Business

ManipalCigna Health Insurance has announced the expansion of its Northeast operations, reinforcing its commitment to improving access to quality healthcare through its flagship product, ManipalCigna Sarvah, recognised as Product of the Year 2025 – Health Insurance in a NielsenIQ consumer survey. The company said the product continues to drive strong national retail growth while addressing diverse customer needs, ranging from essential health coverage to comprehensive plans with innovative benefits such as zero waiting period options. As part of its regional growth strategy, ManipalCigna has scaled up to eight operational branches across key Northeast cities and plans to onboard around 10,000 advisors over the next three years, including a targeted initiative to empower 3,000 women advi...

India received over 4,168 crore spam calls in 2025, underscoring the rising scale of digital fraud risks, while the Truecaller community successfully blocked 1,189 crore unwanted calls, helping millions of users avoid scams and financial losses, according to the company’s 2025 India Insights Report released on Thursday. The report also detected nearly 770 crore fraudulent calls, many impersonating banks, government authorities, payment platforms, and well-known brands. Spam messaging remained a major concern, with more than 12,903 crore spam SMS identified during the year. Based on an average call duration of 1.8 minutes, spam blocking helped Indians save around 21.7 lakh hours daily, preserving time, productivity, and consumer confidence in digital communication. “In a country wher...

A story of love, resilience, and success, this is the tale of two individuals who turned their dreams into reality together with Oriflame. Shanyo Horam and Worchinan Kasar’s journey is one of belief, ambition, and shared dreams, built through perseverance and partnership. Shanyo grew up in a small village with just 33 houses. As the eldest daughter, responsibility arrived early. Life demanded that she give up her formal education to support her family, stepping into work long before she felt ready. While circumstances limited her opportunities, they never dimmed her ambition. Even then, she was clear about what she wanted from life: financial independence, stability, the freedom to travel, and the ability to care for her loved ones. She worked across roles, learning on the job and moving ...

India’s overnight indexed swaps (OIS) indicate that the Reserve Bank of India’s rate-cut cycle may have ended, with markets beginning to price in the possibility of a rate hike over the next year.The one-year OIS stands at 5.50%, about 25 basis points above the RBI’s repo rate, suggesting expectations of tighter policy ahead. Meanwhile, the five-year OIS — sensitive to inflation and growth outlook — has climbed 23 bps since January to 6.15%, reflecting firming long-term expectations.The shift follows the RBI’s upward revision of GDP growth and inflation forecasts. While retail inflation remained subdued at 1.3% year-on-year in December and is projected at 2.1% for the current fiscal, it is expected to accelerate in the next financial year. Strong capex spending and new trade agreements wi...

The S&P BSE Sensex added 260.37 points to 84,326.12, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 77.30 points to 25,944.60 as of 10:15 am. Benchmark stock market indices opened higher on Tuesday, continuing their winning streak for the second consecutive day as FII buying resumed on Dalal Street over positive recent developments. The S&P BSE Sensex added 260.37 points to 84,326.12, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 77.30 points to 25,944.60 as of 10:15 am. Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said that tailwinds for the market are getting stronger with each passing day.

Royal Enfield’s super popular street culture platform HunterHood took over Shillong this weekend, celebrating music, culture and raw creative energy in the city long known for its unmistakable cultural identity. Born from Royal Enfield’s community-first philosophy, HunterHood is inspired by the Hunter 350 – a motorcycle designed for the everyday rhythm of urban life. Agile, responsive and expressive by nature, the Hunter belongs to the streets it rides through. HunterHood takes that spirit off the saddle and into the city, creating a space where riders, skaters, artists, dancers and musicians and homegrown labels can move through the streets on their own terms. Each city where HunterHood visits writes its own version of the experience. Previous editions in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai leaned...

The launch of Nemichand Bamalwa Jewellers’ (NCB) flagship showroom in Guwahati reflects the growing alignment between policy-driven formalisation of the gold sector and the expansion of organised jewellery retail in emerging regional markets. The nearly 40-year-old jewellery brand has opened its expansive showroom at Ganeshguri, GS Road, unveiled by noted personality Nishita Goswami, with the store set to open to the public on February 7, 2026. NCB is widely recognised as the pioneer of the 22/22K gold jewellery standard, ensuring jewellery retains full 22K purity even after melting without deduction in gold weight. The approach addressed earlier industry practices where lower-purity solder reduced overall gold content to 18K–20K, often leading to hidden value erosion for consumers...

Nestlé India announced the release of a commemorative postal stamp marking 50 years of MAGGI in India, celebrating the brand’s enduring connection with consumers and its contribution to the country’s processed food sector. The stamp was unveiled by Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan along with Manish Tiwary, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé India, at a special ceremony. The commemorative “50 Years of Togetherness” stamp recognises MAGGI’s journey from a single instant noodle offering to a diverse product portfolio that today includes noodles, masalas, sauces, soups and ready-to-cook products. Over five decades, the brand has become synonymous with quick meals and shared food moments across generations, from hostel kitchens to family gatherings and socia...

Infrastructure development, rail connectivity expansion and tourism-driven investments are expected to strengthen the economic outlook of the North Eastern Region, following Parliament interventions by MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla highlighting the need for faster implementation of projects and effective utilisation of central funds. He sought details on the progress of initiatives linked to the Rising North East Summit and emphasised the importance of translating announced investments into projects that generate employment and sustainable growth. Shringla noted that improved rail links connecting the farthest parts of the Northeast with the rest of the country are bringing markets closer, boosting tourism flows and strengthening trade linkages across states. He also underlined the region’...

Amazon on Thursday projected a more than 50% jump in capital expenditure this year, signaling an aggressive push into artificial intelligence infrastructure, a move that unsettled investors and sent its shares down about 9% in after-hours trading.The company said it expects to invest around $200 billion in capital spending in 2026, up from about $131 billion last year, largely to expand data centers and AI capabilities. The forecast underscores that Big Tech firms are continuing their heavy AI investment cycle, even as concerns grow over rising costs and returns.Amazon also issued a weaker-than-expected outlook for first quarter operating income, citing higher expenses related to its high-speed internet project, international retail pricing pressures and quick-commerce investments. The lo...