As Budget 2026 introduces several progressive measures under its strategy for healthcare advancement through knowledge, technology, and innovation, the focus on strengthening geriatric care and allied health services has emerged as a key highlight for India’s evolving healthcare ecosystem.

Dr. Karthik Narayan R, Founder and Managing Director of Athulya Senior Care, emphasised that the future of healthcare in India extends far beyond hospitals and infrastructure. He pointed out that caregivers, allied health professionals, and geriatric specialists form the backbone of a system that ensures continuity, dignity, and quality of care, particularly for the country’s rapidly growing ageing population.

Commenting on the budget’s direction, Dr. Karthik Narayan R said, “India's healthcare future will be shaped not just by hospitals, but by the people who deliver care every day. The budget's emphasis on geriatric care, allied health professionals and caregivers, is a timely step towards ensuring a dignified, continuum of care focusing on quality of life for the aging population.”

With increasing life expectancy and a rising senior demographic, the demand for long-term care, rehabilitation services, and skilled caregivers is growing steadily across India. The budget’s recognition of geriatric care and allied health professionals signals a shift towards a more inclusive healthcare model that values preventive care, rehabilitation, and daily support alongside acute medical treatment.

Dr. Karthik Narayan R further highlighted that empowering caregivers and allied professionals through structured training, technology integration, and policy support will play a crucial role in building a self-reliant healthcare ecosystem. Such an approach not only improves patient outcomes but also ensures that seniors receive compassionate, personalised care that enhances their overall quality of life.

The emphasis laid out in Budget 2026 reflects a broader vision of healthcare that balances innovation with human-centric care delivery. By strengthening the geriatric care framework and supporting the workforce behind it, India moves closer to a resilient healthcare system that prioritises dignity, continuity, and long-term well-being for its ageing population.

Ms. Valluru Kranthi, IAS, Managing Director of the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC), visited the 12th International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) 2026 at the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), Gachibowli, highlighting Telangana’s growing focus on culinary tourism.

During her visit, she toured the IIHM campus, interacted with participating student chefs, and reviewed dishes prepared by contestants from countries including France, Scotland, Switzerland, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Belarus. She was accompanied by Mr. J. Earnest Immanuel, Director, IIHM Hyderabad.

Addressing the media, Ms. Kranthi said culinary tourism plays a vital role in the tourism ecosystem and noted Telangana’s strong potential driven by its diverse food heritage. She highlighted the launch of India’s first Culinary Experiential Tourism Accelerator, aimed at empowering rural and women entrepreneurs while reviving forgotten regional cuisines.

She also pointed to Hyderabad’s status as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, adding that Telangana Tourism plans to leverage this through food festivals and by encouraging home chefs across the state. On homestays, she said the government is moving towards online registrations to boost participation in key tourist destinations.

The regional round of YCO 2026 is currently underway in Hyderabad, with finals scheduled in Kolkata on February 6, where the winner will receive a ₹15 lakh cash prize.

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi has unveiled a thoughtfully curated wellness retreat at The Wellness Club, offering guests a serene escape designed to encourage mindful renewal, balance, and self-connection. Set against Delhi’s vibrant skyline, the immersive retreat blends refined luxury with progressive wellness philosophies, creating a calm urban sanctuary for holistic well-being.

The three-night retreat for two adults delivers a highly personalised wellness journey, beginning with bespoke consultations and extending through mindful dining, restorative spa therapies, expert-led fitness sessions, and time-honoured Ayurvedic healing rituals. Each experience is designed to support clarity, vitality, and long-term wellness while allowing guests to disconnect from everyday demands.

The retreat unfolds across three carefully structured days, balancing performance, recovery, and reflection. Mornings are energising, while evenings are deeply restorative, integrating guided movement, therapeutic treatments, ceremonial wind-down rituals, and nourishing wellness cuisine. Advanced biohacking and longevity-focused practices are seamlessly woven into the experience, ensuring a modern and results-driven approach to well-being.

Day one focuses on relaxation and grounding, beginning with a personalised welcome and wellness amenities, followed by individual consultations and holistic healing sessions. Guests can choose between aura-cleansing rituals such as chakra balancing or tarot card reading before enjoying a 60-minute couples’ spa therapy, with options including Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue, Jetlag Recovery, or Asian Blend treatments. The day concludes with mindful plant-based dining designed to nourish and restore.

Day two centres on fitness and recovery, offering measurable outcomes through comprehensive body analysis, personalised training sessions, and advanced recovery therapies. Guests may select from strength training, metabolic conditioning, posture correction, core strengthening, Pilates, or HYROX. Recovery therapies include Normatec Compression, Red Light Therapy, Body Roller, or Percussive treatments, followed by traditional Ayurvedic therapies such as Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Ubtan, or Valooka. A guided physiotherapy session and Moonlight Yoga complete the day.

Day three begins with energising sunrise yoga, followed by targeted recovery therapy and a focused 30-minute massage, including hand, neck and shoulder, or foot reflexology. The retreat concludes with a sunset wellness talk and guided mobility session, paired with mindful nourishment to support deep relaxation and restorative rest.

With this immersive offering, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi reinforces its commitment to contemporary wellness, providing guests with a meaningful opportunity to reset, restore, and reconnect within the heart of the capital.

For reservations and further details, email reservations.slnd@shangri-la.com.