Business

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has announced an additional $13 billion investment in India, taking the company’s total planned investment in the country to $48 billion by 2030. The announcement came after Jassy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during his visit to India on Thursday. The investment will focus on expanding Amazon’s artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, e-commerce and logistics infrastructure. With this latest commitment, Amazon’s cumulative investment in India between 2010 and 2030 is expected to exceed $88 billion, positioning the company among the largest global investors in AI and cloud infrastructure in the country. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will expand its data centre capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad, providing startups, enterprises and government org...

Britannia Industries has expanded its presence in the Marie biscuit category with the launch of Doodh Marie Gold, underscoring its focus on product innovation and evolving consumer preferences in India's packaged foods market. The new offering, made with atta and containing 0 per cent maida, combines a milkier taste with the light and crispy texture traditionally associated with Marie biscuits. The launch targets consumers seeking richer and more indulgent taste experiences within the everyday biscuit segment, a category that continues to witness demand for differentiated products. According to the company, Doodh Marie Gold brings together a distinctive flavour profile and the familiar characteristics of Marie biscuits, providing consumers with a new choice within the segment. The p...

Shree Cement has expanded its community development efforts in Meghalaya with a stronger focus on healthcare access, launching a vision screening programme and preparing to introduce ambulance services in remote areas of the state. The company recently organised a vision screening project in villages around its project area, where residents underwent comprehensive eye examinations. The initiative resulted in corrective spectacles being prescribed to a significant number of beneficiaries, while others requiring specialised care were referred for further medical treatment. The programme aims to address the shortage of routine eye care services in rural communities, where timely diagnosis and intervention can improve productivity, educational outcomes and overall well-being. Further st...

Surrounded by the scenic landscapes of Meghalaya, Shillong continues to emerge as a hub for conversations around health, wellness, and community awareness. Reinforcing the importance of informed healthcare choices and access to medical expertise, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, a unit of Manipal Hospitals Group, organised ‘Anveshana – Medical Education for Media’ in Shillong today. The initiative brought together leading specialists including Dr. Sourav Datta, Director – Manipal Oncology Services & Senior Consultant – Head & Neck Oncology; Dr. Arindam Mondal, HOD & Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology; Dr. Debdeep Samaddar, Associate Consultant – Medical Oncology; and Dr. Subhankar Chakrabarti, Consultant – Emergency at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, who engaged with the media on ke...

ITC Ltd.’s Sunrise Pure is sharpening its focus on the Northeast market, leveraging culture-led consumer engagement as it seeks to strengthen brand visibility and expand its footprint across the region. The company marked World Music Day with 'KaRympei Ki Sur', a large-scale cultural event held at Police Bazaar, Shillong, where it also announced Ms. Stella Rica Khongsni as the Brand Ambassador for Sunrise Pure in the Northeast. The event, named after the Khasi word 'Rympei'—the traditional hearth at the centre of family life—brought together music, community and brand engagement. Attendees included Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Commissioner & Secretary, Arts & Culture; D.B.S. Mukhim, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety; B. Rani, Director, Agriculture & Horticulture; and officia...

Shree Cement is expanding its social infrastructure investments in Meghalaya, with a focus on solar-powered education, rural electrification and clean energy solutions, underscoring the company's commitment to sustainable development and long-term community engagement in the state. The cement major, working alongside GHE Foundation and local stakeholders, has deployed solar-powered smart classrooms and digital learning facilities across the region. During FY26, seven schools received solar-powered computer laboratories, benefiting nearly 3,000 students and 117 teachers. The initiative is aimed at improving access to digital education in remote areas where grid connectivity remains unreliable. In the clean energy segment, the company has supported solar village electrification projec...

Axis Max Life Insurance Limited has announced the rollout of a participating bonus (PAR) worth ₹2,530 crore for eligible policyholders for the financial year 2025–26. With this, the company has announced its 24th consecutive annual bonus, and the total amount of bonuses declared over the past 24 years has increased to ₹18,377 crore.The newly announced bonus will be distributed to more than 21 lakh eligible PAR policyholders starting from the month of July 2026. Axis Max Life's PAR fund has increased from ₹74,119 crore in the financial year 2024–25 to ₹79,003 crore in the financial year 2025–26.

Infrastructure-led growth prospects received a major boost in Northeast India on Monday as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) marked the foundation stone laying and dedication to the nation of key National Highway projects in Meghalaya. Market observers believe the projects will strengthen regional trade networks, improve logistics efficiency and support long-term economic development across the Northeast. The projects were unveiled during a ceremony at Polo Ground, Shillong, led by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari and presided over by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. Senior state leaders, Members of Parliament, YAMAZAKI Fumio, Minister of Economic & Development at the Embassy of Japan, and TAKEUCHI Takuro, Chief Representative o...

Malabar Gold & Diamonds has launched NUWA, a new natural diamond jewellery collection that reflects emerging trends in the organised jewellery sector, including premiumisation, design-led innovation and rising demand for contemporary luxury products. The collection draws inspiration from nature’s finest creations, incorporating patterns and textures found in stripes, honeycombs, fluid formations and organic structures shaped by the earth. Industry observers note that nature-inspired collections have become an increasingly popular segment as brands seek to differentiate their offerings through distinctive design narratives. Crafted in 18kt and 14kt gold, NUWA features natural diamonds enhanced with coloured gemstones, ceramic colour enamelling and multi-tone rhodium finishes. The...

The functional beverage segment continues to witness growing consumer interest, with products offering wellness-focused ingredients increasingly finding space in daily consumption habits. Against this backdrop, Tetley Green Tea Slim Care is positioning itself within the weight management category through the inclusion of added L-Carnitine in premium green tea. L-Carnitine is a nutrient associated with energy production and fat utilisation. It helps transport long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are converted into energy. The nutrient is naturally present in foods such as dairy products and is also synthesised by the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine. Scientific evidence indicates that L-Carnitine supports the utilisation of stored body fat when combine...