Mahindra and Manulife Insurance JV Moves Ahead; Gets Approval from Corporate Affairs Ministry

Mahindra and Manulife announced their partnership to create a life insurance business on November 12, 2025. Today, both companies have confirmed the incorporation of the JV company as Mahindra Manulife Insurance Limited (MMIL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The incorporation of MMIL marks the next step in that journey.

The venture brings together Mahindra’s strong presence in India with Manulife’s global expertise to build a simple, customer-first, AI-native and digitally led life insurer. By combining the extensive distribution reach of Mahindra with Manulife’s strengths in product innovation, underwriting, and agency-led distribution, MMIL will focus on policyholder protection and offer holistic, need-based financial solutions.

MMIL aims to address India’s large protection gap through a range of long-term savings and protection products, with a strong focus on rural and semi-urban markets while building leadership in protection solutions for urban customers. The partnership combines Mahindra’s wide distribution reach with Manulife’s strengths in product innovation, underwriting, and agency-led distribution. Together, the partners are committed to establishing MMIL as a trusted, digital, technology-driven and AI-native insurer aligned with India’s long-term growth and the vision of “Insurance for All.”

Rajasthan Education Summit 2026 Highlights AI‑Driven Vision for Learning & Talent

Positioning Rajasthan as a future hub for AI-driven learning, innovation, and skilled talent emerged as the central focus of the Rajasthan Education Summit 2026 held in Jaipur on Friday. Organised by ASSOCHAM Rajasthan State Council in collaboration with IIHMR University the summit deliberated on the theme “Empowering Rajasthan through AI-Driven Education & Vision 2030”.

Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Government of Rajasthan, along with more than 150 delegates, focused on strengthening Rajasthan’s education ecosystem through responsible integration of AI, industry-academia collaboration, digital transformation, skill development, innovation-led learning, and future-ready curricula.

Speakers including Vice Chancellors, Directors, policymakers, researchers, principals, entrepreneurs, and industry representatives highlighted the importance of ensuring that technology-driven education remains accessible, inclusive, and employment-oriented, particularly for students from emerging and underserved regions.

Dr. PR Sodani, President, IIHMR University, shared, “The future of education will be defined by how effectively we integrate technology with human-centric learning. AI-driven education is not only about digital transformation but also about creating equitable opportunities, strengthening critical thinking, and preparing youth for emerging global challenges. Platforms like these are important for fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry.”

Discussions explored how AI can support personalised learning, improve educational governance, enhance research capabilities, and contribute to building a globally competitive talent pool from Rajasthan.

ConsumerX Ventures Unveils ₹150 Crore Early-Stage Fund Backing India’s Next-Gen Consumer Brands

India’s leading community for D2C operators, founders, and startup leaders, announced the launch of ConsumerX Ventures, India’s first operator-led, early-stage fund focused exclusively on new-age and digitally native consumer brands. With a target corpus of ₹150 crore, ConsumerX Ventures has been created to support startup founders at the most formative stages of their journey, where access to structured institutional support remains limited.

Built on the foundation of D2C Insider’s extensive operator ecosystem, ConsumerX Ventures brings together capital, deep operating insight, and community-led support under a single institutional platform. The fund will focus on pre-seed and seed-stage consumer brands, backing founders early as they build product-market fit, brand differentiation, and scalable business models in a rapidly evolving consumption landscape shaped by Gen Z and Bharat consumers.

The launch of ConsumerX Ventures was announced at the D2C Insider Super Angels Annual Day in New Delhi, a gathering that witnessed participation from over 120+ founders, operators, and ecosystem leaders across India’s consumer and startup ecosystem. The event brought together leaders from brands such as Paytm, Xiaomi, Sirona Hygiene, Nykaa, Pee Safe, InsuranceDekho, Rage Coffee, Droom, ShopClues, Bacca Bucci, among others.

Mr. Abhishek Shah, Managing Partner, ConsumerX Ventures, said, "ConsumerX Ventures has been built to address a clear gap in the ecosystem, the lack of dedicated and institutional support for founders of consumer startups at the earliest stages. As part of the community, we understand the challenges of building in the zero to one phase. By launching ConsumerX Ventures, we are extending the D2C Insider community’s decade-long work with business leaders into a long term and structured platform designed to back the most promising consumer brands from day one."

Ms. Chhavi Bhardwaj, General Partner, ConsumerX Ventures, added, "India’s consumption story is being reshaped by Gen Z, Bharat, and digitally native behaviours. ConsumerX Ventures is focused on identifying and supporting founders who are building for these shifts. Our approach combines capital with deep operator insight and ecosystem access, enabling early conviction, closer founder alignment, and hands-on ecosystem support from day one to founders to build resilient, category-defining brands in a highly competitive market."

ConsumerX Ventures is anchored in an operator led investment approach, built by seasoned consumer operators who have scaled brands, invested in emerging companies, and worked closely with new age founders over the past decade. The fund will build a focused and concentrated portfolio of 20 to 25 early-stage consumer companies across categories, with an emphasis on strong founder market fit, differentiated positioning, and scalable growth potential. ConsumerX Ventures aims to maintain continued participation through Series A and reserve follow on capital for high performing portfolio companies.

ConsumerX Ventures draws from the strength of D2C Insider, one of India’s leading D2C operator ecosystems, with an engaged network of over 30,000 founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem partners. This network strengthens ConsumerX Ventures’ sourcing capabilities, diligence depth, and long-term founder support.

India’s Bellatrix and Korea’s TelePIX Partner to Launch Next-Gen VLEO Imaging Satellite by 2028

India’s Bellatrix Aerospace and South Korea’s TelePIX have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) imaging satellite, slated for launch in 2028. This collaboration, announced during Korea–India Space Day in Daejeon, represents a bold step toward next-generation Earth observation technology.

TelePIX announced the collaboration on May 29, 2026, and Bellatrix’s leadership also participated in a signing ceremony in Daejeon, South Korea.

The Partnership

• Bellatrix Aerospace: Known for its eco-friendly propulsion systems, including the Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) platform.
• TelePIX: Specializes in AI-driven imaging payloads, with its flagship wide-swath optical camera “Chouette.”
• Objective: Build a VLEO satellite that combines advanced propulsion with cutting-edge imaging, enabling sharper, wider, and more frequent Earth observation.

LEO vs VLEO: What’s the Difference?

Orbit Type	Altitude Range	Key Features	Advantages	Challenges
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)	~500–1,200 km	Most common orbit for Earth observation satellites	Balanced resolution, stable operations	Requires onboard fuel for propulsion
Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO)	~150–250 km	Much closer to Earth’s surface	Ultra-high resolution imagery, reduced latency	Severe atmospheric drag, shorter satellite lifespan

TelePIX’s “Chouette” Payload

• Wide-Swath Imaging: Covers twice the area of conventional satellites.
• Multispectral Capability: Useful for defense, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
• AI Integration: Real-time image processing for faster decision-making.
• Optimized for VLEO: Designed to minimize drag and maximize efficiency.

Applications

• Defense: Border surveillance, maritime monitoring.
• Disaster Response: Floods, cyclones, wildfires with near-real-time imaging.
• Environmental Monitoring: Climate change, pollution, forestry.
• Urban Planning: Infrastructure development, insurance risk assessment.

Challenges Ahead

• Atmospheric Drag: Constant deceleration risk at 150–250 km altitude.
• Satellite Longevity: VLEO missions face harsher conditions than LEO.
• Constellation Costs: Scaling to multiple satellites requires significant investment.
• Technology Validation: Air-breathing propulsion is still in early stages of testing.

Conclusion

The Bellatrix–TelePIX MoU is more than a bilateral partnership; it’s a strategic leap into the future of Earth observation. By marrying propulsion innovation with AI-driven imaging, the mission could redefine how governments, businesses, and researchers monitor our planet. If successful, this VLEO satellite will set new benchmarks for resolution, coverage, and responsiveness — potentially reshaping the global satellite imaging industry.

Greenply Powers Vadodara Plant with 80% Renewable Energy, Strengthening Clean Manufacturing Vision

• Renewable energy integration strengthens Greenply’s sustainability roadmap through enhanced energy security, operational efficiency, and reduced carbon footprint

Greenply Industries Limited has commissioned its second Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) at the Vadodara manufacturing facility, drawing electricity from a mix of renewable sources. With the commissioning of the second renewable energy asset, close to 80% of the Vadodara facility’s total energy consumption is now supported through renewable energy sources, significantly strengthening the plant’s clean energy footprint while enhancing long-term energy security and operational efficiency.

With the operationalisation of the second asset, Greenply now sources a substantially higher share of its electricity requirements from renewable energy at the Vadodara facility. The development reflects the company’s continued focus on building environmentally conscious manufacturing operations while steadily reducing its carbon footprint.

India’s industrial sector faces mounting pressure to decarbonise, even as grid electricity costs remain unpredictable. While clean energy adoption has become a wider priority across manufacturing industries, Greenply began integrating sustainability-led operational practices and clean technology solutions much earlier as part of its long-term manufacturing vision. Greenply’s approach at Vadodara, combining renewable procurement with in-plant EV mobility and other environmentally responsible practices, reflects this broader commitment. The renewable energy assets support round-the-clock power generation aligned with the plant’s real-time consumption requirements, helping improve energy reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create greater predictability in long-term power costs. The initiative also aligns with the broader direction of India’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable industrial growth.

Commenting on the development, Sanidhya Mittal, Joint Managing Director, Greenply Industries Limited, said, “Sustainability at Greenply isn’t a box we tick, it’s built into how we make decisions about manufacturing, growth, and where we invest. The second renewable asset at Vadodara reflects our continued effort to build manufacturing operations that are more resilient, energy efficient, and environmentally responsible. Every step towards cleaner energy strengthens our ability to build more future-ready manufacturing operations while contributing meaningfully to long-term environmental and economic sustainability. As more Indian manufacturers accelerate their sustainability efforts, we remain focused on building systems and practices that can create meaningful long-term impact.”

This latest step sits alongside a broader innovation story at Greenply. The company was among the first in India to introduce E0-level plywood manufactured with zero added formaldehyde and has also been an early mover in fire-retardant technology for premium wood panel products. The common thread across these initiatives is a consistent focus on raising industry benchmarks ahead of evolving market expectations.

About Greenply Industries Limited:

Greenply Industries Limited is among India’s leading interior infrastructure companies with a strong presence of 42 years in the wood panel industry. The company operates five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the country and offers a wide portfolio of products including Plywood, MDF, Block Boards, Flush Doors, Decorative Veneers, PVC and Flooring products for domestic as well as global markets. With a strong distribution network spanning 1,100+ cities, towns, and villages across 27 states and 6 union territories, supported by more than 2,300 dealers and authorized stockists, a retail network exceeding 6,000 outlets, and 50+ physical and virtual branches across India.