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Centre Approves 203 Integrated Ayush Hospitals and 383 Dispensaries Under National Ayush Mission

New Delhi, March 17: The Government of India has approved the establishment of 203 Integrated Ayush Hospitals (IAHs) and 383 new Ayush dispensaries across various states and Union Territories under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) to strengthen traditional healthcare infrastructure in the country.

Launched in 2014–15, the centrally sponsored scheme is being implemented through state and Union Territory governments with the aim of promoting and developing Ayush systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. The mission provides financial assistance for setting up 50-, 30-, and 10-bedded Integrated Ayush Hospitals, along with Ayush dispensaries based on proposals submitted by states through their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).

According to the Ministry of Ayush, the approvals have been granted to expand access to traditional healthcare services in different parts of the country. The projects are part of the Centre’s broader efforts to integrate Ayush systems into the public health framework and improve healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved regions.

Among the states, Rajasthan has received the highest number of approvals for Integrated Ayush Hospitals with 33 units, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 25, Maharashtra with 14, and Madhya Pradesh with 13 hospitals. Other states such as Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Manipur have also been sanctioned multiple facilities to strengthen Ayush-based healthcare infrastructure.

Several northeastern states have also received approvals under the scheme, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, reflecting the government’s focus on expanding traditional medicine services in the region. Union Territories such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry have also been included in the plan.

In addition to hospitals, 383 new Ayush dispensaries have been approved nationwide. Uttar Pradesh accounts for the largest share with 250 dispensaries, followed by Assam with 100 units. Other states including Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra have also been allotted dispensaries under the programme.

To support the implementation of these initiatives, the Centre has released ₹424.24 crore as grant-in-aid to states and Union Territories during the current financial year as part of the central share under the mission. The funds are intended for carrying out approved activities under the respective State Annual Action Plans.

The information was shared by **Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026.

The expansion of Ayush hospitals and dispensaries is expected to enhance access to traditional healthcare services and strengthen the integration of Ayush systems within India’s broader public health network.

March 17, 2026
Kore.ai Launches Agent Management Platform to Bring Governance and Control to Enterprise AI

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — March 17, 2026 — Kore.ai, a provider of agentic applications and a market-leading enterprise AI platform, today announced the launch of its Agent Management Platform (AMP), a unified command center designed to govern, monitor, and manage AI agents and AI systems across the enterprise.

As organizations rapidly deploy AI and multi-agent systems, many are encountering “AI sprawl,” a phenomena analysts describe as dozens of AI initiatives across different teams, tools, and clouds without centralized visibility or governance. Gartner predicts that by 2028, enterprises will operate thousands of AI agents across various business functions, making centralized management, policy enforcement, and value measurement critical for the responsible adoption of AI.

The Kore.ai Agent Management Platform provides enterprises with a single operational layer to manage AI systems across frameworks, clouds, and development environments, including LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, Google ADK, AWS AgentCore, Microsoft Foundry, Salesforce Agentforce, and proprietary systems. It consolidates AI observability, governance enforcement, performance monitoring, and value measurement, enabling organizations to move from fragmented AI experimentation to controlled, enterprise-scale deployment.

Two core capabilities distinguish Agent Management Platform from other emerging solutions. First, the platform provides a comprehensive evaluation studio that allows enterprises to test agent behavior, workflows, and outcomes before production deployment, helping teams reduce uncertainty and accelerate time to reliable deployment. Second, AMP is designed to operate across heterogeneous AI environments. While similar governance offerings from established players are typically limited to their own ecosystems and many startup solutions have limited connectivity with enterprise applications, Kore.ai’s agnostic architecture and deep integration capabilities enable enterprises to connect and govern AI systems built across multiple frameworks, tools, and platforms.

“AI agents are rapidly becoming the new software workforce inside enterprises,” said Prasanna Arikala, CTO and Head of Products at Kore.ai. “But without centralized governance, enterprises risk losing visibility and control over how AI operates across the organization. The Agent Management Platform introduces a new operational layer for enterprise AI, giving leaders the ability to manage AI agents with the same discipline, transparency, and accountability as any other critical business system.”

The new AMP platform integrates with AI agents built across leading frameworks and ecosystems, enabling organizations to manage heterogeneous AI environments through a unified control plane. Enterprises can now track AI performance and costs, enforce governance policies consistently, detect anomalies or drift, and align AI initiatives with measurable business outcomes.

“AI is quickly becoming core infrastructure for how enterprises operate,” said Raj Koneru, CEO and Founder of Kore.ai. “But scaling AI responsibly requires more than powerful models; it requires governance, visibility, and accountability. With the Agent Management Platform, we are helping enterprises turn AI from isolated experiments into a trusted, enterprise capability that delivers real business value.”

Designed to work across multi-agent environments and heterogeneous AI ecosystems, the Kore.ai Agent Management Platform provides organizations with a centralized foundation to govern AI adoption as it scales across the enterprise.

March 17, 2026
Numeraire Future Trends Expands Partnerships with Three Contemporary Artists Using AI Authentication Technology

Abu Dhabi, March 17— Numeraire Future Trends, the Abu Dhabi–based CultureTech company pioneering AI-powered Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for art, luxury goods, and cultural assets, today announced that three contemporary talented female artists have partnered with the company to secure the identity and provenance of their works using its object-level fingerprinting technology.

Emerging artists Megan Baker and Colette LaVette, represented exclusively by Gillian Jason Gallery, will integrate Numeraire’s proprietary AI-based authentication technology into their paintings. The platform creates tamper-resistant digital identities for each artwork, enabling collectors, galleries, and institutions to verify authenticity and provenance throughout the artwork’s lifecycle.

Exploring Old Master influences through a contemporary lens, Megan Baker’s lyrical abstractions transform into dream-like landscapes. Taking moments of stillness within nature, the artist reflects on our contained state as human beings, while evoking a quiet sense of comfort in solitude.

Colette LaVette’s practice borrows attributes from Rococo aesthetic, characterised by elaborate and ornamental decorations, lightness, a delicate chromatic palette and a focus on the fantastical.

Millie Foster: “As emerging artists, Baker and LaVette are taking steps to both create and secure their legacy. Numeraire’s technology is an important step to support this endeavour.”

Caroline Bergeron (ARO)

Numeraire has also onboarded Caroline Bergeron, known as Aro, a Quebec based artist whose work is gaining increasing visibility through prominent exhibitions and cultural events in Canada and internationally. Her abstract contemporary practice merges emotional intensity with refined visual sophistication, resulting in powerful, immersive works that leave a lasting imprint. Through this collaboration, she further affirms her commitment to innovation, transparency, and the long-term protection and value of her collectors’ acquisitions. “Every artwork holds a story, an energy, and a moment in time. Ensuring its authenticity for generations to come is a responsibility I take seriously as an artist.”

March 17, 2026
Hungarian Study Offers New Insights into the Causes of Smartphone Addiction

According to research from Semmelweis University, problematic smartphone use is not caused by personality alone, but by weak self-control and a strong fear of missing out on social events (FoMO). The study published in Acta Psychologica also highlights that excessive phone use not only causes psychological difficulties, but can also lead to long-term physical consequences: Poor posture may impair balance, slow reaction time, and make it harder to concentrate.

Researchers at Semmelweis University investigated how smartphone use relates to mental and physical health, as well as cognitive functions, among students aged 18 to 35. In the online questionnaires, participants reported whether they had ever missed a planned task because of their phone use, and whether their phone was on their mind even when they weren’t using it. Participants were also asked about their daily active smartphone use and the types of activities they used their phones for.

The participants’ personality traits and mental state were also examined. One questionnaire measured neuroticism, meaning a tendency to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, low mood, fear, and anger. Another assessed self-control, and a third measured FoMO, the fear of missing out on events and peers’ activities.

Based on usage patterns, the researchers identified three groups. “Purely social” users relied on their phones mainly to communicate with friends and acquaintances, build social connections, and for social purposes. “Moderately process-oriented” users spent less than four to five hours a day on their phones for social purposes, news, entertainment, and passive scrolling, but spent less than four to five hours a day on their devices. About one third of participants were classified as “strong process-oriented” users, spending four to five hours or more per day on their phones, mainly for content consumption rather than social communication.

“Our main finding is that personality alone—such as a high level of neuroticism—does not make someone addicted to their phone. People who are more prone to negative emotions like anxiety, depression, or stress do not automatically become addicted. What really matters is how well they can control their behavior, emotions, and impulses, and how strongly they fear missing out,” said Dr. Johanna Takács, senior research fellow at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Semmelweis University and lead researcher of the study.

The study shows that the main problem is not the amount of time spent on phones, but how they are used. Passive scrolling on social media—such as watching short videos or browsing feeds—constantly exposes the brain to fast stimuli. This overloads attention, reduces concentration, and can cause mental fatigue over time.

Cognitive tests showed that “strong process-oriented” users performed worse on attention and memory tasks than expected for their age. They also slept worse, felt a stronger need for constant new stimulation and had more difficulty controlling their impulses when they wanted to check or do something immediately.

The study found that the duration of phone use was mainly associated with physical effects.

“When people hold their phones at waist or chest level and look down at them, the head moves forward, creating a forward head posture, also known as ‘text neck.’ This puts extra strain on the neck and can cause pain or early wear of the neck joints.

The neck contains sensors that tell the brain how the head is positioned. If a forward head posture is maintained for long periods, these signals can change and lead to balance problems. These effects are not limited to phone use but can also influence everyday movements,” said Beáta Seregély, assistant lecturer and expert responsible for the physical measurements in the study.

The researchers stress that the goal is not to ban phones or punish young people for using them. Instead, the focus should be on helping them use their phones more consciously. Simple steps can help, such as limiting notifications—especially from social media and messaging apps—setting time limits for social media, avoiding phone use before bedtime, and promoting more physical activity and maintaining good posture.

For mental prevention, it is especially important to help young people develop better self-control and feel less afraid of missing out on social events. This can be supported through behavioral training and psychological help. When self-control increases and fear of missing out decreases, personality-related vulnerability is no longer a major risk, and even more sensitive, anxious, or stress-prone individuals are much less likely to become addicted to their phones.

March 17, 2026
Turquoise Health Announces $40 Million Series C to Become the Operating System for Healthcare Contracts and Payments

SAN DIEGO, CA —March 17– Turquoise Health (“Turquoise”), a multi-sided healthcare pricing and payment platform, today announced it has raised $40 million in Series C funding. The round was led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from existing investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Adams Street Partners, and Yosemite.

Healthcare’s financial infrastructure is broken in a way that costs the industry nearly $1 trillion in administrative spend annually. The core problem is structural, with the contracts underlying every payment decision stored in disparate systems, inconsistently interpreted, and effectively invisible to the parties bound by them. The result is a world where it’s difficult for anyone to translate those rates into accurate payment amounts. The current system results in both sides losing money due to denials and administrative overhead, or needing to maintain teams of analysts to manage complex reimbursement scenarios and reviews of documentation. This also leads to the poor experience that most patients have with medical bills and the financial infrastructure supporting care. By centralizing data, contract information, and clinical coverage rules, Turquoise addresses the industry’s pricing opacity and revenue leakage, transforming the cost of care from a source of conflict and confusion into a clear, actionable source of truth.

Turquoise’s platform creates a new way to price, contract and transact in healthcare. Clear Rates synthesizes machine-readable files, claims data, Medicare benchmarks and all other relevant pricing signals into a single, auditable rate for every payer-provider combination. Contracts leverages AI to tag every rate and provision across a customers’ contract portfolio, turning static documents into a dynamic operating system so teams can find contract details, compare performance and model negotiation scenarios in a few clicks. Together, they lay the foundation for a fundamentally different healthcare transaction, one where standardized pricing and aligned contracts dissolve administrative waste and improve the patient experience by making same-day, transparent transactions the norm. Woven across the platform is AskTQ, the AI-powered pricing and contracting layer that cuts weeks of manual research down to seconds.

“Our goal has always been to move the industry toward clear, accurate, and actionable healthcare pricing,” said Chris Severn, CEO and Co-Founder of Turquoise. “By evolving from a data vendor to a full workflow and transaction platform, we are building the infrastructure for transparent, real-time payments. This round allows us to ensure that this model becomes the industry standard.”

Turquoise has demonstrated significant market momentum, with 35% of monthly active users now leveraging multiple products on the platform. The company’s platform is now utilized by more than 280 customers, including 10 of the top 25 health systems, 4 of the 5 national payers, 9 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies, and 6 of the top 10 insurance brokers. The new capital will be used to assist with additional go-to-market efforts, accelerate the buildout of the product roadmap, and increase headcount. Turquoise has grown its team to nearly 200 employees since its founding 5 years ago and looks to add more talented, motivated people to the team.

“Turquoise is uniquely positioned at the center of the healthcare economy, leveraging a data moat bolstered by their subject matter expertise, extensive library of over 65,000 contracts and best-in-class user interface,” said Vig Chandramouli, Partner at Oak HC/FT. “We have tracked Chris and the team since 2021 and are impressed by their ability to expand adoption simultaneously across providers, payers, employers, and life sciences. Their platform doesn’t just provide data; it embeds transparency directly into the negotiation and payment workflows of the industry’s largest stakeholders.”

March 17, 2026
Pine Launches Message Gateway, Turns Everyday Messages Into AI-Powered Tasks

PALO ALTO, Calif. – March 17, 2026 – Pine, the trusted AI agent for consumers’ digital chores that delivers results, today announced Message Gateway, a new communication layer that allows users to interact with Pine’s AI assistant from anywhere, including messaging platforms, voice notes and phone calls, while Pine executes tasks in the background through AI agents.

By turning everyday messages into real-world actions, Message Gateway transforms Pine into an always-available assistant that operates across a user’s digital life. Message Gateway enables Pine to operate across time and channels, managing tasks that may run for minutes, hours or even weeks.

It transforms messaging from simple conversations into a control interface for AI agents that can perform real-world work.

“Most AI assistants today still live inside a single app,” said Pine CEO Stanley Wei. “But real life doesn’t happen inside one interface. With Message Gateway, Pine can meet users wherever they already communicate, whether that’s messaging, voice or mobile. Our goal is simple: You talk to Pine naturally, and Pine takes care of the work.”

Instead of having to open a specific application or interface to interact with an AI assistant, Message Gateway users simply send a message or speak naturally via channels like Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack or the Pine mobile app. Pine will understand the request, launch the appropriate AI agents and manage the task over time. The AI assistant tracks progress and keeps the user updated while tasks are completed.

Unlike most voice assistants designed for quick commands or chatbots built primarily to answer questions, Pine is designed to manage long-running tasks that require coordination, follow-up and execution across multiple systems. Instead of returning a single response, Pine can start tasks that unfold over time, interacting with services, making calls, researching information and keeping users informed as progress is made.

Key capabilities of Message Gateway include:

·        Multi-channel access: Users can interact with Pine through messaging platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack and the Pine mobile app.

·        Voice and audio support: Voice notes and audio messages are automatically transcribed and processed, allowing users to speak naturally instead of typing.

·        Persistent task management: Tasks can run asynchronously for minutes, hours or days, while Pine tracks progress and provides updates.

·        Single assistant experience: Users interact with one assistant, while multiple AI agents work behind the scenes to complete tasks.

·        Real-world execution: Pine can perform actions such as negotiating bills, making calls, booking appointments, researching information or generating documents.

·        Context and memory: Pine remembers important details from conversations so users do not need to repeat themselves.

“What makes Pine different is that it doesn’t just answer questions; it actually handles things for you,” said a Pine user. “Being able to send a message and have Pine take care of a task in the background feels like having a real assistant.”

Message Gateway is part of the Pine AI assistant platform, a subscription-based service designed to help consumers delegate everyday digital tasks through natural conversation. Users can interact with Pine through messaging channels, voice or the Pine mobile app, while Pine manages the work through AI agents operating in the background.

Message Gateway represents a key step toward Pine’s broader vision of building an AI assistant that operates across a user’s entire digital life. Rather than requiring people to adopt another standalone app, Pine aims to create an AI operating layer for everyday tasks, where simple conversations become the interface for getting things done.

March 17, 2026
Godrej Enterprises Group brings together Architects and Designers for the 3rd GVCC Cricket Championship

Chandigarh, 17 March 2026 – Locks and Architectural Solutions, a business unit of the Godrej Enterprises Group, successfully hosted the 3rd edition of the Godrej Value Co-Creators Club (GVCC) Cricket Championship 2026. Designed as a platform to foster deeper relationships within the Architects and Interior Designers (AID) community, the tournament once again brought together leading design firms from across the city for a spirited celebration of cricket, collaboration and camaraderie.

Held on 14th & 15th March 2026, the championship saw enthusiastic participation from prominent architecture and design firms, who came together beyond the boardroom to engage through India’s most loved sport. Over the course of several closely contested matches, teams showcased exceptional sportsmanship and competitive spirit, reinforcing the sense of community within the AID ecosystem.

The tournament concluded with an exciting final that saw SPA11 (Shashi Prabhu and Associates) secure the GVCC Cricket Championship 2026 title after a closely fought match against SSA Strikers (Sandeep Shikre Architects).

Following the success of the event, a spokesperson from Locks and Architectural Solutions, Godrej Enterprises Group, shared, “The GVCC Cricket Championship has evolved into a meaningful platform that brings together the architect and interior designer community beyond the professional engagements. At Godrej Enterprises Group, we believe that enduring industry partnerships are built through successful projects, shared experiences, and meaningful interactions. Through the Godrej Value Co-Creators Club, we strive to create platforms that foster deeper engagement and collaboration within the AID ecosystem. This year’s championship witnessed participation from over 230 architects and interior designers / 16 teams / 14 firms, reflecting the growing strength of this community and the shared spirit that continues to drive the industry forward.”

Throughout the championship, the participating teams demonstrated their cricketing prowess and the collaborative spirit that defines the AID community. The event witnessed strong engagement from industry members, further strengthening the platform’s role in bringing together professionals who contribute to shaping India’s architectural and design landscape.

The GVCC Cricket Championship is a key initiative under the Godrej Value Co-Creators Club (GVCC), a platform created to nurture stronger engagement with the AID community. In addition to sporting engagements, the platform also hosts the GeeVees Awards, an annual recognition programme celebrating excellence and innovation in architecture and design.

By bringing the industry together through shared experiences, initiatives such as the GVCC Cricket Championship reinforce Godrej’s commitment to building lasting relationships with its value co-creators while fostering a collaborative and connected ecosystem. Building on the success of previous editions, the GVCC Cricket Championship 2026 further strengthened its position as a distinctive industry engagement platform, bringing together design leaders in an environment that celebrates teamwork, sportsmanship and community spirit.

March 17, 2026
51 Couples Begin a New Journey: Narayan Seva Sansthan Hosts 45th Mass Wedding for Differently-Abled and Underprivileged

Chandigarh, Mar 17: In a powerful celebration of compassion, dignity, and social inclusion, Narayan Seva Sansthan successfully concluded its 45th Free Mass Wedding Ceremony for Differently-Abled and Economically Weaker Couples at the Seva Mahatirth, Liyon Ka Guda campus in Udaipur.

The two-day ceremony witnessed 51 couples from different parts of the country solemnize their marriages amid Vedic chants and sacred rituals, marking the beginning of a hopeful new chapter in their lives. The ceremony was graced by chief guests Darshana Mehta, Yash Mehta, and Om Prakash Soni, along with the institution’s founder Kailash ‘Manav’ Agarwal, Kamla Devi, Vandana Agarwal, Palak Agarwal, and numerous donors, social workers, and distinguished guests.

Held with the objective of empowering persons with disabilities and promoting social harmony, the ceremony brought together couples who have faced significant challenges in life but chose to embrace the future with courage and companionship. With the sacred fire as witness and priests reciting traditional mantras, the couples took the seven sacred vows, symbolizing lifelong commitment, trust, and partnership.

Many of the newlyweds are individuals living with different forms of disabilities, some with mobility impairments, others visually impaired, and some with limb disabilities. Despite these challenges, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination to build meaningful lives together. Several of these beneficiaries had earlier received free corrective surgeries, artificial limbs, calipers, and rehabilitation services at the institution, enabling them to regain mobility, confidence, and independence. Through skill-development programs offered by the organization, many have also gained livelihoods and become self-reliant.

Of the 51 couples, 25 include persons with disabilities, while 26 belong to economically weaker sections of society. Among them is Vijay Gamar from Banaskantha district in Gujarat, who married Manju from Chikhla Guda in Udaipur, who has a disability in her legs. Vijay shared that while Manju may be physically challenged, he believes she will bring immense joy, strength, and hope into his life.

Addressing the gathering, Prashant Agarwal, President, Narayan Seva Sansthan emphasized the organization’s mission by stating,

“Our goal is to ensure dignity, confidence, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. When society comes together with empathy and a spirit of service, it becomes possible to build a more inclusive and compassionate nation.”

The wedding festivities began with the ceremonial welcome of the couples amid traditional music and auspicious chants. The ceremony formally commenced with the Toran ritual, followed by the exchange of garlands. Priests then conducted the wedding rituals at 51 sacred altars, where the couples took the seven vows, pledging lifelong companionship and support.

To help the newlyweds begin their married life with dignity and stability, the institution presented each couple with essential household items, including beds, bedding, wardrobes, utensils, gas stoves, dinner sets, fans, and other daily necessities. Guests, donors, and well-wishers also blessed the couples with gifts such as mangalsutras, bangles, anklets, and other traditional ornaments.

The celebration also featured vibrant cultural performances depicting the divine weddings of Shiva–Parvati and Krishna–Rukmini, followed by symbolic doli farewell of the brides, an emotional moment where families and guests witnessed tears of joy and heartfelt blessings as the brides embarked on their new lives.

With this ceremony, Narayan Seva Sansthan has now facilitated 2,510 marriages of differently-abled and underprivileged individuals, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to compassion, empowerment, and social upliftment.

March 17, 2026
New Renault Duster Launched in India; Dispatches Begin Nationwide

Chandigarh, Mar 17: Renault India, the wholly owned subsidiary of French carmaker – Renault Group, today announced the launch of the all-new Renault Duster, with turbo petrol prices starting at INR 10.49 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and dispatches now underway nationwide. Built on the advanced Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), the new Renault Duster has been developed with a clear focus on structural robustness, efficiency and future-readiness. Its true SUV proportions, best in segment approach and departure angles and high ground clearance reinforce off-road credibility while supporting everyday usability.

The new Renault Duster combines strong performance with best ride and handling, engineered and tested specifically for Indian driving conditions. The Turbo TCe 160 delivers 163 PS and 280 Nm, paired with either a 6-speed wet-clutch DCT calibrated for Indian conditions or a 6-speed manual transmission. Vehicle dynamics have been validated by IDIADA across ride, handling, steering and braking performance, with the chassis tuned for stability, comfort and confidence across varied Indian road surfaces.

Inside, the driver-focused cockpit features improved ergonomics, strong outward visibility and enhanced seating comfort, alongside Google Automotive Services integrated into the OpenR Link multimedia system for seamless access to Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play.

The new Duster is offered in five trims: Authentic, Evolution, Techno, Techno+ and Iconic. Key highlights include full LED lighting, OpenR Link multimedia with Google built-in, panoramic sunroof and electric powered tailgate, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, 17 ADAS features, and a 360-degree camera

Strong early demand has been led by the Turbo TCe 160, which accounts for over 90% of petrol bookings across markets.

Customers can access a special introductory price of INR 10.29 Lakh until March 31, 2026 through the R-Pass pre-booking programme. Renault is also introducing flexible subscription options alongside a 7-year Renault Forever warranty for customers adhering to scheduled maintenance at authorised Renault service centres.

According to Francisco Hidalgo, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Renault India, “The new Renault Duster reflects exactly what Indian customers expect today: strong performance, real-world durability and everyday usability. With 163 PS from the Turbo TCe 160 and the advanced RGMP platform, it delivers genuine gains in ride, handling and robustness. Backed by flexible ownership options including subscription and a 7-year warranty, the SUV is engineered for how India actually drives.”

The E-Tech Strong Hybrid combines a 1.8-litre engine with a 1.4 kWh battery, enabling up to 80% EV driving in city conditions while balancing efficiency with performance. In major metro markets, nearly 40% of customers opted for the hybrid during pre-bookings, and Renault confirmed that planned hybrid capacity for 2026 is already fully allocated, with bookings set to reopen ahead of deliveries around Diwali.

VARIANTS: KEY FEATURES

1.AUTHENTIC, is the essential car with all necessary features

·Eco LED headlamps

·LED tail lamps

·Signature grill with DUSTER emblem

·skid plates

·LED turn indicators on ORVM

·Reinforced wheel arches & door side protection

·7” TFT driver display

·All power windows with auto up/down

·Central console with sliding armrest

·Auto headlamp

·One touch LED room lights

·Rear AC vents

·Remote keyless entry

·35 safety features as standard including 6 Airbags, TPMS, HSA, ESP

2.EVOLUTION. mid-range offer, a perfect balance between look, equipment, comfort and safety.

·LED horizontal rear light bar

·43.18cm (17-inch) ocean alloy wheels

·longitudinal roof bars with 50kg load capacity

·shark-fin antenna

·rear wiper, washer & defogger

·10.1” openR link multimedia

·steering mounted audio & phone controls

·wireless smartphone replication

·turn by turn navigation and music information on driver display

·cruise control & speed limiter

·electrical adjustable door mirrors

·2 front & 2 rear Type C USB sockets

·Rear view camera

·Electric parking brake (DCT only)

·Paddle shifters (DCT only)

3.TECHNO: a high range car combining comfort and connected equipment.

·Full LED headlamps

·LED fog lamps

·LED puddle lamps

·Skid plates

·electric panoramic sunroof

·electric powered tailgate

·connected car services with MYR app

·Renault hands-free access card with push button start

·Welcome & goodbye sequence

·Approach unlock & walkaway closing

·Wireless smartphone charging

·Autofold ORVM

·Bezel less auto-dimming rearview mirror

·Automatic dual-zone air conditioning

·High center console with e-shifter (DCT only)

·Center console with cooling storage (DCT only)

4.TECHNO+: a bridge between the comfort of techno & the fully loaded iconic

·45.72cm (18-inch) “outback” diamond cut alloy wheels

·Acoustic windshield

·hill descent control

·blind spot warning

·front & side park assist

·10.25” TFT driver display

5.ICONIC: a fully loaded car for most demanding customers who want no compromise and want to have the full experience on board.

·10.1” openR link multimedia system with google built-in

oGoogle Play

oGoogle Assistant

oGoogle Maps

·Map replication in driver display

·Electric front seats with 6-way adjust & manual lumbar adjust

·Ventilated front seats

·mountain jade leatherette seat upholstery with Renault logo pattern

·mountain jade leatherette wrap, carbon finish and Duster emblem with iconic yellow stitch on upper dashboard

·360⁰ around view 3D camera

·17 ADAS features

·rain sensing wipers

·multisense driving modes with 48 colour ambient lighting customization (comfort, eco, perso)

·PM2.5 filter with Clean Air AQI display & ionizer

·Arkamys auditorium sound system with 6 speakers

An iconic launch edition trim will also be available with exclusive design elements celebrating the Duster spirit of outdoors and adventure.

·Himalayan-inspired side embellisher

·iconic yellow door decal

·iconic yellow accents on front grille, roof bars & tailgate

·45.72cm (18”) “Adventure” black alloy wheels

March 17, 2026
NMDC & GMDC SIGN AN MOU Join Forces to Unlock Rare Earth Potential

Hyderabad, Mar 17th: Indian mining powerhouses – NMDC Limited and GMDC Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaborations in Rare Earth Elements and associated minerals on Monday.

Guidance for this strength-based partnership is to develop an integrated and sustainable critical mineral supply chain for India. This partnership paves the way for exploration of rare earth deposits in the country, along with the expansion of R&D capabilities and carbon conscious initiatives in this sub-sector.

The two companies signed the Understanding in the presence of Shri Amitava Mukherjee, CMD, NMDC and Shri Roopwant Singh, IAS, Managing Director, GMDC accompanied by Senior Officers from both sides at the NMDC Headquarters in Hyderabad. Effective from March 16, 2026 for a period of two years, the MOU recommends the formation of a Steering Committee and Working Group to evaluate and enrich the proposed collaboration.

This tie-up is expected to bolster the development of rare earth mining and downstream operations nationwide.

Speaking on this move, Shri Amitava Mukherjee said, “India’s interest in Rare Earth Elements is now a strategic national priority. These minerals sit at the heart of energy security, defence capability, and the push for a truly self-reliant Bharat. Mining companies have been called upon to rise to the occasion. NMDC with GMDC is determined to build a resilient critical mineral supply chain for the country as soon as possible.”

NMDC and GMDC, with their respective momentum in critical mineral mission and rare earth corridor, are also looking at the possibilities of a Joint Venture, Special Purpose Vehicle and strategic business collaborations going forward.

March 17, 2026