MAM
Game changers take the stage at Stairs National Games and Ebel Awards
MUMBAI: It’s not just medals that will be won, minds, movements and milestones are in the making. On Monday, 19 May, New Delhi’s Talkatora Indoor Stadium will host a sports spectacle with a purpose as the Stairs National Games 2025 and Ebel Awards 2025 roll out the red carpet for grassroots glory and transformative youth leadership.
Organised by the Stairs Foundation (Society for Transformation, Inclusion, and Recognition through Sports), the event is no ordinary gathering. It’s a dynamic convergence of young athletes, changemakers, policymakers, and performers from across the country and beyond, coming together to prove that sport is more than just play, it’s a powerful language for unity and impact.
With participation from over 20 states, the Stairs National Games champions inclusivity by levelling the playing field where talent, not privilege, determines victory. At the same time, the Stairs National Sports Excellence Awards will spotlight those who’ve quietly coached, mentored, and built India’s sports ecosystem from the ground up.
The evening will crescendo with the Ebel (Ek Bharat Ek Lakshya) Awards 2025, recognising individuals and institutions creating ripples in education, wellness, inclusion, and innovation. The awards have become one of India’s most aspirational honours in youth transformation saluting local heroes and global allies redefining empowerment from the grassroots.
Chief guest Pankaj Kumar Singh, Minister for Health, Family Welfare, Transport, and IT, will headline the proceedings, joined by H.E. Patrick John Rata, High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, and several dignitaries from governance, diplomacy, and public service. Special guests also include Sheeshpal Rajput, Vikram K. Porwal (IPS), and Ajit Sharan, bringing a blend of policy and purpose to the celebration.
Taking centre stage alongside these stalwarts are Stairs Brand Ambassadors international boxer Gaurav Bidhuri, actor and youth advocate Amit Sadh, and para-athlete Rohtash Chaudhary, who embody the campaign’s core belief: that India’s future leaders will rise from its playgrounds.
Stairs Foundation founder & President Siddhartha Upadhyay states, “We are building a scalable and sustainable model of youth empowerment. By combining sports, education, equity, and ethical leadership, we’re nurturing not just athletes but visionary citizens. The Stairs platform is about democratising opportunity, amplifying grassroots voices, and preparing India’s youth to lead, inspire, and transform. India’s future will rise from its playgrounds.”
Expect more than applause, the event will feature taekwondo, yoga, jump rope acts, and a stirring audiovisual tribute to Stairs’ journey. With the Stairs platform aligned to the United Nations sustainable development goals, and partnerships spanning embassies, federations, and NGOs, the evening promises to be a launchpad for larger conversations and collaborations.
And just like that, the whistle will blow for a movement that’s raising much more than games. It’s raising a nation.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
