Highlighting the cross-sector implications of input cost competitiveness, we identified five priority recommendations with significant linkages across multiple industries, including energy, fertilisers, steel, aluminum, petrochemicals, infrastructure, construction, textiles and engineering.

India’s manufacturing competitiveness is closely linked to the availability, affordability and quality of essential industrial inputs. Customs duties on critical feedstocks and intermediate materials can have cascading implications for production costs, investment decisions and the competitiveness of downstream industries.

“Strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness requires a comprehensive approach to reducing the cost of critical industrial inputs. Energy and feedstock costs have a cascading impact across multiple sectors, influencing production economics, investment decisions and the competitiveness of downstream industries said Mr. Anil Gupta, President, PHDCCI.

The five priority recommendations are as follows:

1. Reduce Basic Customs Duty on LNG from 2.5% to Nil

PHDCCI has recommended eliminating Basic Customs Duty on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to improve the affordability of imported natural gas and support its wider industrial utilization. With India’s LNG import dependence estimated at approximately 50% of consumption, rationalizing the duty structure can benefit several energy-intensive industries.

LNG is an important input for fertilizer production, electricity generation, city gas distribution, steel manufacturing, refineries and petrochemicals. Improved affordability can also support the expansion of LNG-based transportation infrastructure and industrial energy applications.

2. Reduce Basic Customs Duty on Heavy Petroleum Feedstocks from 2.5% to Nil

The Chamber has proposed eliminating BCD on heavy petroleum feedstocks, including fuel oil, vacuum residue, slurry and vacuum gas oil (VGO), classified under HSN 2710 19, when imported for refinery processing.

Indian refiners have invested in processing infrastructure capable of utilising these feedstocks. Given the sourcing challenges associated with heavy crude oil amid geopolitical uncertainties, access to alternative heavy feedstocks can provide greater operational flexibility and reduce dependence on conventional crude oil supplies.

These materials also have applications across power, textiles, fertilisers, shipping, cement, tyre and rubber manufacturing, petrochemicals and road infrastructure, making their cost competitiveness relevant to a wide industrial ecosystem.

3. Reduce Basic Customs Duty on Naphtha from 2.5% to Nil

Recognizing naphtha’s importance as a critical petrochemical feedstock, PHDCCI has recommended eliminating BCD on naphtha (HSN 2710 12 29).

Naphtha is an essential input for producing olefins, aromatics and other petrochemical intermediates, which form the foundation of several downstream manufacturing industries. It also supports the production of urea and other chemical products.

According to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, naphtha consumption in the petrochemical sector increased from 11,339 thousand tonnes in FY2020–21 to 11,457 thousand tonnes in FY2024–25.

Reducing customs duty on naphtha can help improve feedstock economics, support domestic petrochemical capacity utilisation and strengthen downstream industries such as plastics, packaging, automotive components, synthetic materials and chemicals.

4. Rationalize Customs Duty on Petroleum Coke Used in Industrial Manufacturing

PHDCCI has recommended reducing BCD on calcined petroleum coke (CPC) used for aluminium anode manufacturing from 7.5% to 2.5%, and on raw petroleum coke (RPC) from 10% to 2.5%.

CPC and RPC are essential inputs in the manufacture of carbon anodes required for aluminium smelting. Together, these inputs account for approximately 10–15% of the relevant input cost basket in aluminium production. The Chamber has highlighted that existing duties, combined with quantitative restrictions on imports, increase the cost burden on domestic aluminium manufacturers.

Beyond aluminium, petroleum coke is an important industrial material with applications in steel, titanium dioxide, foundry and carbon-material industries. Rationalising duties on these inputs can therefore support multiple segments of the domestic manufacturing and metallurgical ecosystem.

5. Continue the Existing Basic Customs Duty Framework on Steel Scrap Beyond March 2028

The Chamber has recommended continuing the existing Basic Customs Duty framework on steel scrap beyond March 2028, recognising its importance as a critical raw material for electric arc furnace (EAF) and induction furnace-based steelmaking.

India’s steel industry relies on imported scrap to supplement domestic availability and support secondary steel production. Steel scrap is recycled and remelted to manufacture crude steel, billets, blooms, slabs, TMT bars, structural steel, sheets, plates, pipes and other finished steel products.

Its availability is important for construction, infrastructure, automotive, engineering and capital goods industries. Maintaining a predictable duty framework can support the availability of this essential input while encouraging resource efficiency and recycling in the domestic steel industry.

Rationalizing customs duties on LNG, heavy petroleum feedstocks and naphtha, alongside ensuring competitive access to essential raw materials such as petroleum coke and steel scrap, can provide meaningful support to India’s industrial ecosystem. A predictable and balanced tariff framework will be important for strengthening domestic value chains, encouraging capacity expansion, reducing input cost pressures and enhancing India’s integration into global manufacturing networks.”

“We believe that an attuned customs duty framework focused on essential industrial inputs can generate benefits beyond individual sectors by improving cost competitiveness across interconnected manufacturing value chains. Such measures can also support investment in domestic processing capacities, strengthen supply-chain resilience and contribute to India’s broader objectives of industrial development, energy security and higher domestic value addition said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, SG & CEO, PHDCCI.”

CleanMax will bring generation, storage and distribution together in one integrated clean energy system where Wind and solar projects will generate power at different times of the day and year, while pumped storage and BESS (electrical) storage will provide the balancing of supply needed to meet round-the-clock demand. CleanMax’s own distribution network will deliver round-the-clock power to the 2 GW Green Compute Factory. The integrated model aligns energy generation to compute demand with dedicated clean energy, from planning stage through project lifecycle.

The Green Compute Factory will be developed in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. CleanMax has signed an MoU with Neysa, an AI cloud provider, which will anchor the park with 1 GW of IT load.

The projects will be developed in phases, with at least 1.5 GW of renewable capacity proposed to be developed by 2029.

The Green Compute Factory is developed differently from the ground up. It’s supported by its own dedicated clean power, generated, stored and distributed by CleanMax. The Green Compute Factory will use limited water by adopting direct to chip cooling technologies and draw on water supplies allocated to industrial usage by the local administration.

To distribute power within the park, a CleanMax’s owned and operated special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) will apply to the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (“APERC”) for a Distribution License, giving the Green Compute Factory its own dedicated power network.

CleanMax commits to making the following social responsibility contributions:

• Help upgrade the infrastructure of local primary schools (and Anganwadis) in partnership with United Way of Hyderabad
• Work on “Skilling for Jobs”, in partnership with Pratham Education Foundation (“Pratham”). CleanMax will work with the Foundation to train local youth for entry-level roles in Compute Factories. In addition, CleanMax will also run programmes for final-year students at local ITIs and engineering colleges to train students in advanced cooling and power systems, with the aim of helping students secure job opportunities in building and operating Compute Factories
• Further, CleanMax’s partner, Neysa to provide compute to top tier research institutions in AP

Mr. Kuldeep Jain, Founder and Managing Director, Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Limited, said, “Compute is becoming one of the largest new sources of power demand, and it needs clean energy that is available every hour of the day. In Andhra Pradesh, we are planning generation, storage and distribution integrated with the compute load they serve, rather than one after the other. Andhra Pradesh’s clean energy policy framework and its strong wind and solar resources make it the right place to build this model at scale.”

New Delhi, 12 November 2026 : India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation increased to 6.09% (provisional) in October 2026, compared with 5.54% in September 2026, reflecting an increase in price pressures, particularly in the food segment. Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), accelerated to 8.94% in October from 7.74% in the preceding month.

According to the latest CPI data, rural inflation stood at 6.63%, while urban inflation was recorded at 5.41% in October 2026. Food inflation remained elevated across both segments, at 9.09% in rural areas and 8.68% in urban areas, indicating that food-related price pressures were relatively broad-based.

PHDCCI’s CPI ForeARIMA ® proprietary forecasting model had projected CPI inflation at 6.3%, indicating a close alignment between its forecast and the subsequently reported October inflation reading of 6.09%.

“The increase in retail inflation to 6.09% in October, alongside the acceleration in food inflation to 8.94%, highlights the importance of closely monitoring food price developments. While inflation trends across individual categories remain varied, the food component warrants particular attention given its significance in the consumption basket”, said Mr. Anil Gupta, President, PHDCCI.

The commodity-level data indicate considerable divergence in price movements. Onion inflation increased sharply to 116.22% in October 2026, compared with 108.13% in September 2026. Garlic inflation rose to 60.74%, while ginger and lemon recorded inflation of 48.32% and 47.30%, respectively. Silver jewellery also witnessed elevated inflation of 52.39%.

In contrast, prices of certain vegetables continued to register annual declines. Potato inflation stood at -14.24%, while cauliflower recorded -10.57% and coconut -5.60%. This divergence indicates that inflationary pressures remain concentrated in specific food items rather than being uniform across the entire food basket.

At the broader expenditure-group level, restaurants and accommodation recorded inflation of 10.06%, while personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services registered 10.14%. Transport inflation stood at 5.84%, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded relatively moderate inflation of 2.90%.

“The October inflation reading underscores the importance of distinguishing between headline inflation and its underlying components. The increase in food inflation, alongside relatively moderate price increases in housing and health-related categories, reflects the uneven nature of price pressures across the consumption basket. Sustained moderation in food inflation would be important for improving household purchasing power and providing greater predictability to the monetary policy environment” said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, SG & CEO, PHDCCI.

PHDCCI continues to monitor India’s inflation dynamics through its macroeconomic research and forecasting framework, including its proprietary CPI ForeARIMA model®.

The MSMEs are the backbone of India’s economy. They contribute about 31% to India’s GDP, account for 48.58% of total exports, and generate around 35.4% of manufacturing output. The sector encompasses more than 7.47 crore enterprises across manufacturing, services, and trade activities and provides livelihoods to approximately 32.8 crore people.

“To strengthen India’s MSME ecosystem further, PHDCCI recommends the change in classification of non- performing assets (NPA), enhancement of PM MUDRA Loan Limits, strengthening CGTMSE Implementation and Direct Equity Support”, added Mr Gupta.

The priority recommendations are as follows:

1. Rationalisation of Capital Market Taxation: Abolish LTCG tax on equity investments, reduce STCG tax from 20% to 10%, and lower STT rates to encourage long-term investment and improve India’s capital market competitiveness.

2. Revision of MSME NPA Classification Norms: Extend the overdue period for NPA classification from 90 to 180 days to accommodate longer working capital cycles and delayed realisation of receivables.

3. Enhancement of PM MUDRA Loan Limits: The Scheme was launched on April 8, 2015 with the objective of providing access to institutional collateral free credit to micro enterprises. 25405640 PMMY Loans have been sanctioned, amounting to Rs 343223.27 crore of which Rs 332413.04 Crore have been disbursed, as on November 2026 (provisional). Increase loan ceilings to ₹1 lakh under Shishu, ₹10 lakh under Kishore and ₹20 lakh under Tarun/Tarun Plus categories to reflect rising project costs.

4. Direct Equity Support to MSMEs: Provide direct government equity investment through the Fund of Funds Scheme, with dedicated allocations for start-up seed capital and SME IPO participation.

5. Strengthening CGTMSE Implementation: Ensure effective collateral free lending through stricter compliance by banks and establish a centralized portal for tracking applications and monitoring rejection reasons.

“We believe that ease of access to credit, equity support, rationalisation of taxation and strong implementation of Government schemes will foster faster growth of Indian industry as a global manufacturing hub”, said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, SG & CEO, PHDCCI.

Reaching 2 Billion Viewers A Month & 3,000 Advertisers, WRLabs Brings Broadcast-grade AI Brand Integration To Studios & broadcasters worldwide

Mumbai, Nov : Whisper World – the global MarTech company and leader in In-Content Advertising (ICA), and Palo Alto, California based Rembrand have merged to create WRLabs, the world’s largest platform for AI-powered video augmentation. The company will deliver cinematic-quality video editing for advertising, media, and entertainment. WRLabs brings together four businesses – Whisper World, Rembrand, Spaceback and MRFactory across three principal product lines including ICA, social content advertising and hybrid virtual studios. Together, these businesses work with approximately 3,000 advertisers, have completed more than 1,00,000 in-content insertions and reach around two billion viewers every month.

The merger marks a significant development for Whisper World, building on its established presence across Asia, the Middle East and Europe and its relationships with broadcasters, content owners and advertisers. By integrating Rembrand’s AI video tech capabilities into its existing operations, Whisper World aims to substantially increase production capacity, expand into new markets and accelerate the adoption of ICA as a scalable, measurable media format.

“Whisper World has helped hundreds of advertisers extend their campaigns into new markets through a consistent, standardized approach to ICA. By integrating Rembrand’s AI platform, we can increase our production capacity dramatically, potentially delivering ten times the volume, while maintaining the precision, quality and creative control our broadcast partners expect. For India, this development presents an opportunity to scale ICA through greater production efficiency, bringing the format to more advertisers and content owners while supporting the next phase of technology-led growth in the advertising industry,” says Manav Kapoor, CEO, Whisper World.

WRLabs is built on a fundamental distinction: using AI to augment human creativity, not replace it. Instead of generating entirely new video, WRLabs technology works within professionally produced content and advertising. It integrates approved brand assets into existing footage with photorealistic accuracy while letting content owners and production teams retain creative control.

“We developed Rembrand to bring the power of AI to augment professionally produced video, without taking away the control or authenticity from the people who create the content. Our first application of that AI was to fix the fundamentals of an advertising ecosystem that was too reliant on interruption. By combining our technology with Whisper World’s international reach, broadcaster relationships, and proven ICA model, we can give advertisers access to high-quality, unskippable placements across global content,” says Omar Tawakol, CEO, Rembrand.

This augmentation-first approach positions WRLabs at the intersection of artificial intelligence, visual effects, and advertising, providing a brand-safe, broadcast-quality alternative to conventional generative-video tools. Rembrand’s technology is already deployed across Whisper World’s ICA operations. WRLabs also plans to make its AI editing platform available more widely through an API and its forthcoming VFXAgent. Described as a ‘coding agent for visual effects’, VFXAgent lets video editors and production teams use natural-language instructions to perform sophisticated augmentation on existing footage. This will extend the potential applications of Rembrand’s technology beyond advertising into wider media, entertainment and post-production markets.

“The opportunity extends beyond increasing the volume of ICA. By bringing AI-powered video augmentation together with our global commercial relationships, we can make this technology more accessible to advertisers, broadcasters and content owners. Our ambition is to build a platform that creates new commercial opportunities from existing content while expanding the applications of AI-assisted editing across the wider media and entertainment industry,” concludes Manav.

The combined company has approximately 450 employees across eight countries. Both CEOs will remain in their current positions until the transaction closes, following which Manav Kapoor will become Group CEO of WRLabs and Co-Chair, while Omar Tawakol, CEO of Rembrand, will become Co-Chair.

New Delhi, 10th November 2026: URBAN, a leading lifestyle technology brand known for design-led innovation, today announced the launch of the URBAN ARC Go 2 AI Smart Fitness Band and URBAN Q9i AI ANC TWS Earbuds, expanding its portfolio of connected lifestyle devices. While the ARC Go 2 brings a greater focus on personal wellness through its AI-powered Recovery Function, advanced health monitoring and 110+ sports modes, the Q9i combines Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), AI Live Translation across 50+ global languages and an integrated Smart Stand. The two products are designed to bring greater convenience and functionality to everyday fitness, communication and entertainment experiences. Both products come with a one-year warranty.

Designed to complement the evolving lifestyle of modern consumers, the new launches bring together intelligent wellness tracking and immersive audio to support everyday fitness, relaxation and entertainment. As winter sets in, the devices offer convenient technology companions for maintaining active routines, tracking personal wellness goals, enjoying music during workouts or unwinding with favourite playlists.

Aashish Kumbhat, Co-founder, URBAN, said, “Wellness is increasingly becoming an integral part of everyday living, from staying active and tracking recovery to finding moments of relaxation. With ARC Go 2 and Q9i, we aim to bring intelligent technology into these routines in a way that feels effortless and rewarding. Whether it is keeping track of fitness goals or enjoying music during a workout, these products are designed to complement the way consumers live, move and unwind.”

Products’ Specifications and Features:

The URBAN ARC Go 2 AI Smart Fitness Band serves as an everyday wellness companion, helping users gain a better understanding of their activity, sleep, stress and recovery patterns through advanced sensors and intelligent wellness features. Its AI-powered Recovery Function offers personalised insights to help users better understand their recovery patterns, while features such as 110+ sports modes, 30+ guided meditations, sedentary reminders and menstrual reminders encourage a more informed approach to everyday well-being. Designed for all-day comfort, the band features a lightweight build with a woven fabric strap, while its call and message alerts, music control and gesture camera control add to everyday convenience. With up to 45 days of battery life and IPX68 water resistance, the ARC Go 2 is designed to keep pace with users’ daily routines and fitness goals. The device also comes with a one-year warranty.

Key features of URBAN ARC Go 2:

• AI Recovery Function for personalised recovery insights

• Advanced sensors for heart rate, sleep and stress tracking

• 110+ sports modes and 30+ guided meditations

• Sedentary and menstrual reminders

• Call and message alerts, music control and gesture camera control

• Up to 45 days of battery life with IPX68 water resistance

• One-year warranty

Complementing the fitness band, the URBAN Q9i AI ANC TWS Earbuds bring an immersive audio experience to workouts and everyday leisure. Equipped with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and 13mm dynamic drivers, the earbuds deliver powerful bass and an engaging listening experience across music, calls and entertainment. Their integrated Smart Stand allows users to prop up their smartphones for hands-free viewing, adding convenience while watching videos or following fitness tutorials. The earbuds also feature AI Live Translation across 50+ global languages, powered through the AI TransFun app, supporting multilingual communication. With Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity, a Clear Call HD Mic and Type-C charging, the Q9i combines smart functionality with everyday audio convenience.

Key features of URBAN Q9i:

• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for immersive listening

• AI Live Translation across 50+ global languages through the AI TransFun app

• Integrated Smart Stand for hands-free smartphone viewing

• 13mm dynamic drivers for powerful bass

• Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity

• Clear Call HD Mic for clearer calling

• Up to 30 hours of total playtime, with up to 6 hours on a single charge

• Type-C charging

• One-year warranty

With these launches, URBAN continues to expand its portfolio of lifestyle-led technology products that bring together functionality, contemporary design and everyday convenience.

Price and Availability

Price: URBAN ARC Go 2 – ₹5999 | URBAN Q9i – ₹4,999

Availability: The products will be available on gourban.in, select retail stores pan India and online platforms.

Colour Options: The URBAN ARC Go 2 will be available in six colour options – Jet Black, Ink Blue, Stone Grey, Ocean, Orange and Magenta.

Mumbai, November 11, 2026: Veefin Solutions Limited, which makes lending, supply chain finance and transaction banking software for banks, began trading on the main boards of NSE and BSE today. The move comes a little over three years after the company listed on the BSE SME platform in July 2023 with a ₹46.73 crore IPO.

Veefin arrives on the main boards with a business that has more than doubled in a year. For the six months ended September 30, 2026, group revenue rose 116.2% year-on-year to ₹238.82 crore and total group profit after tax, including non-controlling interests, rose 126.6% to ₹24.85 crore. Group EBITDA margin widened to 25.5% from 21.2%. On a standalone basis, revenue grew 83.6% to ₹49.19 crore and profit after tax grew 79.4% to ₹13.97 crore.

Most of the company’s new business is coming from overseas. Veefin reported an open deal pipeline of about ₹920 crore with its half-year results, of which about 84% is from banks and financial institutions outside India, led by Southeast Asia.

On the main boards, Veefin’s shares can be bought and sold one share at a time instead of in the fixed lots of the SME platform, and become accessible to a wider set of retail and institutional investors.

Veefin used the occasion to set out where it expects its next phase of growth to come from: the Veefin AI Operating System (AIOS), a platform on which a business can create, deploy and supervise AI employees for defined roles. Each AI employee combines reusable skills with access to the systems it needs, and works within set permissions, approval steps and human oversight.

Veefin is its own first user. The company has built more than 1,000 reusable AI skills and has put AIOS to work internally in three functions: customer implementation, customer support and software testing. The aim is to deliver projects with higher productivity as the business grows.

AIOS works with a customer’s existing systems and can be sold on its own or alongside Veefin’s products. Because it is not tied to banking software, Veefin sees it as a way to sell more to its existing customers and to reach enterprises outside financial services, for work such as document processing, customer support and operations. To reflect this, the company is moving its web address from veefin.com to veefin.ai.

Gautam Udani, Vice Chairperson, Co-founder & COO – Veefin Group, said:

“We listed on the SME platform three years ago as a supply chain finance technology company. We come to the main boards as a multi-product company whose revenue has more than doubled in the past year, and with many more investors able to take part in what we build next.

“Every bank and every business has work that involves reading information, moving between systems, following rules and getting approvals. That is the work AIOS is built for. We are running it in our own implementation, support and testing teams first, so that what we take to customers has already been proven on our own work.

“Banking taught us how to build software for workflows where controls and approvals cannot fail. AI adoption in any industry needs the same discipline, and that is why we believe this opportunity is much wider than the markets we serve today.”

Veefin began with supply chain finance and now offers trade finance, cash and liquidity management, loan origination, loan management, collections, and corporate and retail digital banking. Banks, corporates and technology companies use its software as complete applications, as platforms, or as individual components built into their own systems.

Bengaluru, 3rd November 2026: Vega Helmets, India’s most trusted road safety brand, has joined the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) as Official Sponsor and Safety Partner for Season 3. The partnership unites four decades of Indian safety expertise with one of the country’s fastest-growing sports properties.

Under the partnership, Vega will equip all ISRL race marshals and participants in the league’s official community rides through Season 3. It will also extend to ISRL’s official community riding activities, encouraging road safety awareness, responsible riding practices, and greater participation in India’s motorcycling culture. This places the brand’s products in high-intensity, high-visibility settings, both on the track and in the wider riding community.

Supercross is one of the most physically demanding formats, and marshals work closest to the action, tracking conditions, responding to crashes, and keeping races on schedule. By equipping them with its protective gear, Vega brings its products into the demands of live professional racing.

The collaboration shows how brands, from OEMs to gear makers and ancillary players, are increasingly turning to ISRL as a proving ground to test, refine and showcase their products under real race conditions. Further, as a trusted homegrown manufacturer, Vega adds weight to ISRL’s safety-first message and to its growing partner network of Indian and international brands.

The league’s numbers further explain the appeal. Season 2 drew more than 55,000 ticketed spectators, featured international riders from over 13 countries, and recorded more than 140 million digital views. These figures signal growing commercial potential for brands that want to connect with India’s motorsport and youth culture.

Girdhari Chandak, Managing Director, Vega Auto Accessories Limited, said: “For over four decades, Vega has worked to make quality head protection accessible to Indian riders. Partnering with ISRL takes that commitment straight into professional motorsport. By supporting race marshals and community riders, we are reinforcing a fundamental principle: safety must remain paramount, both on the racetrack and on the road. We are pleased to support a homegrown league that is taking Indian motorsport to an international stage.”

Eeshan Lokhande, Co-Founder, Indian Supercross Racing League, said: “Safety is non-negotiable at ISRL, and we hold ourselves to world-class standards at every race. Our marshals work closest to the action, and with Vega, a trusted Indian brand, we’re giving them protection that matches the best in global motorsport. This partnership raises the bar for Season 3 and for responsible riding across the motorcycling community.”

Season 3 on the horizon

The ISRL Season 3 Rider Auction is scheduled for November 4, 2026. The new season will bring together international racers, Indian talent, franchise teams, and motorcycle manufacturers.

Mumbai, November 3rd: Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) has confirmed District by Zomato as the Official Ticketing Partner for the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, which takes place at the NSCI Dome, Mumbai, from 5th to 10th November. Fans hoping to catch the action live can book tickets on the District app and website. The competition will also be streamed live on the official YouTube channels of Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons, giving esports fans around the world an opportunity to follow the action.

Organised by MFRL in partnership with Formula 1 and ESL FACEIT Group, the F1® Sim Racing India Open will bring together emerging sim racing talent from across the country. The top 20 drivers in the Open and Under-15 categories advance to the final grid, bringing together 40 racers to compete at the NSCI Dome. The event will also feature the Cup of Nations, with teams from 14 countries, including India, competing in an international showcase of sim racing talent.

The F1® Sim Racing India Open will serve as a crucial step in MFRL’s search for India’s next Formula 1 driver. The winner of the India Open will earn a place in MFRL’s One in a Billion Hunt, backed by a ₹3 crore Driver Development Fund, which aims to identify and develop promising Indian racing talent. Through this initiative, MFRL seeks to build a structured pathway for aspiring drivers, using sim racing as an entry point to discover talent and support its development. Their larger ambition is to help India produce its next Formula 1 driver in the coming decade.

Running from 8th October to 14th November 2026, the campaign offers special savings on domestic and international shipments, making it easier, more affordable and convenient to share Diwali joy with family, friends and business associates across India and around the world.

Festive gifts within India can be shipped using the special discounted shipping rates of up to 50% on eligible domestic consignments weighing between 2 kg and 10 kg. To make the experience even more convenient, customers can also avail of free doorstep pickup and home booking services, subject to service availability.

Extending the festive spirit beyond borders, customers can also enjoy significant savings of up to 60% on eligible international gift consignments. The offer covers a range of shipment weights and destinations, making it easier to send festive gifts, sweets and hampers across the globe through Blue Dart’s reliable international express network. Terms and conditions apply.

Available for a limited period, the Diwali Express 2026 offer can be availed by the customers through Blue Dart-DHL’s trusted network by visiting their nearest retail stores and Franchisee Collection Centres. Customers can also book shipments through Blue Dart’s website or Customer Care.

Link to the media assets for your perusal – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/138_j_hQPy6VlHsmQmYbaX_HjKyFX3hJY