Business

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has announced the launch of the ICICI Prudential Life BSE 500 Momentum Value 50 Index Fund, a new value-plus-momentum investment option designed to offer customers long-term equity opportunities through select unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs). The fund will provide exposure to a diversified basket of 50 companies selected from the broad BSE 500 universe and follow the ICICI Pru BSE 500 Momentum Value 50 Customized Index. Its rules-based approach combines attractive valuations with positive price momentum, while the portfolio will be reviewed quarterly to respond to changing market valuations and trends. In cases where a stock cannot be selected due to regulatory guidelines, subsequent eligible stocks will be included to maintain a 50-stock portfolio. ...

RCM Consumer Products Private Limited is strengthening its focus on women’s participation and self-reliance through initiatives aimed at building leadership, confidence, health awareness and skills among its associate buyers and leaders. The company’s Special Women’s Academy 2026, held at RCM World, Bhilwara, on August 15-16, brought together women participants from across the country under the theme “Har Naari Samman Ki Adhikari”. The two-day programme combined empowerment activities with sports, cultural showcases and practical skill development. The Independence Day celebrations opened with a march-past and flag hoisting, along with performances by school-going girls and cultural presentations. A felicitation ceremony recognised women achievers, while RCM Founder T.C. Chhabra and Ma...

Salesforce and the Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), Government of Tripura, have entered into a collaboration to strengthen digital workforce readiness in the state, targeting more than 10,000 learners by 2027. The initiative, announced at the Destination Tripura Business Conclave 2026 in Agartala, will leverage Salesforce’s Trailhead learning platform to provide self-paced digital and technology education to students, youth, government employees and entrepreneurs. The programme will offer guided learning paths covering customer relationship management (CRM), business analysis, technology fundamentals and other industry-relevant areas. Salesforce will provide online orientation resources, while DIT will identify participants through government departments, educational instit...

Women looking for life insurance with additional health, wellness and financial flexibility benefits can now consider ICICI Pru iProtect Smart Her, a new term insurance plan launched by ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.The product offers a 15% lifetime premium discount for women and a pregnancy break benefit, allowing greater flexibility in managing premium commitments during pregnancy. Policyholders also get women-specific health management and wellness services worth up to ₹25,000. These include teleconsultations across multiple specialties, annual health check-ups, health risk assessments, wellness content, and pharmacy and diagnostic discounts. The company said overall benefits under the plan are worth up to ₹92,100.For parents planning their children’s education, the plan includes ...

Shree Cement Limited is taking its sustainability-led manufacturing strategy to Meghalaya with its upcoming integrated cement manufacturing project in East Jaintia Hills, as the company seeks to combine industrial expansion with lower-carbon production practices. The company said sustainability remains central to its growth strategy, supported by commitments under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and its RE100 pledge to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2050. Currently, more than 62% of Shree Cement’s electricity requirements are met through renewable energy and Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS), backed by an installed green power capacity of 634.5 MW. During FY 2025-26, these initiatives helped the company avoid approximately 7.3 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The...

Instamart is expanding its Northeast India sourcing network, opening new consumer markets for distinctive regional fruits and vegetables while seeking to strengthen demand for farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The initiative has started with premium Meghalaya pineapples, sourced through Jirang Organic Agro Farmer Producer Company and air-freighted to Bengaluru. The move gives growers access to markets beyond the Northeast and traditional wholesale markets in Delhi. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has recognised the initiative as a step towards strengthening market linkages for the state's farmers and showcasing Meghalaya's agricultural identity nationally. Instamart Chief Business Officer GautamSwaroop said the company's reach could help bring the Northeast's ...

Himalaya Wellness Company has set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title after 66,928 doctors and healthcare practitioners across India participated in its month-long sustainability initiative launched on Doctors’ Day, July 1. The participation exceeded the previous benchmark of 53,201. The record, under “The Largest Online Photo Album of People Holding a Sign”, saw healthcare professionals submit photographs displaying the message “United for Wellness, United for a Greener Tomorrow”. Each entry was reviewed and verified under GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ guidelines before the final count was confirmed. For Himalaya, the initiative also reinforces its broader sustainability positioning and long-term stakeholder engagement strategy. CFO and COO Jayashree Ullal said the achievement reflects t...

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is planning to manufacture rare-earth permanent magnets in India as the country seeks to build a domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on imports, particularly from China. People familiar with the matter said L&T is preparing a bid for the government’s ₹7,280-crore incentive programme aimed at boosting domestic production of rare-earth magnets. The company is expected to seek a technology partner with specialised expertise in the high-precision manufacturing process. The government programme has reportedly received 15 bids so far, including a consortium involving Japan’s Proterial and two Indian automakers. India aims to establish annual domestic production capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes through the seven-year programme, which includes ₹6,450...

GIGABYTE has launched its first Made in India gaming laptop, the GIGABYTE GAMING A16, as the global high-performance computing and gaming technology company expands its local manufacturing footprint. Manufactured in partnership with Dixon Technologies, the laptop is aimed at India’s growing base of gamers, creators, students and technology professionals. The Gaming A16 is powered by AMD Ryzen™ processors and is designed to deliver high-performance gaming alongside AI-ready computing capabilities. GIGABYTE said the locally manufactured laptop combines its global engineering and quality standards with Dixon’s manufacturing capabilities, helping strengthen supply-chain resilience and improve responsiveness to the Indian market. GIGABYTE Vice President–Global Sales Sinclair Hsiao, who v...

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is looking to significantly expand its presence in India’s defence sector, with defence electronics emerging as a key area of focus. The company plans to invest around ₹5,000 crore in electronics over the next five years as it seeks to strengthen its capabilities in advanced defence technologies. L&T has already established a presence across several strategic areas, including self-propelled artillery systems, naval close-in weapon systems and other national defence programmes. Radars are among its major growth priorities, following the company’s breakthrough in the segment with a ₹5,700-crore High-Power Radars (HPRs) contract awarded by the Indian Air Force in March 2024. The HPR programme marks a significant expansion of L&T’s role, with the company ...