Tuesday, August 4

Business

KHADC’s Blinkit Ban Faces Rare Challenge as Nongrim Hills Defends Consumer Choice
No Comments
Business, Khasi Hills

KHADC’s Blinkit Ban Faces Rare Challenge as Nongrim Hills Defends Consumer Choice

In a rare show of defiance against the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), the Dorbar Shnong of Nongrim Hills has openly challenged the Council’s decision to block quick-commerce platform Blinkit from operating in Shillong, arguing that consumers should not be denied the benefits of competitive pricing and online retail. The controversy centres on the KHADC’s move to prohibit Blinkit, citing concerns that the platform would threaten the livelihoods of nearly 4,000 local retail shops. However, Nongrim Hills Rangbah Shnong Bantylli Narry dismissed those fears, stating that the Dorbar Shnong’s Executive Committee—not him alone—had issued the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) to local entrepreneur B. Kurbah, who had partnered with Blinkit. Narry argued that the Counci...
Read More
Stayfree bets on innovation with Xpert XL to strengthen menstrual hygiene market
No Comments
Business

Stayfree bets on innovation with Xpert XL to strengthen menstrual hygiene market

**New Delhi, June 25:** Stayfree has expanded its menstrual hygiene portfolio with the launch of **Stayfree Xpert XL**, as the brand looks to strengthen its presence in India's growing feminine hygiene market through product innovation and wider consumer reach. The new offering reflects increasing demand for convenient, high-performance hygiene products tailored to modern lifestyles. Stayfree Xpert XL has been introduced with **3-in-1 protection**, combining **Gel Lock Pockets** for deep and instant absorption, an **Air Soft Cover** for a breathable and gentle feel on the skin, and a compact, individually wrapped design that fits easily into a pocket, making it convenient to carry and dispose of. The company said the product has been developed to address women's evolving period managem...
Read More
Vi Business study highlights AI-led digital transformation across India’s MSME sector
No Comments
Business

Vi Business study highlights AI-led digital transformation across India’s MSME sector

Vi Business has released the MSME Growth Insights Study 2026, revealing that India's small and medium enterprises are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technologies to drive business growth and long-term resilience. The study found that 57 per cent of surveyed MSMEs consider AI a critical growth enabler, while 25 per cent have already integrated AI into their business operations. Drawing insights from over 2.5 lakh MSMEs across 16 sectors through the company's ReadyForNext digital advisory platform, the report recorded an increase in India's Digital Maturity Index (DMI) to 60.8, up from 58.0 in 2025. It also highlighted that 46.3 per cent of MSMEs have implemented cybersecurity solutions, while women-led enterprises outperformed male-led businesses ...
Read More
Vi-Spotify partnership reflects growing competition in India’s digital services economy
No Comments
Business

Vi-Spotify partnership reflects growing competition in India’s digital services economy

Vi's strategic partnership with global audio streaming platform Spotify signals the increasing importance of digital entertainment as a competitive driver in India's telecom industry. By bundling three months of complimentary Spotify Premium with eligible postpaid plans, Vi is seeking to enhance customer value, improve subscriber retention and strengthen its position in the premium telecom segment. The offer is available on Vi's individual postpaid plans priced at Rs. 451, Rs. 551, Rs. 751 and Rs. 1,201 (REDX), along with select family postpaid plans, where the benefit will be available to the primary member. Customers will receive access to Spotify Premium features including ad-free streaming of more than 100 million songs, offline downloads, over seven million podcast titles, unlimit...
Read More
Maruti Suzuki Partners Five Startups for AI and Battery Recycling Innovation
No Comments
Business

Maruti Suzuki Partners Five Startups for AI and Battery Recycling Innovation

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) on Monday announced partnerships with five startups under the fifth cohort of its Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program (MSIP), aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, customer engagement, and sustainable manufacturing solutions, including electric vehicle battery recycling. The selected startups—MiniMines, Easework AI, Sarvam AI, Siftly, and CodeMate AI—will work on a range of technology-driven solutions. MiniMines will focus on environmentally responsible recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and recovery of valuable materials, supporting MSIL’s sustainability goals. Easework AI will deploy agentic AI to automate procurement processes for non-production items, while Sarvam AI will enhance multilingual customer interactions using generative AI. Sif...
Read More
Trinity Business Park plans 3 million sqft commercial hub in Guwahati
No Comments
Business

Trinity Business Park plans 3 million sqft commercial hub in Guwahati

Trinity Business Park has announced the launch of a large-scale integrated commercial development in North Guwahati, a project that is expected to emerge as one of the largest organised business ecosystems in Northeast India and strengthen the region’s commercial infrastructure. Spread across 16 acres in Amingaon, the project will offer more than 3 million sq. ft. of built-up space, bringing together retail, office, hospitality and exhibition facilities within a single campus. The development is aimed at multinational corporations, technology firms and leading Indian enterprises seeking a strategic base to expand operations across the Northeast. The project has already attracted significant interest from business communities, with members of the Assam Textile Merchants' Association ...
Read More
IOC expands Let’s Move campaign in India, targets 4 million students through sports initiative
No Comments
Business

IOC expands Let’s Move campaign in India, targets 4 million students through sports initiative

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in partnership with the AbhinavBindra Foundation and Reliance Foundation, has launched the latest edition of its “You Can Do This! Let’s Move” campaign, expanding its reach across India as part of efforts to promote physical activity and youth development through sport. The initiative, which begins on Olympic Day on June 23, builds on the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) and follows two years of campaigns that have already engaged more than 20 million young people nationwide. This year, the programme will be extended to five territories—Odisha, Assam, Chandigarh, Telangana and Meghalaya—with organisers aiming to engage approximately four million students through sports, yoga and classroom-based activities. The campaign comes amid g...
Read More
HCL Foundation launches Edition XII of HCLTech Grant with Rs 24 crore commitment
No Comments
Business

HCL Foundation launches Edition XII of HCLTech Grant with Rs 24 crore commitment

HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCLTech, has announced the launch of Edition XII of the HCLTech Grant, earmarking ₹24 crore to support non-governmental organisations working on sustainable rural development initiatives across India. The grant programme will invite applications from NGOs undertaking transformative projects in the areas of water, biodiversity, health and education. Under the latest edition, four winning organisations selected by an independent jury will receive grants of ₹5 crore each, while eight additional NGOs will be awarded ₹50 lakh each. Applications are open until June 30, 2026. Announcing the initiative, Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCL Foundation, said the organisation remains committed to empowering grassroots institutions that are...
Read More
Microsoft prolongs free Windows 10 security support until October 2027
No Comments
Business

Microsoft prolongs free Windows 10 security support until October 2027

Microsoft has announced an extension of free security updates for Windows 10, pushing the support deadline to October 2027, in a move aimed at giving users and organizations additional time to transition away from the aging platform. The decision effectively expands access to critical security patches beyond the previously expected cutoff, easing concerns for individuals and businesses that have been slow to migrate to newer systems. Microsoft said the extension is intended to maintain device security while customers continue planning upgrades, particularly in environments where hardware or software compatibility challenges delay adoption of newer operating systems. The update is especially significant for enterprise users, many of whom rely on large-scale infrastructure that cannot be up...
Read More
London High Court’s Directive in Personal Loan Guarantee Case: Nirav Modi Must Pay 108 Crores
No Comments
Business

London High Court’s Directive in Personal Loan Guarantee Case: Nirav Modi Must Pay 108 Crores

Fraudster diamond merchant Nirav Modi will have to pay ₹108 crore to Bank of India, a public sector banking institution of the country. The London High Court delivered this ruling in a case involving a personal loan guarantee and the applicable interest rate provided for the Dubai-based company 'Firestar Diamond'. The fraudster, who has been imprisoned in London for the past 7 years, has been fighting a legal battle opposing his extradition to India.Although Nirav Modi had given a personal guarantee for the loan taken by Firestar Diamond from the Bank of India, he later attempted to legally invalidate this guarantee. According to the London High Court's hearing, Nirav Modi's personal guarantee cannot be invalidated under Indian law for any reason. Consequently, Nirav Modi must pay ₹108 cr...
Read More
Like Us
Follow Us
Subscribe Us
Follow Us