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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
From charity to capitalism with conscience, ESG gains ground in Indian healthcare and pharma
New Delhi: As India's healthcare sector races toward a projected USD 596 billion valuation by 2025, a quiet but powerful shift is underway—Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are emerging as the next big disruptor. No longer just a corporate buzzword, ESG is now being seen as a critical framework to tackle inequities, attract impact-driven capital , and build a resilient, inclusive healthcare ecosystem. Experts say ESG could be the game-changer India needs to move beyond piecemeal CSR initiatives and government subsidies—offering instead a data-backed, accountability-driven approach to bridging access gaps, especially in rural and underserved regions. Despite its massive scale, healthcare accounts for just six per cent of the total market capitalisation of the top 1,000 NSE-listed firms—highlighting an urgent need for long-term, value-based transformation. With over 7.5 million workers across hospitals, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medtech, and biotech, embedding ESG may not just boost investor trust—it could define India's path to becoming a global healthcare leader by 2047. India currently ranks 120 out of 156 countries on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, reflecting an urgent need to adopt frameworks that move from short-term charity to measurable, long-term impact. In a conversation with ETHealthworld, Amit Bhatia, Founder of Aspire Impact and Aspire Circle, emphasised the growing relevance of ESG in reshaping healthcare outcomes across the country. 'ESG enables us to move from charity to capitalism with conscience . It incentivises healthcare providers to address underserved populations through market-based mechanisms, improving both health outcomes and investment returns,' he said. India's healthcare landscape is marked by deep-rooted inequities, especially in rural and tier 2/3 cities, where critical gaps in infrastructure, affordability, and access remain. According to Bhatia, traditional philanthropy often lacks scale, sustainability, and accountability. ESG frameworks, by contrast, offer structured and quantifiable models backed by 150+ healthcare-specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These KPIs track metrics viz patient safety and care quality, medical waste management, gender equity and workforce inclusion, affordability and last-mile access, digital health adoption and ethical governance and transparency 'Only 25 per cent of Indian companies disclose ESG metrics today. But those that do often enjoy 5 to 20 per cent higher valuation multiples, increased investor trust, and improved brand equity,' Bhatia noted. Unlike one-off donations or government subsidies that risk creating dependency, ESG-driven investments aim to align profitability with purpose. Aspire Impact uses a Dual ESG Ratings & Rankings system that evaluates companies on both risk mitigation and impact potential, helping guide capital towards organisations making a measurable difference—particularly in low-access geographies. Through its evaluation of over 1,000 companies, Aspire has helped develop sector-specific ESG roadmaps tailored to various industries. The healthcare ESG framework, launched in 2022, is designed to support providers operating in underserved regions, where demand for quality, inclusive care is rapidly growing. Bhatia also highlighted how embedding ESG principles into public health initiatives—such as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDM)—can significantly enhance transparency, accountability, and scalability. He further called for greater alignment between ESG disclosures and India's regulatory mandates, including the Companies Act and SEBI's ESG reporting requirements. This alignment, he noted, could catalyse widespread adoption of ESG frameworks across both public and private healthcare players. 'The future of healthcare is not just digital or data-driven, it must be value-driven. ESG allows us to quantify our intentions, measure our progress, and attract capital that's both responsible and results-oriented,' Bhatia said. With sustainability and accountability becoming top priorities for investors, ESG adoption in healthcare is no longer optional—it's a strategic imperative. For India to bridge persistent gaps in equity, affordability, and access, ESG provides a clear and actionable pathway to achieving universal healthcare goals while reinforcing national resilience. As India looks ahead to its centenary in 2047, embedding ESG principles into healthcare strategy could become a defining lever—reshaping not just institutions, but also the future of public health and social impact in the country.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Healthcare Gets Its ESG Scorecard: New Framework to Guide Sustainable Investing in India's $596 Billion Sector
New Delhi: India's rapidly expanding healthcare and pharmaceutical sector has taken a decisive step toward sustainability and ethical investment with the launch of its first dedicated ESG framework. Developed by Aspire Impact in collaboration with Aspire Circle, the framework was unveiled in New Delhi and co-authored by 15 leading figures from across the healthcare value chain — including Fortis, Apollo, Cipla, Zydus, Sun Pharma, Redcliffe Labs, Quadria Capital, HealthQuad, and Tata Capital Healthcare Fund. Titled Healthcare: An ESG Performance Framework, the publication is part of Aspire's Capgemini-supported Impact Future Project and offers a structured roadmap for evaluating ESG performance in a sector expected to reach USD 596 billion by 2025. Despite its scale and critical role in public health, India's healthcare sector comprises only 6 percent of the market capitalization of the top 1,000 NSE-listed companies, highlighting an urgent need for standardized ESG benchmarks to guide responsible investment. Its a dual-rating system that separately assesses ESG risks and opportunities. It introduces 80 sector-agnostic and 27 sector-specific indicators to help stakeholders measure everything from biomedical waste management and antimicrobial resistance to green hospital infrastructure, ethical supply chains, and digital health adoption. The framework also features impact-oriented metrics such as WHO medicine prequalification, access to government health schemes, and AMR management systems. Amit Bhatia, Founder of Aspire Impact and Aspire Circle, described the framework as a catalyst for change in a sector that now needs to move beyond compliance. 'India's $310 billion healthcare and pharma sector can lead the world not just in treating illnesses, but in addressing social and environmental risks. Our ESG framework introduces measurable, comparable benchmarks that enable ethical, inclusive, and future-ready growth,' he said. From an investment perspective, the launch marks a shift toward data-driven ESG evaluation that goes beyond narrative sustainability claims. 'For investors and operators alike, this framework fills a critical gap. It empowers the entire ecosystem to act with greater confidence and accountability,' said Rahul Agarwal, Partner, HealthQuad. Anurag Pratap, CSR Leader,Capgemini India's emphasising the framework also has a wider societal impact,said, 'India's healthcare sector is growing rapidly, but growth without responsibility is a missed opportunity. This framework brings clarity to ESG efforts and enables institutions to align patient care with climate action, equitable access, and long-term resilience.' The framework is the third in a 12-part series released by Aspire Impact, with earlier reports focusing on core ESG KPIs and the financial services sector. Aspire also announced plans to launch IKOOWorld, a digital platform aimed at enabling both self-guided and assured ESG assessments. As India's healthcare ecosystem continues to digitise, scale, and diversify, this new ESG framework is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable healthcare investment , offering both accountability and ambition in equal measure.
Business Standard
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Mach Conferences secures ₹40 Crores in high value orders in last 15 days
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], June 30: Mach Conferences & Events Limited, a trailblazer in India's MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry, proudly announces the acquisition of seven significant high-value orders from leading companies across the BFSI, Cement, and Auto industries within the last 15 days. These orders, collectively worth nearly ₹40 crores, underscore Mach Conferences' ability to consistently deliver world-class corporate events and strengthen its reputation as a trusted partner in the industry. All seven events, involving a total of 6,104 participants, are scheduled to be executed in H1 F.Y. 2025-26, further showcasing Mach Conferences' agility and expertise in managing large-scale projects with precision and excellence. High-Value Event Details 1. Bali: A flagship event blending cultural immersion with luxury for nearly 1,000 participants. 2. Goa: A high-profile incentive event for over 1,400 participants at India's most iconic coastal destination. 3. Cordelia Cruise (Chennai): A two-night exclusive charter offering a unique luxury cruise experience for 1,500 participants. 4. Almaty: A premium event set against the scenic beauty of Kazakhstan's mountains for over 600 participants. 5. Aamby Valley: A gathering in India's luxurious hill city for 1,250 participants. 6. Masai Mara: A boutique adventure and wildlife experience for 40 participants in Kenya's iconic reserve. 7. Bali (2nd Event): Another exclusive event for approximately 250 participants, emphasizing relaxation and luxury. "Receiving these seven high-value orders within the last 15 days reflects the trust our clients place in our ability to deliver exceptional event experiences. By partnering with companies from BFSI, Cement, and Auto industries, we continue to expand our reach and reaffirm our leadership in the MICE sector," said Mr. Amit Bhatia, Chairman & Managing Director of Mach Conferences & Events Limited. Key Highlights * Total Order Value: Nearly ₹40 crore * Total Participants: 6,104 pax * Industries Served: BFSI, Cement, Auto * Destinations: Bali (two events), Masai Mara, Goa, Chennai (Cordelia Cruise), Almaty, Aamby Valley * Timeline: All events to be executed in H1 F.Y. 2025-26 These high-value orders underline Mach Conferences' expertise in executing large-scale events across diverse industries and destinations while setting new benchmarks in the MICE industry. About Mach Conferences and Events Limited: A pioneer in the MICE industry, MACH Conferences and Events has set a high standard in successfully arranging, coordinating and carrying out formal Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events across the globe. The Company has more than 20 years of experience with certifications from eminent bodies like IATA, ADTOI, IATO, JATA and PATA. Having conducted over 300+ large and medium-sized events in the previous 3 years involving over 30 of the most elite brands, it takes pride in claiming to be among the supreme performers in the MICE industry. Not only in the Indian subcontinent, but our wings span across multiple countries. The company has a top-notch set of experts with varied expertise apart from being blessed with an in-depth and updated knowledge of the MICE Industry. As a result, they know this sector inside out, better than the rest. For further information, please contact: Mach Conferences and Events Ltd. Ms. Yashashvi Srivastava (Company Secretary ) Email: compliance@ Website: Adfactors PR Pvt. Ltd. Ms. Samruddhi Bane/ Mr. Adtiya Tikare Email: Safe Harbour This release contains statements that contain "forward looking statements" including, but without limitation, statements relating to the implementation of strategic initiatives, and other statements relating to Mach Conferences' future business developments and economic performance. While these forward-looking statements indicate our assessment and future expectations concerning the development of our business, several risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to, general market, macro-economic, governmental and regulatory trends, movements in currency exchange and interest rates, competitive pressures, technological developments, changes in the financial conditions of third parties dealing with us, legislative developments, and other key factors that could affect our business and financial performance. Mach Conferences undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future / likely events or circumstances.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gurgaon's Bristol Chowk becomes the costliest liquor zone with license allotment at nearly Rs 100 crore
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Gurugram's Bristol Chowk situated on the posh Golf Course Road went for almost Rs 100 crore in the liquor licensing auction held on Saturday. At Rs 98.6 crores it is almost double from last year's Rs 49.3 crores, a 4.2% increase from its reserve price of Rs 94.6 crores. This was Haryana's most expensive excise auction till Chowk is a part of Gurugram's West excise zone.'This year's license auction under the new excise policy was for 22 months(June 2025- March 2027) compared to 12 months in the last 2024-25 auction,' as told by officials to winning bid was placed by a G-Town Wines , it was the lone bidder for this Zone. The terms of the license dictate that it can only open two vends in this second place in the 'highest bids table' went to DLF-3 at Rs 63 crores against a reserve price of Rs. 60 crores. The third highest bid came from Shankar Chowk where the winning bid was the same as its reserve price of Rs. 62 lowest amount that anyone can bid for obtaining the liquor license is its reserve price." 50 out of 79 zones in Gurgaon East were auctioned over the weekend. Govt made revenue of Rs 1,270 crore, almost 6% higher than the combined reserve price of Rs 1,198 crore set for these zones," said Amit Bhatia, deputy excise and taxation commissioner to TOI. Horizon Plaza went for ₹46.2 crore, slightly above its reserve price, making it the second-highest bid in Gurgaon East. Bids for Signature Tower, World Mark, and Jalsa remained close to their base with the highest gains over reserve prices included Nawada (+30%), South City (+25%), American Express on SPR (+24.3%), Badshapur (+20.9%), Sikohpur and Kankrola (both +20.5%), Sohna Road (+16.9%), and Banni Square (+12%).The remaining 21 zones in Gurgaon West will be auctioned on June 3, followed by 29 zones in Gurgaon East on June added that the third round of the excise auction saw a stronger response than the previous one, reflecting broader participation in the zone auctions and a favourable reception to the state's excise makes up for approximately two-fifths of Haryana's excise government has set a revenue target of ₹14,064 crore for the current year. In the previous fiscal year (2024–25), collections reached ₹11,491 crore, achieving about 90% of the ₹12,650 crore state cabinet approved the new liquor policy for 2025–2027 on May 5, introducing earlier closing hours for urban vendors, a ban on live performances in ahatas, and prohibiting alcohol sales in villages with populations under 500.(With inputs from TOI)
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Auction of 50 Gurgaon liquor vends fetches Rs 1,270.40 crore; Bristol Chowk highest at Rs 98.6 crore
The third phase of liquor vend auctions was a bonanza for the Haryana Government's exchequer as bids fetched Rs 1270.40 crore, exceeding the reserve price of Rs 1198.90 crore by 5.96 per cent. Bristol Chowk at the city's elite Golf Course Road saw the highest bids at Rs 98.6 crore by G-Town Wines against a reserve (base) price of Rs 94.6 crore. Last year, the same zone last year saw the highest bid by the same winning bidder at Rs 48.28 crore against a base price of Rs 36.75 crore. The Haryana Excise and Taxation Department conducted and completed the auctions of 50 out of 79 liquor retail zones in Gurugram (East) under the Excise Policy 2025-27. The DLF-3 zone fetched Rs 63 crore against a reserve price of Rs 60 crore, the second highest in the district. The third highest was for the Shankar Chowk zone, which went at the base price of Rs 62 crore. Nawada zone saw winning bids that were 30 per cent higher than the base price, while the same for South City was 25 per cent, American Express on Southern Peripheral Road at 24.3 per cent, Badshapur at 20.9 per cent, Sikohpur 20.5 per cent, Kankrola 20.5 per cent, Sohna Road at 16.9 per cent, and Banni Square at 12 per cent. The auctions were conducted under a committee led by the deputy commissioner at the department's Resource Building office. City Magistrate Ravindra Kumar represented the commissioner during the bid opening. Amit Bhatia, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (East), said the bidding was open from 9 am on May 30 to 4 pm on May 31. The next auction round for the remaining zones in Gurugram (West) is set for June 3, with e-tenders accepted from 9 am to 4 pm, and evaluations at 5 pm. For the remaining 29 zones in Gurugram (East), tenders will be invited on June 5 from 9 am to 4 pm, with evaluations at 5 pm. The reserve price for these zones is Rs 1021 crore. Unlike previous years, where the annual beginning was in June, the excise policy this time is for 22 months, and from 2027 June onwards will be two years, leading to higher bids. The excise department allots licences through its zones in Gurgaon, and an allottee can open two vends in the zone with a cap of two to limit monopoly by big businesses. Competition from neighbouring states has increased in recent years because the policy is liberal as compared to those of other states, and the prices are low, driving many companies to make a foray into the business in Haryana, excise officials had earlier told The Indian Express. The Haryana Government has set a revenue target of Rs 14,064 crore under the current (new) excise policy. In 2024-25, the government collected Rs 12,700 crore against a target of Rs 12,650 crore.
