Awards
Rising Bharat Summit 2025 fuels bold vision for India’s global future
MUMBAI: The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 unfolded as a dynamic exchange of ideas, direction and determination in New Delhi, spotlighting India’s youthful energy and its ambitions to become a developed nation by 2047.
Centred on the theme ‘Youthful Aspirations, Dream Big, Achieve More, Rise Together,’ the summit brought together an influential line-up of ministers, policy shapers, global experts and cultural icons to present India’s vision across governance, trade, diplomacy, technology and social equity.
In a charged keynote, prime minister Narendra Modi spoke of urgent, performance-based governance. “The Waqf Amendment Bill ensures true social justice, ending appeasement and protecting Pasmanda Muslims from land mafias. In our first 100 days, we’ve delivered tax relief for youth, reforms in space, nuclear, and gig sectors, and launched WAVES to boost creativity. India cannot afford delays, our progress must be driven by performance,” he said.
Home minister Amit Shah, addressing electoral concerns and national unity, added, “I want to reassure our southern states that the delimitation process will be fair and proportionate. The opposition is creating fear to divert attention from its own failures… The idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’ is rooted in efficiency and unity, values our youth must uproot politics of appeasement.”
Commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal responded to global trade shifts stating, “We remain committed to fair and balanced trade relationships… Our trade policies, guided by the ‘India First’ principle, reflect growing strategic maturity.”
On India’s evolving geopolitical stance, minister of external affairs S. Jaishankar said, “We see opportunities even amid global uncertainties… The global community increasingly acknowledges Pakistan’s role in terrorism, and India stands firm in defending its national interests.”
Technology and infrastructure also took centre stage. IT and I&B minister for railways Ashwini Vaishnaw remarked, “This year, we will see India’s first indigenous semiconductor chip. In AI, India has the talent and vision to lead… Our approach is not just timely, but responsible.”
On infrastructure and road safety, minister Nitin Gadkari shared, “The rules apply to everyone, including myself… Real progress comes from a sense of shared responsibility.”
International insights came from professor Jeffrey Sachs, who said, “India is in a unique position… With its scale, talent, and resolve, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy, not by imitation, but on its own terms.”
The summit also welcomed an eclectic mix of national figures including justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Scott Kelly, Abhinav Bindra, Aravind Srinivas, Børge Brende, Sunny Deol, and Kajol, reflecting the convergence of innovation, governance, space science, sports and culture.
The 2025 edition of the Rising Bharat Summit stood as a clarion call for collaboration and purpose. It celebrated a confident, inclusive India, placing youth at the centre of policy, progress and global ambition.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
