To be held on 15-16th September 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, charcha is curated by the*spark forum to convene samaaj, sarkar and bazaar on shared problems and coordinated action toward inclusive, resilient development.40 co-hosts across government, markets and civil society, including Atal Innovation Mission – NITI Aayog, Meta, DBS Foundation, PRADAN, Mahindra RISE, SEWA Bharat, Meesho, American India Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Lend A Hand India, J-PAL, Pratham, Eternal, Central Square Foundation, YuWaah (UNICEF) among others and 200+ speakers over two days.Eight fronts of collective action, new participatory formats and the Bharat AI Experiential Centre, co-created with Jan AI.

NEW DELHI, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — charcha returns for its seventh edition on September 15-16, 2026, at the India Habitat Centre. Curated by the*spark forum, charcha is India’s largest collaborative convening on livelihoods. It brings samaaj, sarkar and bazaar to the same table to work on problems none of them can solve alone.

Over two days, charcha 2026 will feature 200+ speakers and 40 co-hosts across 50+ hours of programming. Programming runs along eight fronts: Philanthropy & CSR, Tech4good, Inclusive Livelihoods, Policy & Governance, Entrepreneurship & Informal Livelihoods, Rural & Agri Livelihoods, Education and Skilling, and Climate & Green Jobs.

Jerold Pereira, Managing Director, the*spark forum says: 

“India’s hardest problems don’t sit inside samaaj, sarkar or bazaar. They sit in the gaps between them. These gaps do not close because one side works harder. They close only when the people who can actually act on a problem are in the same room, at the same time and are willing to do something collaboratively and differently. This room does not build itself. Someone has to convene it, and keep convening it, until convening to find collaborative solutions stops being an ‘event’ and becomes a habit.”

The 40 co-hosts span the width of the sector, with this edition drawing a deeper and more varied participation from the social sector than any before it. From government and public institutions: Atal Innovation Mission – NITI Aayog and eGov Foundation. From markets: Meta, Meesho, Eternal, Mahindra Rise and WhatsApp. From philanthropy: the Gates Foundation, DBS Foundation, Atlassian Foundation, AIF, Central Square Foundation and The Bridgespan Group. And from across civil society, research and implementation: BAIF, ek kutumb, EkStep, Generation India, GAME, IDEA, Jan AI, J-PAL, Janaagraha, Kaabil, KhushiBaby, Lend A Hand India, Magic Bus, MITTI Café, NuSocia, PCI India, Pradan, Pratham, RestoringVision, Samagra, Sattva, SEWA Bharat, Sol’s ARC and YuWaah, The/Nudge, the^delta and the*spark.

Shri Rohit Kansal IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development – Government of India, adds:

“charcha 2026 comes at a moment when technology, markets and society are being reshaped at unprecedented speed. Its strength lies in bringing policy, practice and business onto one platform. It is through such dialogue that ideas and policy can translate into partnerships, and partnerships into outcomes at scale.”

Speakers span all three sectors. From government and policy, charcha 2026 will see Hon’ble Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Hon’ble Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Hon’ble S. Niranjan Reddy, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Hon’ble K.T. Rama Rao, Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly; Rohit Kansal, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development – Govt of India, Dr. R Balasubramaniam, Member, NITI Aayog – Govt of India, and Sri Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka to name a few. From markets and business: Vidit Aatrey (Co-founder & CEO, Meesho), Anjalli Ravi Kumar (Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal), Prabhakar L (Exec VP and Head – Social Investments at ITC Limited), Mohit Bhatnagar (MD, Peak XV) and Divya Khemani (Strategic Programs & Partnerships Lead, Meta). And from civil society, philanthropy and research: Padma Shri Renana Jhabvala (SEWA), Mekin Maheshwari (Founder & CEO, Udhyam Learning Foundation), Manu Chopra (Co-Founder & CEO, Karya), Shobhini Mukerji (Executive Director, J-PAL), Jayant Rastogi (Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation), Alina Alam (Founder & CEO, MITTI Café), Gaurav Goel (Founder & CEO, Samagra), Srikanth Viswanathan (CEO, Janaagraha), Azeez Gupta (Co-Founder, Rocket Learning), Madan Padaki (Managing Trustee, Jan AI) and Rathish Balakrishnan (Co-Founder & Partner, Sattva Consulting) – among more than 200 voices across the two days.

Renana Jhabvala, Chairperson, SEWA Bharat, states:

“I have spent fifty years watching what changes a poor woman’s life, and brings her onto an upward track. As a worker, as a woman, she is at the base of the socio-economic pyramid, and so to bring her up the pyramid, to flatten and make it more equal requires change of the ecosystem around her. This requires a joint effort of civil society, government and the private sector understanding the need for change, the levers of change and co-operating together towards change. That is where charcha leads.”

charcha is also its texture. The Bharat AI Experiential Centre, co-created with Jan AI, lets participants walk through one rural household’s day – a crop advisory at dawn, a symptom check in the evening – each running on intelligence infrastructure built for Bharat from the start, rather than retrofitted onto it. Laid out as thematic huts covering health, market linkages and financial access, education, employability and entrepreneurship, agri and rural livelihoods, and a village square, the Centre brings together Wadhwani AI, Piramal Foundation, ITC MAARS, Meesho, Leap 300, Noora Health, Rocket Learning, Karya, Haqdarshak | DBS Foundation, EkStep Foundation, Jan AI and the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, across 15+ solution exhibitions and six AI-specific sessions. Networking across the two days is curated by MASH, alongside performances, screenings and sidebar gatherings.

Vidit Aatrey, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Meesho, notes:

“Technology can be a powerful equaliser when it removes the barriers that prevent people from participating in the digital economy. The next phase of India’s growth will depend on making technology simpler, more accessible and more relevant to people, regardless of geography, language or scale. At Meesho, we have seen how expanding access can enable entrepreneurs and small businesses across India to reach customers, grow their businesses and build sustainable livelihoods. Building on this progress requires businesses, government and civil society to work together to create an ecosystem that enables broader participation. Platforms like Charcha 2026 play an important role in bringing these perspectives together and translating shared ideas into collective action.”

Since 2020, charcha has convened 15,000+ attendees and 1,000+ speakers across six editions. The 2026 edition widens that table to 40 co-hosts and eight fronts, at a moment when India’s demographic dividend peaks in 2040 and the decisions taken between now and then are the ones that compound through 2047.

ThePrint is the official media partner for charcha 2026. Teamwork Arts is the line producer. For more information and registration, visit charcha26. thespark.org.in 

About the*spark forum

the*spark forum is India’s leading platform for dialogue and collaboration on livelihoods, curating cross-sector convenings that build alignment infrastructure across government, markets, and civil society, toward a poverty-free India.

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India’s largest Pro AV show returns to the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, 16–18 September 2026, across its largest floor yet. Entry is free — register now, and save 20% on ticketed sessions while spots last.

MUMBAI, India, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — One week out from InfoComm India 2026, India’s largest Professional Audiovisual (Pro AV) and integrated experience technology trade show, visitors have a final window to register and lock in their agenda. Building on a 2025 edition that drew 12,606 business attendees from 36 countries, the free-to-attend 2026 show — at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, from 16–18 September — occupies its largest footprint yet, with over 160 exhibitors, 130-plus new product launches and embedded AI running live across the show floor.

Day One: Opening Ceremony and India’s next digital leap

The show opens on Wednesday 16 September at 10:30 AM with the Opening Ceremony and Main Forum on the Smart Tech Stage. Dave Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, Chief Executive Officer of AVIXA, delivers the Welcome Address, followed by the flagship Opening Session, “Leading India’s Next Digital Leap: Technology, Infrastructure and the Intelligent Enterprise,” headlined by Gopi Thangavel, Group CIO of Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Entry is free, but seats are limited and allocated first-come, first-served — arrive early.

See new products before they hit the market

Across its largest footprint yet — Pavilion Halls 1–3 at ground level and Jasmine Halls 1 & 2 on Level 3 — InfoComm India 2026 brings over 160 exhibitors and 130-plus new product launches, including global debuts and multiple Asia-first unveilings across display, audio, collaboration and control, for the enterprise, education, government and broadcast sectors. Among the launches to see first:

Arihant Infosys — MeetCube Pods: self-contained, AV-integrated meeting pods that make any office video-call-ready for hybrid work in hours (Booth TG01).Comcon Technology — Point Source Audio: the India launch of Point Source Audio’s professional microphone and audio range (Booth TB10).Techaagam — UNITY™ Collaboration Switcher Series: a USB-C collaboration switcher with BYOM/BYOD support for Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms (Booth G27).

AI, running live on the show floor

More than one in ten products at InfoComm India 2026 feature embedded AI — running live on the floor, not on a slide deck — from AI-powered cameras and intelligent audio to predictive AV management. With India’s Pro AV market on a US$14 billion trajectory by 2030 (AVIXA IOTA 2025) and AI a primary driver, the show is the place to assess what is genuinely ready to specify. Highlights include:

Shure — IntelliMix: AI-powered audio and collaboration technology for intelligent, scalable meeting rooms (Booth D01).Stapes India: a daily live-demo theatre of AI voice-tracking microphones and AI PTZ auto-tracking cameras for smart conferencing and classrooms (Booth TC31).

In-booth experiences to plan around

Samsung (Booth E01): a mime-artist activation built around the newly launched Samsung Spatial Signage 3D Display, pairing an AI-powered 3D visual experience with a surprise live act (12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, 16–17 September).Jabra (Booth K10): fireside chats “The AI Era” and “Voice AI,” plus interactive quizzes, gifts and a daily booth lucky draw.Fohhn (Booth TH05): “Fohhn Gallery,” an immersive audio experience for live sound.Interactive Scape with DISPLAX (Jasmine Hall 1, Booth TF32): live demos of Scape X® large-format multitouch collaboration.Italian Sound Design (Booth H37): a showcase of Italian audio brands K-ARRAY, KGEAR and KSCAPE.Wilyer (Booth TF33): live demos of on-premise digital signage and retail “Lift-and-Learn” displays.

Browse the full line-up of exhibitor booth activities and demos ahead of the show.

Special events, guided tours and networking

Beyond the booths, InfoComm India 2026 runs a full programme of special events. Guided Show Floor Tours — Education & Enterprise, and Live Events & Entertainment — offer curated, expert-led routes through the halls, while the Welcome Networking Event, co-hosted with AVIXA, brings the community together on the show floor. The Xchange LIVE community meet-ups (Newcomer, CTS, AV/IT and a Women’s Council session opened by AVIXA Chief Global Officer Sarah Joyce) are free to join, as is the Friday AV Futures programme for students and young professionals. Save 20% on ticketed sessions with code ICI26ALLE50 — first-come, first-served, and limited spots only.

Plan your visit: show hours

The show runs 10:00 AM–6:00 PM on 16 and 17 September and 10:00 AM–4:00 PM on 18 September, with badge collection from 9:30 AM daily. With more to see than a single day allows, visitors are encouraged to plan a multi-day visit and map their route in advance via the exhibitor directory. Registering online in advance saves time at the door.

Win an iPhone 17

There is a prize for working the floor. Under the InfoComm India Lucky Draw — “Meet exhibitors and stand a chance to win iPhone 17” — visitors who register in the InfoComm India app and check in at exhibitor booths across at least two of the three days enter the live grand-prize draw for an Apple iPhone 17, held on Day 3, 18 September at 2:00 PM at the Buyers Lounge, Pavilion Hall (winner must be present). Start the moment you arrive; full qualifying steps are at www.infocomm-india.com. Terms and conditions apply.

Register free — and save 20%

Entry to InfoComm India 2026 is free. AV, IT and technology professionals can register for a free badge, and — to make the case internally — use the Convince Your Boss toolkit. Ticketed special events carry a 20% discount with code ICI26ALLE50 for the first 50 registrants. Experience India’s vision for the future of Pro AV.

#InfoCommIndia2026  #TechMeetsTribe

About InfoComm India

Since its inception in 2013, InfoComm India has grown into the country’s leading platform connecting manufacturers, distributors, technology providers, system integrators, consultants, end users, enterprise buyers and government stakeholders across the Pro AV and integrated experience technology industry. It is one of three marquee events operated by InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd across the Asia Pacific region, alongside InfoComm China in Beijing and InfoComm Asia in Bangkok. Each show pairs a comprehensive exhibition with a Summit conference programme offering education on the latest industry trends and best practices.

For more information, visit:

infocomm-asia.com | infocomm-china.com | infocomm-india.com 

About AVIXA

AVIXA® (the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) is the international trade association representing the professional audiovisual and integrated experience industry. Founded in 1939 and now home to more than 3,000 enterprise members representing over 20,000 AV professionals across more than 80 countries, AVIXA is the industry’s leading resource for standards, certification, training, market intelligence and thought leadership. InfoComm Asia serves as AVIXA’s flagship gathering for its communities across the region.

For more information, visit www.avixa.org.

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SOURCE InfoCommAsia Pte Ltd

The company unveils its OISL capability and demonstrates AstroLink Micro, its 10 Gbps laser communication terminal, at Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, building on its space-to-ground terminals supplied to ISRO and targeting OISL flight readiness in 2027.

BENGALURU, India, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Astrogate Labs, an Indian deep-tech company building Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) systems for space and defense, is developing India’s first indigenous Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) terminal, targeting flight readiness in 2027.

Astrogate has supplied an indigenously developed satellite-to-ground lasercomm terminal to ISRO, making it the only Indian company to deliver this strategic technology to the national space agency.

The company’s space-to-ground laser communication terminals have reached TRL 8 – complete and qualified for flight. It also completed cross-compatibility testing with the University of Western Australia’s TeraNet mobile optical ground station, confirming interoperability with international ground infrastructure. 

The company has unveiled the OISL capability at Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, taking place from 7-9 September at BIEC, alongside a live demonstration of AstroLink Micro, its 10 Gbps space-to-ground laser communication terminal. Together they mark Astrogate’s extension from satellite-to-ground optical communications to satellite-to-satellite connectivity. 

“Some time back, laser communication from India was a research question. Today it is a product we deliver, with ISRO as a customer. OISL is the harder problem, and it is the one that decides who builds the connectivity layer for future LEO constellations. We are building it, with technology owned end to end in India,” said Nitish K. Singh, Founder & CEO, Astrogate Labs. 

Building the optical layer for future satellite networks 

As satellite constellations generate increasing volumes of data, conventional RF links face growing spectrum and bandwidth constraints. Optical communications use highly directional laser beams to deliver secure, high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity. Astrogate’s technology targets that bottleneck. 

Astrogate is targeting three markets with the terminal: satellite backhaul, sovereign defence constellations and orbital compute. With applications across commercial and strategic satellite networks, OISL represents a highly specialised and strategically important segment of the optical communications market.

OISL allows satellites to communicate directly with one another, moving data across a constellation before it is routed to Earth. SpaceX has proven the architecture at scale: its 2025 Starlink progress report describes more than 13,000 bidirectional laser links operating as an optical mesh in orbit.

“The core building blocks of our OISL terminal – the Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking (PAT) system, the optical modem, stabilized coarse tracking gimbals and system-level integration – were developed and validated for Astrogate’s space-to-ground terminals, and carry over to inter-satellite links. That inheritance is what puts flight readiness within reach by 2027,” said Jayaraman Yogeshwaran, Co-Founder & CTO, Astrogate Labs.

About Astrogate Labs 

Astrogate Labs designs and manufactures indigenous Free Space Optical Communication terminals for space and other high-performance communication applications, integrating proprietary Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking systems, optical modems and other subsystems developed in-house. Headquartered in Bengaluru, with an office in Durham, England, the company has validated its technology with end-users including ISRO and the University of Western Australia’s TeraNet mobile optical ground station and is extending its portfolio from space-to-ground terminals to Optical Inter-Satellite Links.

Media contact:
Dhivya Abirami
Marketing & Communications
media@astrogatelabs.com
www.astrogatelabs.com 

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