A rail link to port-led growth
KolhapurVaibhavwadi rail line will link western Maharashtras industrial-agricultural base and Konkans deepwater ports
After Kolhapuri buzz, focus on Maharani chappals
Karnataka's leather development corporation is promoting Mysuru's 'Maharaja Maharani' chappals, a royal alternative to Kolhapuri footwear. The handcrafted chappals, inspired by Mysuru's heritage, are being scaled through a proposed production cluster. This initiative aims to organize artisans and meet growing demand for heritage-based Indian footwear.
Pawar Reunion Fails to Win Election
The BJP also led in several civic bodies across western Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, Satara, Solapur and Sangli, underlining its expanding footprint in the region.
Congress to have its Mayors in five cities, 350 corporators across Maharashtra: Sapkal
According to the Congress, the party is in a position to install its own Mayors in Latur, Chandrapur, Bhiwandi (Thane district), Parbhani and Kolhapur, which were among the 29 Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra
Kolhapur Election Results: Congress-led MVA leading against BJP's Mahayuti in KMC polls
Congress is leading in the Kolhapur Civic election results counting. Vote counting for the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation is underway. The Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are locked in a close battle for the 81-member civic body. Early trends indicate a tight contest.
Maharashtra on a Plate at Mazzo
Home chef Swati Mawlankar brings the essence of Maharashtra to Hyderabad, offering a nostalgic dining experience that features traditional dishes like Kolhapuri chicken and sweet puran poli, perfect for both Maharashtrians and newcomers alike.
2025 fashion presented a dichotomy of styles, from the understated elegance of Quiet Luxury and Old Money to the playful chaos of Eclectic Grandpa and Y3K futurism. Denim, quirky accessories like Labubu dolls, and a sporty-preppy fusion also defined the year's trends, showcasing a bold experimentation with identity and vision.
A model tribal school in Maharashtra battles water scarcity to fight migration
The Hiwali school has been seeking solar power and a KT dam or Kolhapur-Type Weir, a low-cost, gravity-based riverbed structure that acts as a small dam or barrage to store post-monsoon river flow for water supply
Kolhapurs Saee Jadhav Becomes First Woman Territorial Army Officer To Pass Out Of IMA
Pune, Dec 18: Saee Jadhav from Maharashtras Kolhapur has become the first woman Territorial Army officer to complete pre-commissioning training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, breaking the institutions 93-year-old tradition of male-only officer training. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated her and said her achievement is an inspiring milestone that gives direction to the dreams of countless young girls across the country. Jadhav, 23, was commissioned as a Lieutenant during the Passing Out Parade of the 157th course held [] The post Kolhapurs Saee Jadhav Becomes First Woman Territorial Army Officer To Pass Out Of IMA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is among the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra to which elections will be held on January 15, Wednesday. The counting of votes is scheduled for January 16, Friday, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced on Monday. Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar are among the other prominent civic bodies going to polls. He reportedly confirmed that the election code of conduct has now come into force in all 29 local bodies. As many as 2,869 seats in these municipal corporations will be up for grabs in these local bodies, where elections are due since early 2022. Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said the nomination process will begin on December 23, Tuesday with candidates allowed to make their submissions for a week until December 30. Scrutiny of papers will be done on December 31, and January 2, Friday, will be the last date of withdrawal of nominations, he said. Symbol allocation and the final list of candidates will be published on January 3. Polling in the 29 municipal corporations spread across Maharashtra will take place on January 15 and votes will be counted the next day, news agency PTI quoted Waghmare as saying. He said these 29 civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), have 2,869 seats on offer and 3.48 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in these major urban centres of the state. After long and tiring political blame games and court battles, the Supreme Court had finally given the deadline of January 31 to conduct the polls, reported Marathi media. Full list of local bodies heading to polls: BMC Pune Municipal Corporation Nagpur Municipal Corporation Solapur Municipal Corporation Kolhapur Municipal Corporation Thane Municipal Corporation Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Nashik Municipal Corporation Aurangabad Municipal Corporation Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation Amravati Municipal Corporation New Mumbai Municipal Corporation NandedWaghala Municipal Corporation Ulhas Nagar Municipal Corporation Sangli-Miraj-Kupwara Municipal Corporation Malegaon Municipal Corporation Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation Akola Municipal Corporation Bhayander Municipal Corporation Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation Dhule Municipal Corporation Jalgaon Municipal Corporation Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Parbhani Municipal Corporation Chandrapur Municipal Corporation Latur Municipal Corporation Panvel Municipal Corporation Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation Jalna Municipal Corporation Dates to remember: Application submission window: December 2330, 2025 Application scrutiny: December 31, 2025 Last date for withdrawal of candidature: January 2, 2026 Election symbol allocation and release of final candidate list: January 3, 2026 Polling date: January 15, 2026 Counting of votes: January 16, 2026
Pradas Rs 84,000 Kolhapuri Sandals Set For 2026 Launch
The Italian luxury house teams up with Indian artisan bodies to craft a limited-edition line using traditional techniques
Prada partners with India to take Kolhapuri Chappals global; signs landmark MoU with LIDCOM & LIDKAR
MoU was signed between Prada and Maharashtra and Karnataka's Leather Industries
Prada to source collection of sandals, inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals from LIDCOM, LIDKAR
Earlier in June this year, Prada faced criticism for leather sandals in its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which closely resembled Kolhapuri Chappal
FDDI Hyderabad Hosts Three-Day Footwear Exhibition
Visitors were welcomed into a space that placed Mojari next to Jutti, Pulla near Chamba footwear, and Kolhapuri beside the Bharwadi Desi Joda and Pabu craft, there celebrating footwear as cultural memory and contemporary study.
TET paper leak racket busted in Kolhapur; 18 arrested
So far, we have arrested 18 persons in the case and the number may rise as the probe progresses. The involvement of more individuals, including facilitators and beneficiaries of the leak, is being investigated, the police said.
`4cr online fraud: 2nd accused traced to Kolhapur, arrested
NT Reporter | Panaji Goa cyber crime police, probing the biggest online fraud in Goa involving an amount of Rs 4.74 crore, have arrested second accused Suraj Eknath Savat in connection with the case. Savat is a native of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Police said a retired employee from Tiswadi, aged 72, lost the money to a [] The post `4cr online fraud: 2nd accused traced to Kolhapur, arrested appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Established under a strategic collaboration between Starbucks Coffee Company & Tata Starbucks, the FSP aims to empower 10,000 Indian coffee farmers by 2030 Starbucks will open its 500th coffeehouse in India this week in Delhi NCR a Starbucks Reserve location offering a premium and immersive coffee experience Reaffirming its long-term commitment to India, and its plans to deepen its coffee leadership in the market, Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the establishment of a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP). In collaboration with Tata Starbucks Private Limited, the FSP will connect local agronomists and farmers to global farming best practices through open-source agronomy. Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Starbucks re-affirm coffee leadership and announce a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) to strengthen the coffee value chain from Bean to Cup Strengthening Indias coffee value chain from bean to cup Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, SARL (SCTC), Starbucks global procurement and trading subsidiary, will collaborate closely with Tata Starbucks to empower 10,000 farmers by 2030. The FSP based in Karnataka will combine Tata Starbucks deep local knowledge, Indias coffee-growing heritage, and decades of Starbucks global agronomy expertise. It will support farmers from Indias key coffee growing states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to strengthen connections with Starbucks global network, drive innovation, and share best practices in farming and sustainability to ensure a sustainable future for India coffee. The FSP will set up technical model farms in partnership with farmers in India, incorporating global learnings, to embed best practices in coffee agronomy and test sustainable solutions. The FSP in India will serve as a hub for testing new varietals, provide knowledge on innovative farming techniques aligned to Indian practices and conditions, and share insights about other agroforestry initiatives to improve coffee quality, productivity and climate resiliency. The goal is to build upon traditional methods to help farmers improve both the quality of their crops and their profitability. The FSP will work closely with existing centers of excellence within the Starbucks global network. This includes partnering with Farmer Support Centers (FSC) in coffee-growing regions around the world, where agronomists collaborate directly with farmers on research, and learning from existing model farms within Starbucks supply chain. This network includes FSCs in the APAC region in North Sumatra, Indonesia and Yunnan, China and Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica, Starbucks first company-operated coffee farm and headquarters to the Starbucks Costa Rica Farmer Support Center and Starbucks Global Research and Development team. Through the FSP, Indian farmers will also benefit from Starbucks 2026 global digital training tools, which will offer detailed online modules on agronomy, coffee quality, and C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) practices to foster ethical sourcing and ultimately enhance productivity and sustainability. It will also educate farmers about Regen-Ag (regenerative agriculture) practices and methods to reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints, and contribute to agroforestry and social development initiatives. The FSP will develop projects across the key Starbucks commitments of unlocking coffee productivity, increasing farm profitability and building climate resiliency over the next 5 years. To build capability and strengthen Indias entire coffee value chain, Tata Starbucks will also donate one million high-yield variety Arabica seedlings to farmers over the next five years. During his visit to India this week, Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks said, India is one of our fastest-growing markets. Were partnering with Tata to shape the future of coffee in India, including supporting farmers, empowering communities, and delivering the highest quality offerings to our customers. Its a long-term commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable coffee ecosystem that benefits everyone, from bean to cup . Sunil D'Souza, Managing Director & CEO at Tata Consumer Products said, Through the past decade, together, Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks, have helped shape Indias thriving coffee culture and industry. With this new initiative, we are pleased to pair Starbucks global agronomy expertise with Tatas footprint in India to drive tangible impact and pave the way for the future of responsible coffee farming in India . Re-affirming Starbucks coffee leadership through differentiated and elevated experiences Since its inception in 2012 as a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Consumer Products, Tata Starbucks has been dedicated to delivering the unique Starbucks Experience to customers in India. This has set the stage for Indias ever evolving and dynamic coffee culture. This week, Tata Starbucks will celebrate the opening of its 500th coffeehouse in India, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the market. As one of Starbucks fastest-growing international markets, India remains central to the companys plans for strategic and sustainable expansion, with continued focus on job creation and meaningful development opportunities for its partners (employees). The 500th coffeehouse will be the second location to offer a Starbucks Reserve coffee experience in Delhi NCR, engaging coffee enthusiasts with an immersive experience that showcases Starbucks coffee craft, heritage, and storytelling. The coffeehouse and its Starbucks Reserve experience underscore Tata Starbucks commitment to elevating Indias coffee craftsmanship through elevated store design, handcrafted beverages, and locally inspired innovations. As part of the global strategy to make Starbucks a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather to enjoy the finest coffee handcrafted by skilled baristas, Tata Starbucks will continue to focus on creating a differentiated and elevated coffee forward experience in India. It invites customers to experience the full flavor profile it offers - serving the worlds finest coffee and elevated offerings in a welcoming coffeehouse environment that has made it a beloved part of Indias coffee landscape. Sushant Dash, chief executive officer of Tata Starbucks said, As the largest specialty coffee player in India, we are proud to bring the Farmer Support Partnership in collaboration with SCTC, a meaningful step toward strengthening Indias coffee-growing community and securing the future of high-quality Arabica. Our commitment to India extends beyond growth, to investing in farmers, partners (employees) and customers to continue building a vibrant coffee culture. We will continue to serve the finest Arabica coffee from India and around the world, brought to life through the warm, welcoming third place experience that defines Starbucks . About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or starbucks.com . About Tata Starbucks Private Limited Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Consumer Products Limited and currently operates more than 497 stores in India across 81 cities, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Alibaug, Amritsar, Anand, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Faridabad, Gandhinagar, Ghaziabad, Goa, Guntur, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Gwalior Haridwar, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lonavala, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Meerut, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Mysore, Nagpur, Nashik, New Delhi, Noida, Pathankot, Patiala, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Siliguri, Sonipat, Surat, Thrissur, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Vadodara, Vapi, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Varanasi and Vizag are cities in India. through a network of over 4,437 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, Tata Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - A TATA Alliance.
Mahayuti, MVA lines blur for local body elections
Political parties are setting aside differences to win local elections. Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar's NCP are discussing an alliance for Pimpri Chinchwad polls. In Kolhapur, both NCP factions are uniting against the BJP. Shiv Sena (Shinde) wants to ally with BJP in Nagpur, threatening a broader coalition if talks fail.
Rival NCP Factions Join Hands Against BJP In Kolhapur
Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawars NCP have joined hands to form a front named Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi, (RSVA) which will contest the Chandgad Nagar Panchayat and Zilla Parishad elections.
After Kolhapuri Chappals, Pradas Rs 69,000 safety pin sparks online outrage over luxury minimalism
Prada's Rs 69,000 safety pin brooch has sparked online debate about luxury pricing and minimalism. This follows criticism earlier this year when the brand sold sandals resembling Indian Kolhapuri chappals for over $785, igniting accusations of cultural appropriation and a lack of credit to artisans.
Mumbai Diary | Face recognition system at Mantralaya a mess
Maharashtras Mantralaya introduced a digital face-recognition system to make entry and exit easier for visitors from across the state. However, the system is creating more delays than the traditional method. Visitors are getting stranded at entry points because the data entry process is complex and time-consuming. The face-reading machines often struggle to read a steady flow of faces, causing longer queues. Instead of speeding up access, the digital entry has become a burden on both staff and visitors. Many now spend more time waiting outside Mantralaya than they did under the old manual system, highlighting the systems limitations. Shindes Shiv Sena eyes united fight for polls The Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena wants to contest the local body elections as part of the Mahayuti rather than going solo. Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil said, The interest of Mahayuti is to remain together and contest together. That is a sentiment echoed across party leaders. There is concern that if the BJP uses its machinery to win many seats, allies may be weakened and their bargaining power reduced. Shiv Sena leaders cite the Marathi proverb, Zhakali mut savva lakhachi a folded hand hides many secrets underlining the need for unity to protect their influence and prevent being sidelined in the alliance. Ban on pigeon feeding earns Jains wrath The Jain community, respected for its business acumen and spiritual guidance, is unhappy with recent government decisions. Actions such as banning the feeding of pigeons, relocating the elephant Madhuri from Kolhapur Jain Math to the Ambani-run Vantara zoo, and tensions over Marathi versus Jain-Gujarati issues have upset both followers and spiritual leaders. In a Mumbai meeting, senior Gurus warned that if the government does not address their concerns, they may launch their own political platform to raise these issues. They also cautioned Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to rein in officials, or the community may take a strong stand. Sudhir Suryawanshi Our correspondent in Maharashtra suryawanshi.sudhir@gmail.com
PRADA delegation meets Kolhapuri chappal artisans in Athani, promises cooperation
A team to be sent to train in its Indian facility
