Business

HDFC Life has released its latest research-based study, the ‘Ready for Life’ Index 2025, highlighting a significant gap between how financially prepared urban Indians believe they are and their actual level of readiness. According to the report, India’s actual Ready for Life Index stands at 59, while perceived readiness is much higher at 85, showing a 26-point gap. The study examines financial preparedness across four areas — financial planning, emergency preparedness, health and well-being, and retirement strategy. The findings are relevant for cities like Shillong and the wider eastern region, where financial discipline is visible but long-term protection planning remains limited. The report notes that retirement planning is the weakest area, with nearly two out of three individuals ...

Oriflame, the leading Swedish beauty and well-being brand, marks thirty years of its journey in India. The brand entered the country in the early 1990s and has progressively shaped a distinct position within a rapidly evolving beauty market. Over the past three decades, the brand has built a strong presence in the country, shaped by science-backed innovation, consistent product quality and a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurship. Rooted in its Swedish heritage, Oriflame has developed a wide and trusted product portfolio of more than 500 offerings across skincare, wellness, colour cosmetics, haircare, personal care and fragrance, including icons such as its Tender Care balm and Milk and Honey Body Creams. Tender Care, originally one of the brand’s most recognised global product...

Telecom operator Vi has rolled out India’s first recharge-linked handset theft and loss insurance plan for prepaid customers, offering much-needed protection for smartphones lost or stolen. The move is expected to benefit a large number of mobile users in Meghalaya, where prepaid connections dominate the telecom market. The new insurance facility is available for both Android and iOS devices and comes bundled with select prepaid recharge packs. Under the plan, customers can claim insurance coverage of up to ₹25,000 in case of handset loss or theft. This is significant, as traditional handset insurance policies usually cover only accidental damage and often exclude theft or loss. Smartphones are widely used for education, digital payments, office work and daily communication. Student...

Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea, has expanded its advanced metering infrastructure portfolio by introducing Smart Gas Metering solutions for City Gas Distribution companies. The announcement marks a major step in modernising utility services as India sees rapid growth in natural gas consumption. Officials said the solution is based on Narrowband IoT technology, which helps gas operators monitor leakage, theft, and manual billing errors. The move is expected to support CGD companies by reducing unaccounted gas and improving billing efficiency. With demand for natural gas rising, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has projected the CGD industry to become the largest consumer by the end of the decade. Vi Business said the upgraded system will help companies ma...

Cipla Limited (BSE: 500087; NSE: CIPLA; and hereafter referred to as "Cipla") has announced the launch of Yurpeak® (tirzepatide), a one-weekly injectable therapy for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)—two of the country’s most pressing health challenges. Cipla has the rights to distribute and promote Yurpeak®—the second brand of Lilly’s tirzepatide in India, after Lilly received DCGI approval. Commenting on the launch, Achin Gupta, Global Chief Operating Officer, Cipla Limited, said: “The launch of Yurpeak® marks a transformative moment in the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, two of India’s chronic conditions with a heavy burden. Cipla is entering this space with the same depth of expertise and scientific commitment that define our leadership in chr...

Biscuit snacking gets a playful twist as Britannia 50-50 Golmaal introduces new ideas for quick, fun and fuss-free evening bites that have become popular among young snack lovers in the city. The product combines savoury and nostalgic flavours such as Buttery Bites and Kala Jeera, making it suitable not only for tea-time but also for at-home gatherings. According to the brand, Golmaal can be used beyond regular biscuits, from replacing canapés at house parties to turning into a base for small chaat servings. The idea fits well with Shillong’s growing trend of informal home snacking, where friends often gather for adda sessions around hot tea and local favourites. The suggested “Golmaal Biscuit Chaat” uses boiled potato, onion, tomatoes, chutneys and sev placed on the biscuit, giving a ...

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour has shifted gears in Jaipur, transforming into an intersection of high-fashion and motorsport. Pushing boundaries, the Jaipur edition explored motorsports-inspired design, glamourous performance wear, and high-octane fashion showcase that marked ‘Fashion’s Next Move’ – racing forward with speed and precision. In collaboration with Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the showcase reimagined the runway into a high-speed circuit of style and power. Leading designers Namrata Joshipura and Abhishek Paatni reinterpreted high-octane motorcore aesthetics, transforming racing culture into statement-making fashion. Bollywood star Harnaaz Sandhu commanded the runway as the finale showstopper, embodying the fusion of glamour and speed, while rap sensation Raftaar close...

On Monday, Paramount Skydance made a hostile $108.4 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), following Netflix’s $72 billion offer for the studio and its streaming service, potentially ending a duopoly and creating a monopoly. Paramount proposed a $30-per-share cash tender offer for WBD, backed by $41 billion in equity financing, funds from Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, Middle Eastern government-backed investors, and support from the Ellison family. Unlike Netflix’s bid, which targets WBD’s film and TV studios, HBO, and HBO Max, Paramount’s offer includes the company’s cable networks. Paramount’s tender will remain open for 20 business days, with WBD required to respond within 10. CEO David Ellison indicated the $30 offer may not be final, signaling a willingness to inc...

India’s shift toward a green economy offers a unique opportunity to align sustainability with industrial competitiveness, said Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Speaking at the CII IndiaEdge 2025 event during a plenary on “Green Growth: Aligning Sustainability with Competitiveness,” he urged businesses to harness this momentum through voluntary commitments that advance India’s vision of a self-reliant circular economy. He highlighted the role of investments in research, infrastructure, skill development, and collaboration with MSMEs in driving a globally competitive and sustainable industrial base. Circularity, Yadav explained, involves minimizing waste by keeping materials in use through repair, reuse, and recycling. He stressed that clean industrial...

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to announce its policy decision on December 5, 2025. The repo rate currently stands at 5.50 percent, with a neutral policy stance. In October 2025, the MPC adopted a dovish tone, citing GDP growth below target and signaling room for a potential rate cut. However, recent data has altered market expectations. India’s Q2FY26 GDP surged to 8.2 percent, surpassing the RBI’s 7 percent forecast and the market median of 7.3 percent, driven by 7.9 percent growth in private consumption and favorable base effects. Nominal GDP growth was more modest at 8.7 percent, reflecting a lower deflator. Inflation remains subdued, with headline CPI falling to 0.25 percent in October and food inflation at -5.02 percent, while core inflat...