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charcha 2025: India’s largest collaborative convening on livelihoods returns to Delhi with its 6th edition

To be held on November 12-14 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, charcha by the*spark forum will foster conversations & collaboration on resilient livelihoods with key stakeholders across samaaj, sarkaar, bazaar.
20+ co-hosts, including Government departments such as Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, GOI and Atal Innovation Mission, market leaders such as LinkedIn, Meta, HSBC, large foundations such as The Gates Foundation, DBS Foundation, Nasscom Foundation, The/Nudge Institute, and more.
Enabling discussions on skills and livelihoods, AI and tech for inclusion, agri and rural livelihood, gender bias, micro & nano entrepreneurship, etc.

BANGALORE, India, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — the*spark forum will host the 6th edition of its flagship livelihoods convening ‘charcha’ from November 12 to 14, 2025, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Recognized as India’s largest collaborative convening on livelihoods, charcha 2025 will bring together thought leaders, changemakers and powerful voices from government, markets, and civil society to drive dialogue and action for a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready India, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Over three days, charcha 2025 will feature 120+ speakers, 20+ co-hosts, and 50+ hours of programming, convening the most influential voices from policy, philanthropy, business and grassroots innovation. Co-hosts include marquee organizations such as Meta, LinkedIn, Atal Innovation Mission, The Gates Foundation, DBS Foundation, British Asian Trust, Bridgespan Group, Mphasis, Meesho, Magic Bus, NuSocia, The/Nudge Institute, and others shaping India’s development landscape.
Speaking about the upcoming edition, Jerold Pereira, Managing Director, the*spark forum, said, “India’s development challenges are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. The power of charcha lies in bridging these silos. Each year, this platform unites some of the brightest minds and boldest ideas from samaaj, sarkar and bazaar – translating dialogue into action for a more equitable and resilient India.”
Adding to this, Kumaresh Pattabiraman, India Country Manager, LinkedIn, said: “India’s next decade will be shaped by the rise of our tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where talent, ambition, and digital access are converging at scale. If we want to realise the promise of Viksit Bharat@2047, these growth hubs must become engines of both jobs and inclusion. That’s why charcha ’25 and the work championed by the*spark forum are so important in bringing the right people together and sparking the honest, cross-sector conversations India needs across government, business, and civil society. At LinkedIn, we’re using our data, our network, and our AI-powered tools to help bridge the skills and opportunity gaps so that every professional, regardless of their pin code, can thrive in this fast-paced world of work.”
This year’s summit will explore seven key themes at the intersection of technology, inclusion, and livelihoods: Tech, Data & Impact; Agri & Rural Livelihoods; Policy & Capacity; Skills & Livelihoods; Inclusion, Empowerment & Sustainability; Capital & Philanthropy; and Social Entrepreneurship & SMEs. Each theme will feature plenaries, deep-dive discussions and masterclasses designed to surface actionable insights, cross-sector partnerships and scalable innovations.
charcha 2025 will host many distinguished speakers. In the Government & Policy space, the lineup includes Amitabh Kant IAS (Former G20 Sherpa, Government of India), Debjani Ghosh (Distinguished Fellow – NITI Aayog) and Dr. Shamika Ravi (Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister), among other eminent representatives from the government and policy ecosystem.
From Markets & Business, the convening will see participation from global and Indian business leaders such as Jessica Jensen (Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, LinkedIn), Sandhya Devanathan (Vice President & Head, India & SE Asia, Meta), Rakesh Bharti Mittal (Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises) and others. These leaders bring insights from corporate innovation, workforce development, and technology-led inclusion to the livelihoods conversation.
Representing Civil Society & Philanthropy, the summit will feature leaders such as Amit Chandra (Co-founder and Chairperson, ATE Chandra Foundation), Nidhi Bhasin (CEO, Digital Green), Maneesha Chadha (Head of Global Philanthropy, Asia Pacific, JPMorgan Chase) and many more. Together, they represent some of the most powerful voices driving inclusion, sustainability, and systemic change across India’s development ecosystem.
Since its inception in 2020, charcha has grown into one of India’s foremost development platforms – engaging 1,000+ leaders, 15,000+ stakeholders and reaching over 1.5 million people. Each edition of charcha has brought together diverse actors across samaaj, sarkar, and bazaar to align on common priorities, catalyze cross-sector collaboration and accelerate scalable impact. The 2025 edition continues this legacy, deepening focus on livelihoods resilience, technology for inclusion and partnerships that can translate India’s demographic potential into equitable economic growth.
For more information and registration, visit charcha website.

About the*spark forum

the*spark forum is India’s leading platform for dialogue and collaboration on livelihoods – curating cross-sector convenings that inspire ideas, partnerships, and action toward a poverty-free India.

Media Contact:Preyashi Roy | preyashi.roy@thenudge.org
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India Emerging as Stable Investment Anchor in Turbulent Global Economy, Say Investors at IGF Mumbai 2026

Capital allocators at IGF Mumbai 2026 assess India’s role as conflict in West Asia reshapes global markets.MUMBAI, India, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As military conflict in West Asia disrupts energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and global liquidity tightens, leading investors, policymakers and capital markets leaders gathered at IGF Mumbai 2026: Catalysing Capital to assess India’s position in an increasingly fragmented global economy.

The third edition of India Global Forum’s flagship Mumbai gathering brought together authoritative voices from private equity, venture capital, public markets and policy to examine how shifting geopolitics, supply-chain disruptions and tightening financial conditions are reshaping global capital flows – and where India fits within this evolving landscape.Despite global uncertainty, investors at the forum expressed strong confidence in India’s structural growth story.Speaking at the forum, Howard Morgan, Chairman of B Capital, said the current moment reflected more than just rising foreign investment.”What makes this moment different is not just the amount of foreign capital – it is the spirit and confidence within India itself.”Morgan added that global investors increasingly see India evolving beyond its traditional role as a services hub.”There’s a strong belief that India can become a global technology player, not just a services provider or a support hub for the rest of the world. India can produce goods and services for global markets, and for its own domestic market, which is now larger than China’s.”Reflecting on India’s position in a rapidly changing global landscape, Manoj Ladwa, Chairman of India Global Forum, said the country’s strategic balance is becoming increasingly important as global capital recalibrates.”In this evolving global landscape, India occupies a uniquely powerful position. Large enough to matter, open enough to integrate, and independent enough to make sovereign choices. India can expand trade while strengthening resilience, attract global capital while building domestic capability, and partner widely without becoming narrowly dependent. That balance will define the next phase of India.”Several speakers highlighted the growing importance of domestic capital in strengthening India’s financial resilience.Sunjay Sudhir, former Indian Ambassador to the UAE, offered a sobering assessment of the regional conflict that framed the day’s discussions.”The geopolitics of the Middle East are changing rapidly, and history is being written in real time. What we are witnessing now is unprecedented in this part of the world. The region has always been volatile, but few imagined that tensions could escalate to this extent.”Amit Chandra, Chairperson of Bain Capital Private Equity, pointed to the scale of local investment capacity.”Domestic capital is becoming one of India’s biggest strengths. Indian investors are increasingly deploying capital through equities and SIPs, while the country also holds vast untapped wealth in assets like gold.”Market participants also noted the rising maturity of India’s financial ecosystem and the expanding role of domestic investors in supporting market stability.Radhika Gupta, Managing Director & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, said increasing participation in mutual funds reflects changing investor behaviour.”February 2026 numbers for the mutual fund industry were actually 10% higher than January 2026 numbers. I think that reflects rising consumer maturity.”Similarly, Manisha Girotra, CEO of Moelis, highlighted how domestic investors are increasingly competing with global capital in major transactions.”One of the most encouraging trends is the rise of domestic capital. Indian strategic players are now competing with global investors to acquire assets. That rarely happened earlier.”Karthik Reddy, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Blume Ventures, highlighted India’s continued ability to sustain public listings as a meaningful differentiator, noting that despite periodic foreign outflows from Indian equities, global investors continue to allocate meaningfully to Indian primary markets, particularly IPOs.Vani Kola, Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, offered the long view: “In the last 40 years that I have been professionally engaged in the world of startups, conflict cycles come and go. They don’t matter if you take a long-term perspective.”Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting capital flows, the conversations at IGF Mumbai 2026 underscored a growing consensus among global investors: India’s economic scale, domestic capital strength and institutional resilience are positioning the country as a defining force in the next phase of the global capital order. For investors navigating an uncertain world, India is increasingly becoming a market of stability rather than speculation.About India Global ForumIndia Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity.For more information, visit: www.indiaglobalforum.com Twitter: @IGFUpdates | @manojladwaLinkedIn: India Global ForumPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2932542/Manoj_Ladwa_Howard_Morgan_IGF.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566069/IGF_Logo.jpg 

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Reliance Digital Introduces High-Performance iQOO 15R to its Nationwide Store Network

MUMBAI, India, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital announces the offline retail availability of iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand built for today’s youth and tech-forward consumers. Following strong traction in online channels, iQOO is now extending its presence into physical retail, allowing customers to experience and purchase its devices first-hand at Reliance Digital stores across India.

Known for pushing the boundaries of speed, and power, the iQOO 15R is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, delivering exceptional speed, responsiveness, and sustained performance throughout the day. It packs iQOO’s biggest battery yet in an ultra-slim 7.90mm design, making it India’s slimmest smartphone with a 7600 mAh battery.The device features a 6.5K IceCore VC Cooling Chamber for stable performance and runs on OriginOS 6.0 based on Android 16 out of the box, supported by 4 years of software updates and 6 years of security updates. It is also equipped with a Sony LYT-700V OIS camera, a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED EyeCare display, and IP68 & IP69 dust and water resistance, making it a dependable daily partner for professionals on the go.The brand’s offline expansion marks an important step in deepening consumer engagement by offering hands-on access to its devices, enabling customers to explore iQOO’s powerful performance, advanced display technology, and flagship-grade camera capabilities in a real-world retail environment.The availability of iQOO at Reliance Digital brings together two brands driven by innovation and consumer experience. While iQOO continues to build its reputation as a performance-led smartphone brand, Reliance Digital strengthens its portfolio by offering customers access to cutting-edge technology brands through its extensive nationwide retail network.Through engaging in-store experiences, knowledgeable staff, and immersive product demonstrations, Reliance Digital aims to help consumers better understand iQOO’s performance-first DNA. This move further reinforces Reliance Digital’s commitment to staying ahead of evolving consumer preferences and serving as a preferred destination for discovering new-age technology.With this expansion, Reliance Digital continues to play a key role in shaping India’s consumer electronics landscape by bringing future-ready brands closer to customers, while enabling smartphone brands like iQOO to build stronger connections with a growing, performance-driven audience.The all new iQOO 15R is now available at Reliance Digital stores nationwide.Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931475/iQOO_15R.jpg 

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Power Creator Awards – Women’s Edition by Times Entertainment, Lights Up Mumbai, Celebrating Digital Trailblazers on International Women’s Day

MUMBAI, India, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a dazzling celebration of creativity, influence, and impact, Times Entertainment successfully hosted the Power Creator Awards – Women’s Edition on March 9th at The Lalit, Mumbai. Marking International Women’s Day, the gala honored the extraordinary women who are not just creating content but are building communities and driving meaningful change across India’s digital landscape.

The evening brought together the biggest names from the world of entertainment and digital media. The ceremony was graced by high-profile personalities including Hina Khan, Kusha Kapila, Sanjana Sanghi, Sona Mohapatra, Sonnalli Seygall, and Sumukhi Suresh, who stood as a testament to the growing synergy between traditional stardom and digital influence.A Distinguished JuryThe ‘Jury Choice’ winners were selected after a rigorous deliberation process by an esteemed panel of industry veterans. The jury featured:Divya Dutta (National Award-winning Actor & Author)Rasika Dugal (Versatile Actor known for Mirzapur & Delhi Crime)Shweta Tripathi Sharma (Acclaimed Actor and digital pioneer)Anup Soni (Renowned Actor and Anchor)”To witness so many creators through the jury process was a reminder that creation is a reflection of who we are,” said Shweta Tripathi Sharma. Rasika Dugal added, “I was particularly moved by the ‘Breaking the Bias’ category; the courage and honesty of these women is truly inspiring.”Celebrating the WinnersThe awards followed a dual-winner format—Jury Choice and Popular Choice (voted for by millions of fans nationwide)—covering over 20 diverse categories.CategoryWinner (Jury/Popular Choice Highlights)Power Comedy CreatorSrishti Dixit / Aanchal AgrawalPower Fashion & StyleRachel D’cruz / Jhanvi BhatiaPower Breaking BiasMira Erda / Saniya Mistri KaiyumuddinPower Music CreatorSantvani Trivedi / Melissa SrivastavaPower Food CreatorNatasha Gandhi / Kriti BhoutikaPower Fitness IconNeha Singh / Vibha MahajanPower Podcaster CreatorAleena Qureshi/ Srishti Ganguli and Salonie PatelCheck out the full winners list here – https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/women/voices-of-power/times-entertainments-power-creator-awards-womens-edition-complete-winners-list-palak-muchhal-ira-khan-and-more-honored/articleshow/129344078.cmsPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931390/Power_Creator_Awards.jpg 

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