Business

The Goods and Services Tax Council, during its 57th meeting on Thursday, approved sweeping and long-awaited reforms to input tax credit rules, significantly widening the range of corporate expenses eligible for credit while easing refund mechanisms for industrial and commercial enterprises. Under the newly endorsed guidelines, businesses can now claim input tax credit on employee health and life insurance policies, alongside major capital installations such as telecommunication towers and pipelines laid outside manufacturing facilities, providing substantial fiscal relief to core infrastructure and service-oriented sectors. Furthermore, the Council sanctioned credits on free product samples and expired inventory write-offs where statutory regulations mandate the physical destruction of go...

Myntra’s flagship Big Fashion Festival (BFF) is set to return on October 8, offering more than 8 million styles, over 100 new brand and collection launches and participation from 21,000 emerging brands and labels. The festive shopping event is expected to see strong demand across metros and non-metros, with Myntra expanding its premium and value offerings, personalised shopping experiences and faster delivery options. The platform said the latest edition will feature twice the number of styles compared with the previous edition. According to Myntra, 13,000 emerging brands will make their BFF debut, supported through its Seller Growth Connect initiatives, technology and nationwide reach. Key categories include ethnic and western wear, beauty and personal care, watches, jewellery, spo...

ICICI Bank has announced the return of its annual ‘Festive Bonanza’, rolling out discounts, cashback and financing options across shopping, smartphones, electronics, travel, fashion, furniture, home décor and quick-commerce categories. The campaign covers purchases through ICICI Bank credit and debit cards, internet banking, cardless EMI and no-cost EMI options. The bank has partnered with Flipkart for a 10% discount during the Big Billion Days sale starting October 8. Customers can also avail up to ₹7,000 instant cashback on the new iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while select Apple products offer cashback of up to ₹15,000. Credit cardholders can additionally access Apple’s ‘iPhone for Life’ programme, featuring 24-month interest-free instalments and a guaranteed buyb...

ICICI Life Insurance Limited, formerly known as ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited, on Monday unveiled its new brand identity and tagline, ‘HarKalAasaan’, positioning the rebranded insurer around a simpler, more transparent, flexible and convenient life insurance experience. The company said the new brand promise aims to shift the conversation around life insurance from merely protecting against uncertainties to enabling customers to make informed and confident decisions about their financial futures. The initiative comes as changing career paths, evolving family structures, longer lifespans and shifting financial priorities are making long-term financial planning increasingly complex. Commenting on the new brand identity, Mr. Srinivas Balasubramanian, Chief of Marketin...

UltraTech Cement has become the first Indian company to cross 2 GW of captive green power capacity after commissioning a 116.55-MW wind energy project in Barmer, Rajasthan, marking a significant milestone in the cement maker’s energy transition strategy. The Aditya Birla Group flagship said its cumulative installed green energy capacity has now reached 2,024 MW, comprising 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) capacity. Together, these sources meet around 48 per cent of UltraTech’s current power requirements, reducing its dependence on conventional energy and strengthening its focus on lower-carbon manufacturing. Alongside the Rajasthan wind project, the company commissioned 10 MW of WHRS capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works, its integrated m...

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance reported an average individual death claim of Rs 15 lakh in FY2026, retaining its position for the second consecutive year, according to the company. The figures highlight the insurer’s claim settlement performance and the importance of adequate life insurance coverage amid changing household financial needs. Publicly available industry data shows that the company’s average individual death claim increased from around Rs 10 lakh in FY2021 to Rs 15 lakh in FY2026. The average claim remained in the Rs 14-15 lakh range over the past four financial years. The insurer settled death claims worth Rs 5,149 crore in FY2026 and reported a claim settlement ratio of 99.3%. The average turnaround time for non-investigated individual claims was 1.1 days, measured f...

Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea Limited, on Thursday announced a strategic partnership with Cisco to strengthen its Hybrid SD-WAN portfolio and help enterprises modernise their network infrastructure amid growing cloud adoption and distributed operations. The partnership combines Cisco Meraki’s secure multi-WAN capabilities with Vi Business’ managed connectivity services to provide enterprises with secure, agile and scalable networks. Vi Business launched its Hybrid SD-WAN solution in 2023, integrating SD-WAN, security and multi-cloud capabilities with diverse connectivity options, including leased lines, broadband and cellular networks. Powered by Cisco Meraki, the solution offers a single dashboard for managing SD-WAN, application and performance-aware routing, se...

KFC India has introduced its Pujo Feast offers across Meghalaya, offering customers savings of up to 32% until October 25 as part of its festive-season menu. The limited-period offering includes popular items such as Hot & Crispy Chicken, Hot Wings and Boneless Chicken Strips. The fast-food chain has also launched its all-new limited-edition Krispy Chicken Momo, combining juicy chicken with herbs and spices, KFC’s signature crispy coating and chilli garlic chutney. Priced from Rs 199, the new product is available at select KFC restaurants and is positioned as a take on the popular momo format with a crunchy exterior and flavourful filling. The festive campaign comes as restaurants and food brands look to tap increased consumer spending and social gatherings during the Pujo seaso...

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance paid an average individual death claim of Rs 15 lakh to families in FY2026, highlighting the role of life insurance in providing financial support when households face the loss of an earning member. The company retained the highest average individual death claim value for the second consecutive year among insurers receiving more than 10,000 individual death claims annually, based on publicly available industry disclosures. The insurer’s average individual death claim has increased from around Rs 10 lakh in FY2021 to Rs 15 lakh in FY2026. It has remained around Rs 14-15 lakh over the past four years, as family incomes, loans and financial responsibilities have continued to change. In FY2026, ICICI Prudential Life settled death claims worth Rs 5,149 cro...

Throughout the day, our skin is exposed to everything from environmental pollutants and changing weather to dust and daily stressors. Cleansing at the end of the day, therefore, becomes more than just another step in a skincare routine - it is a chance to refresh and reset.  Making that ritual a little more indulgent, Oriflame’s new Novage+ Comfort Oil-to-Milk Cleanser reimagines the everyday cleansing ritual with a gentle, nourishing approach. Created for skin that needs effective cleansing without compromising comfort, the formula effortlessly removes make-up, impurities, pollutants and SPF residue while helping maintain the skin’s natural lipid barrier. The cleanser starts as a silky, cushion-like oil and transforms into a soft, milky texture when emulsified with water, making ...