Business

ICICI Foundation, the CSR arm of ICICI Bank, has rolled out an extensive agricultural programme in Umling block of RiBhoi district to enhance crop productivity and farmer incomes. The initiative directly benefits over 310 farmers, tackling long-standing issues of low yields, soil erosion, outdated practices and limited access to quality planting material. As part of the support, the foundation has distributed 12.6 lakh healthy pineapple saplings, 1.38 lakh kilograms of ginger seeds and 49,350 kilograms of turmeric seeds. Training on modern and sustainable cultivation techniques, suited to the region’s high rainfall, is also underway. Already, cultivated land has expanded by 10 percent across 35 villages, with 300 acres now under pineapple farming. Productivity is projected to double to...

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has broadened its digital content portfolio by integrating Amazon MX Player into its Vi Movies & TV app, strengthening its free entertainment offering at a time when India’s OTT market is witnessing record growth. According to industry estimates, the country now has more than 547 million OTT users, with nearly 400–447 million relying on free, ad-supported platforms. The partnership adds MX Player’s diverse slate of award-winning web series, international shows, regional films, and dubbed global content to Vi Movies & TV’s existing mix of 400+ live TV channels, news streaming, and free first-episode access to Z5 Originals. By offering premium entertainment at no additional cost, Vi aims to capture a wider audience base and reduce subscription fatigue among dig...

For many smartphone users, mobile games are more than just entertainment—they are a daily escape. Vi, India’s leading telecom operator, has tapped into this sentiment with the launch of the Galaxy Shooters Freedom Fest on its Vi Games platform, live on the Vi App until August 31. The special edition not only offers fun but also opens doors to life-changing rewards for ordinary customers at just ₹1. At the heart of the festival is an annual recharge pack worth ₹4999 available for ₹1, which includes 2GB data per day, Amazon Prime Video, and access to 19 OTT platforms such as SonyLIV, ZEE5, and Lionsgate Play. Other rewards include 50GB data packs, OTT bundles with 10GB data, and gift vouchers. Participants can play Galaxy Shooters, collect gems daily, and improve their odds of winning—tu...

Shares of Godrej Properties gained attention after the company announced it had secured the top bid for a 7.825-acre land parcel in Kukatpally, Hyderabad, during an e-auction conducted by the Telangana Housing Board (TGHB) for residential group housing. The total bid stood at ₹547.75 crore, and the project is expected to generate revenue of approximately ₹3,800 crore. Following the announcement, Godrej Properties' stock rose 1.65% to close at ₹2,041.10 on Wednesday, with its market capitalization reaching ₹61,479 crore. According to the company, the land is located in a prime area of Kukatpally, close to HITEC City, and the project will consist of premium residential apartments in varied configurations. This acquisition adds to Godrej Properties’ growing portfolio in Hyderabad, followi...

Dr. G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), urged a renewed focus on education as a cornerstone for India’s transformation into a developed nation by 2047 during the university’s 40th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday. Supreme Court Justice R. Mahadevan, the chief guest, conferred degrees to 8,310 undergraduates, 2,802 postgraduates, and 451 doctoral graduates, while 68 students received gold medals for excellence and 203 were recognized for top rankings. Tamil Nadu Police Academy Director DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore received a Ph.D. in Disaster Management. The ceremony also included the inauguration of student hostels named after Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Jagadish Chandra Bose, reflecting VIT’s commitment to providing holistic development for students. Times o...

The State Bank of India (SBI), a government-owned lender, has revised its home loan interest rates effective August 1, 2025, as reported by The Economic Times. The upper limit of SBI’s regular home loan interest range has been increased by 25 basis points, now standing at 8.70%, while the lower limit remains at 7.50%. This hike comes despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintaining its repo rate at 5.55% during the August 2025 policy meeting. SBI clarified that home loan interest rates are based on the borrower's CIBIL score and linked to the External Benchmark Lending Rate (EBLR), currently at 8.15%. This rate hike affects borrowers with weaker credit scores who fall into the higher interest bracket, increasing their EMI burden. For instance, a ₹50 lakh loan over 20 years at 8.70% ...