more than 180,000 projects by 60,000+ developers across 50+ cities. Its subscription-based platform delivers unparalleled depth, accuracy, and real-time insights into India’s real estate market. Built over 18 years, PropEquity’s client base includes 300+ institutional investors, comprising banks, NBFCs, private equity funds, and leading developers, and the organisation remains committed to innovation, transparency, and data-driven transformation.

PFRDA constitutes Committee for Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG)

New Delhi, Jan 26: PFRDA has constituted a committee of Investment Experts for Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) to review, recommend and modernize the investment framework under the NPS.

SAARG has been tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of the existing NPS investment guidelines benchmarking them with leading global pension systems and the evolving Indian investment ecosystem. The objective is to strengthen the investment architecture of NPS to support long-term retirement wealth creation, enhance diversification, improve risk management practices and expand subscriber choice.

The scope of the SAARG includes examination of strategic asset allocation frameworks, introduction and review of asset classes, performance measurement and accountability mechanisms, ALM practices, valuation standards for alternative investments, portfolio stability and liquidity optimisation measures, governance and intermediary architecture, and integration of sustainability considerations in investment decision-making. The detailed Terms of Reference is placed at Annexure.

SAARG shall be chaired by Shri Narayan Ramachandran, former Country Head and CEO of Morgan Stanley India, and comprises eminent experts from the fields of capital markets, asset management and securities law.

No.

Name of Expert

Affiliation

1

Shri Narayan Ramachandran

Former Country Head and CEO of Morgan Stanley India

Currently, Chairman at Team Lease Services Ltd.

2

Shri Ananth Narayan

Former Whole Time Member, SEBI

3

Ms Devina Mehra

Founder & CMD First Global (PMS & Global funds)

3

Shri Kalpen Parekh

MD & CEO at DSP Mutual Fund

4

Shri Prashant Jain

CIO at 3P Investment Managers & Former CIO at HDFC Mutual Fund

5

Shri Rajeev Thakkar

Chief Investment Officer at PPFAS Asset Management Pvt. Ltd.

6

Shri Raamdeo Agrawal

Co-founder, Motilal Oswal

&

Chairman and Co-founder of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.

7

Shri Sankaran Naren

Chief Investment Officer at ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd

8

Shri Sumit Agrawal

Founder, Regstreet Law Advisors

9

Shri Ashok Kumar Soni

Executive Director, PFRDA

The constitution of SAARG reflects PFRDA’s continued commitment to strengthening the NPS investment framework in a forward-looking manner and ensuring that it remains resilient, diversified and aligned with the evolving needs of subscribers in their long-term wealth creation journey.

The committee shall have a time of 9 months examine and submit its report to PFRDA with its recommendations. 

Annexure – SAARG’s Terms of Reference

The Committee shall be guided by the following terms of reference in the discharge of its mandate:

       i.           Foundational Review of NPS & Global Benchmarking:

·        Review existing NPS investment guidelines for Government and Non-Government Sectors for adequacy, effectiveness and long-term relevance.

·        Benchmark NPS investment architecture with leading global pension systems and Indian peer investment ecosystem and recommend reforms.

      ii.           Asset Class Review and Expansion:

·        Review all permitted asset classes and suggest enhancements to improve diversification and long-term retirement wealth creation

·        Introduction of new asset classes to mitigate geopolitical, macroeconomic and market-cycle risks.

   iii.           Strategic Asset Allocation Framework:

·        Recommend optimal strategic asset allocation across equity, debt, money market and alternate assets balancing safety, liquidity and returns.

·        Define eligible investment universe under each asset class and recommend prudential exposure and concentration limits.

   iv.           Performance Measurement & Accountability:

Examine the existing benchmarking system and recommend appropriate benchmarks and methodologies for evaluating Pension Fund performance under NPS.

     v.           Risk Management & ALM Architecture:

·        Recommend comprehensive risk management practices covering market, credit, liquidity, concentration and operational risks

·        Recommend Asset–Liability Management (ALM) principles aligned with long-term pension liabilities

   vi.           Alternative Investments & Valuation Standards:

·        Recommend valuation principles for Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs).

·        Recommend suitable investment strategies for AIFs considering illiquidity, exit constraints and long-term retirement objectives.

 vii.           Portfolio Stability & Liquidity Optimisation:

·        Recommend modalities for earmarking a portion of G-Secs under Held-to-Maturity (HTM) to enhance portfolio stability.

·        Examine feasibility of Securities Lending & Borrowing Mechanism (SLBM) for generating additional wealth creation opportunities for NPS Subscribers.

·        Recommend enabling Triparty Repo arrangements for efficient liquidity management.

viii.           Governance & NPS Intermediary Architecture:

·        Examine centralized vs Pension Fund-wise custodial architecture for efficiency and resilience

·        Review and optimise end-to-end investment process flow across NPS intermediaries.

   ix.           Sustainability Integration:

Assess embedding climate transition risks and net-zero pathways in asset selection under NPS

     x.           Subscriber Choice & Investment Design:

·        Review and enhance existing subscriber investment choices including lifecycle and target-date structures.

·        Recommend optimal mix of active and passive investment strategies.

·

   xi.           Any other important matter:

Recommend on any other emerging matter impacting investment patterns, governance, risk management and subscriber outcomes

Franchise India Accelerates Bagelstein’s India Expansion with 4th Store Launch in Koramangala, Bengaluru

Bengaluru, January 26 2026 – Bagelstein, France’s bagel pioneer founded in 2011, has strengthened its presence in India with the opening of its 4th store at Koramangala, Bengaluru. Following the successful launch of its third outlet in the city, the new store underlines the brand’s accelerating momentum and the growing appetite for premium bagels among India’s urban consumers. The store was inaugurated in the presence of Shri. Ramanalinga Reddy, Hon’ble Minister of Transport, Govt of Karnataka, who joined as the special guest.

With Bengaluru emerging as one of India’s most dynamic food destinations, the city continues to attract young professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and global workforces who are constantly exploring international cuisines and convenient gourmet dining formats. Koramangala, one of the city’s most happening neighbourhoods, is a buzzing hub for cafés, startups, nightlife, and experiential dining — making it a strategic location for Bagelstein’s next phase of expansion.

The increasing popularity of bagels in India reflects evolving consumer preferences, where quick-service formats meet quality, freshness, and indulgence. Bagelstein’s menu caters to this shift with oven-fresh handcrafted bagels, premium fillings, stacked sandwiches, flavourful spreads, artisanal coffees, refreshing beverages, and indulgent desserts. True to its European roots, the brand blends authenticity with creativity while delivering a casual yet premium café experience.

Commenting on the expansion, Gaurav Marya, Founder and Chairman, Franchise India, said, “Global food brands today are increasingly looking at franchising as the most efficient and scalable route to enter and expand in fast-growing markets like India. The country’s strong consumption story, young demographics, and appetite for international flavours make it a compelling destination for global QSR and café brands. Bagelstein’s consistent expansion reflects how structured franchising enables faster market penetration while maintaining brand consistency and operational excellence.”

Sharing his perspective on the Bengaluru growth story, Ravish Malhotra, Area Developer, Bagelstein – Bengaluru, added, “The response to Bagelstein in Bengaluru has been extremely encouraging. The city’s diners are open to experimenting with new formats, flavours, and premium fast-casual concepts. Koramangala, with its vibrant footfall and youthful energy, is a perfect fit for our brand. We are confident that this store will further strengthen Bagelstein’s connection with the city’s evolving café culture.”

Devrag, Unit Franchise Owner, Bagelstein – Bengaluru, further stated, “Being part of Bagelstein’s growth journey in Bengaluru is exciting. The brand’s strong product quality, differentiated positioning, and loyal customer response make it a compelling business opportunity. The Koramangala outlet is designed to offer a warm, energetic space where customers can enjoy great food, coffee, and a fun brand experience.”

With the opening of its fourth store at Koramangala, Bagelstein continues to deepen its footprint in India’s fast-evolving food service landscape. The brand’s steady expansion reflects rising consumer demand for global café concepts and highlights Bengaluru’s position as a key growth engine for international food brands. As Bagelstein accelerates its journey across metro markets, it remains focused on delivering distinctive flavours, consistent quality, and a vibrant dining experience to India’s growing community of urban food enthusiasts.

Developer Credibility The Key To Investment In Luxury Dubai Real Estate, Say Brokers

Keturah survey shows wealthy global buyers want to live in city, not just own property, and ‘flipping’ is a thing of the past

Dubai, UAE, Jan 25: Global investors are mostly influenced by developer reputation and delivery track record when buying luxury property in Dubai, and the biggest percentage want to livein the city, not just own units, according to anew survey of real estate brokers.

The survey by luxury brand Keturah reveals a maturing real estate market where investors make long-term commitments based on accurate market analysis, indicating that speculative buying and flipping of property is a thing of the past.

Developer reputation and delivery history are the most influential factors in closing dealsaccording to 36% of brokers, followed by quality of master planning and amenities (24%) and price relative to comparable projects (20%). Only 16% said short-term capital appreciation was the main driver.

Highlighting a shifting buyer profile, 45% say most are end users aiming to live in the city,

while 40% mainly deal with long-term investors holding property for at least five years.

According to 42% of brokers, data and accurate market information now drive every buying decision, with 57% identifying DXBinteract as the most reliable source of Dubai real estate data.

With Dubai now seen as one of the world’s most dynamic property markets, brokers cited investor confidence and regulatory transparency (15%), innovative projects and world-class infrastructure (15%), high quality (13%) and master-planned luxury communities (13%) as key drivers.

“The survey provides a clear indication of how the profile of investors in Dubai luxury real estate has evolved as the market has matured,” said Talal M. Al Gaddah, CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand.

“Buyers want proven track records, not promises. They’re conducting serious due diligence on delivery capability and financial strength. What we’re seeing is sophisticated capital making long-term commitments based on verified fundamentals rather than speculative narratives.

“The dominance of end-users and long-term holders over short-term investors shows this is now a wealth preservation market, not a quick-flip destination.”

The survey was conducted among 1,100 brokers representing 150 real estate agencies when Talal and master agency fäm Propertiesdelivered insights into Keturah Reserve, the AED5.7 billion bio-living residential development at Mohammed Bin Rashid City’s District 7 in Meydan.

It shows how lifestyle quality now defines luxury purchasing, with 21% citing space as the defining factor for buyers, another 21% pointing to privacy and low-density living, with 19% opting for wellness, and 19% for nature and lifestyle design.

“These findings validate everything we’ve built into Keturah Reserve,” said Talal. “Buyers want space, privacy, wellness, and nature-led design. The survey shows what the market’s most sophisticated buyers actuallydemand, not what developers assume they want.”

He says Keturah Reserve delivers on these priorities through larger than average apartments optimized for natural light, a virtual forest of imported trees creating a nature-focused community, and amenities including spa, infinity pools, and rooftop yoga and meditation spaces.

The survey also shows brokers identifying delivery timelines and construction progress as buyers’ biggest concerns before committing (40%), ahead of exit liquidity and resale demand (20%), developer financial strength and credibility (15%), and long-term maintenance and community management (15%).

The growth of Dubai’s luxury real estate inventory is viewed positively by 38% of brokers who say this brings more choice and better quality, while 31% believe only proven developers will capture demand.