26^th March 2025: With the onset of summer and temperatures already picking up, the Appliances Business of Godrej & Boyce, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, unveiled its new AC portfolio, spanning multiple capacities, tonnages, energy ratings and technologies. Buoyed by its 2X growth in the category this year and the already climbing temperatures, the brand is targeting further 50% growth in the coming summer.

 Building on its nature-inspired Vogue series from last year, the brand introduced new wood finish ACs and extended it further to a new marble series, strengthening its commitment to offering décor friendly designs. The design focus extends to window ACs as well with new top throw window ACs. Additionally, the brand is also expanding its consumer base by venturing into the commercial AC segment with Tower and Cassette ACs, designed to meet the unique needs of large residential spaces and commercial spaces.

 With more SKUs in the 5-star AC portfolio and high cooling capacities spanning to 3 and 4 Ton, new designer models, a large AI powered range apart from existing Anti-Leak ACs and Hot & Cold ACs, the brand is banking on its robust portfolio to deliver on its growth ambitions. The biggest focus area for the brand this year has been the smart AC segment with multiple new model introductions. The Godrej Smart AC range with AI–powered technology, IoT connectivity and WiFi-enabled controls, redefines user convenience with its insight-based feature design and will be taken to consumers through a 360-degree campaign.

 Speaking about the launch, Kamal Nandi, Business Head & EVP at Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “We continue to abide by our philosophy of thoughtful innovation to unlock value for our consumers. Our new range of Smart ACs go further than the regular offerings of remote connectivity and voice commands and instead, offer compelling, insightful solutions that enhance the core cooling performance or add real convenience. With advanced value laden features like smart filter cleaning notifications for uninterrupted cooling performance & improved efficiency; smart schedulers that make remotes and voice commands redundant by switching on and off by itself and operating at your preferred temperature at your preset schedules; smart energy monitoring, remote diagnosis, easy service access and a lot more – these voice and app enabled Smart Air Conditioners are designed keeping the Indian consumers in mind. From AI powered machines to patented anti-leak technology, unique wood finish ACs to compelling Smart ACs and powerful commercial ACs, our endeavour is to meet the premium aspirations of our consumers.”

 Further, Sabyasachi Gupta, Product Group Head – Air Conditioners at Appliances business of Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “Consumers today seek a blend of style, performance, and smart features. We are happy to introduce our comprehensive new AC portfolio that caters to the varying needs of our consumers with high cooling capacities to high energy ratings, design forward, AI powered, smart connected portfolio to heavy duty commercial ACs. The new smart AC range will be backed by a high decibel campaign. To further AC adoption and aid consumers, we are also offering a one of its kind 5-year comprehensive warranty with no hidden costs – with waived off service visit charges, gas refill charges and even remote replacement costs for five years, apart from easy EMI options. With summer temperatures rising on one hand and a robust lineup of new premium home air conditioners on the other, we aim to achieve over 50% growth in AC sales this summer compared to last year.”

Mr. Gautam Dutta has been with PVR for over 16 years and has 28+ years of experience. He has lead PVR’s operations as CEO and has been instrumental in driving box office, media sales and F&B verticals and establishing superior operating metrics.

 Mr. Dutta started his career in Sales and has about 18 years of advertising industry experience working with agencies like Lowe Lintas (where he spent 8 years), Saatchi & Saatchi and Rediffusion DY & R. Mr. Gautam Dutta was awarded CEO of the Year by ET Now Global Awards for retail excellence (multiplex, cinemas & entertainment category) in 2018. He was also honoured with the CEO with HR Orientation award during the 2018 World HRD Congress.

Chandigarh, March 26th, 2025: Bank of India, one of India’s leading public sector banks, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Air Force to extend the BOI Rakshak Salary Package to Air Force Personnel, Veterans and Agniveers (recruited under the Agnipath Scheme). The MoU covers special benefits including enhanced free comprehensive Personal Accident Insurance Cover (PAI), attractive offers on Debit and Credit Cards and a host of other offers.

The ceremony for the exchange of MoUs was held on 20th March, 2025 at the Air Force Headquarters, New Delhi. Air Vice Marshal Updesh Sharma, VSM ACAS (Accts & AV) of the Indian Air Force chaired the ceremony. The event was also attended by Shri Sharda Bhushan Rai, Chief General Manager, Bank of India and other Senior Officials of both the organizations.

AVM Updesh Sharma thanked BOI for extending the bouquet of financial services to all Personnel and Veterans of Indian Air Force and said IAF is committed to take the relationship forward.

Shri Sharda Bhushan Rai, CGM Bank of India said, “We are proud to be associated with the Indian Air Force and happy to extend the Benefits of our Rakshak Salary Scheme. He assured best banking products and customer service, supported by state-of-the-art digital infrastructure”. On Behalf of Bank of India he expressed his gratitude towards the Indian Air Force. This is for the first time that Bank of India entered into a MOU with the Indian Air Force.

BOI’s Rakshak Salary Scheme is a specially crafted salary account tailored to meet the needs of Personnel working with the Defence Forces, Paramilitary, and State Police by offering Personal Accidental Insurance cover of upto 100 Lakhs, Air Accidental Coverage of Rs 200 Lakhs and many others.

March 26, 2025: Bank of India, one of India’s leading public sector banks, and New India Assurance Co. Ltd.(NIACL), India’s premier insurance company entered into a strategic partnership on 24^th March 2025, at its Head Office in Mumbai to offer a wide range of general insurance products to the Bank’s customers.

With this tie-up, Bank of India’s customers will have access to insurance solutions, including health, motor, personal accident, home, and commercial insurance products offered by NIACL, a systemically important insurance company.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajneesh Karnatak, MD & CEO, Bank of India, stated “The tie-up is a step forward in offering comprehensive insurance solutions under one roof“

Ms. Girija Subramanian, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NIACL, expressed confidence that “The partnership will enhance insurance penetration for Bank of India customers and provide them with quality service and protection”

Bank of India has over 5,200 branches across the country, while New India Assurance Co. Ltd. brings with it over 100 years of excellence in the general insurance sector, making this partnership a powerful alliance in India’s bancassurance ecosystem.

25th March 2025: TreadBinary, a leading technology and consulting (TechCon) company, is pioneering a rural IT empowerment initiative in Dapoli, Maharashtra, with the goal of creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that nurtures untapped talent, provides global exposure, and transforms small-town professionals into industry leaders. This initiative is not merely a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) effort but a long-term, business-driven model ensuring economic growth, skill development, and IT decentralization.

Recognizing the immense, untapped potential of skilled professionals in non-metro regions, TreadBinary has launched this pilot project to create sustainable IT job opportunities. Spearheaded by founders Darshil Shah and Yuvraj Shidhaye, the initiative seeks to empower deserving talent often sidelined by their distance from major IT hubs and limited access to premier campus placements. By cultivating a self-reliant tech ecosystem, the company is poised to narrow the urban-rural divide in India’s technology sector.

At the core of this vision, TreadBinary will establish a new Dapoli-based entity, primarily owned by the company and its key stakeholders. The initiative begins with recruiting and training local talent over six months, equipping them with cutting-edge skills and global exposure to excel in competitive IT roles. Unlike traditional outsourcing, this model fosters a thriving, independent enterprise by reinvesting all initial revenues into the entity. This ensures long-term viability, positioning Dapoli as an emerging hub of innovation with the potential to contribute significantly to the global technology landscape.

“Talent should not be confined by geography,” said Yuvraj Shidhaye, Founder and Director, TreadBinary. “Many bright minds in smaller towns lack access to the opportunities they deserve, and our mission is to change that. By bringing IT jobs to rural India, starting with Dapoli, we aim to create a thriving ecosystem where potential is nurtured, careers are built, and local economies flourish. This is just the beginning of a larger movement to redefine how talent is discovered and empowered.”

The ripple effects of this initiative promise to revitalize Dapoli’s local economy. By enabling IT professionals to prosper in their hometowns, TreadBinary will ignite growth in ancillary businesses, strengthen infrastructure, and elevate community well-being. With a clear blueprint to scale this model beyond Dapoli, the company envisions rural India as a powerhouse in the global IT arena.

Darshil Shah, Founder and Director, TreadBinary, TreadBinary is committed to bridging the urban-rural talent gap, promoting global careers from small towns, and proving that top tech talent doesn’t have to come from metros. This initiative is a scalable model for IT decentralization, setting an example for India’s digital workforce evolution. It underscores the company’s commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable progress, setting a new benchmark for technology-driven empowerment across the nation.

New Delhi, 25^th March 2025: As the nation gears up for an electrifying cricketing season, Signify, the world leader in lighting, has announced the partnership of Ecolink with Punjab Kings for the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This collaboration brings together two entities driven by a shared commitment to performance, innovation, and delivering exceptional experiences to the customers and fans.

With the onset of the Indian summer, this partnership perfectly aligns with Ecolink’s upcoming lineup of innovative fan launches. Just as Punjab Kings strives for excellence on the cricket field, Ecolink is determined to breeze into the lives of millions of Indian families through its wide range of reliable and efficient products. This synergy makes the partnership a natural fit. Throughout the IPL 2025 season, Ecolink will enjoy prominent visibility through Punjab Kings’ promotional campaigns, digital activations, and strategic brand placements, apart from being displayed on the back of the players’ helmet and cap.

Nikhil Gupta, Head of Marketing, Strategy, Govt. Affairs & CSR – Signify, Greater India, said, “Cricket is more than a sport in India; it’s a unifying force. We are thrilled to partner with Punjab Kings and connect with millions of passionate fans. This collaboration provides Ecolink with a powerful platform to strengthen our presence in the Indian market. We look forward to supporting the team and creating unforgettable experiences for fans, both on and off the field. Through this partnership, we aim to enrich homes and the cricketing world, demonstrating our shared commitment to excellence”.

 Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon said, “We are delighted to welcome Ecolink as our official partner for IPL 2025. This partnership reflects our shared pursuit of excellence and innovation, both on and off the field. We are confident that this collaboration will add immense value to the Punjab Kings family, while enhancing the experience for our passionate fans.”

Ecolink has built a strong reputation for providing durable, efficient, and high-performance lighting solutions, earning the trust and loyalty of its customers across 20+ countries in the world. Similarly, Punjab Kings has cultivated a passionate fan base that stands by the team through every match. This shared legacy of trust and commitment to delivering value forms the foundation of this partnership, celebrating innovation, performance, and the unifying spirit of cricket.

Punjab Kings enters IPL 2025 with a strengthened squad, featuring World Cup-winning former Australian captain Ricky Ponting as head coach, Shreyas Iyer as the new captain, and a lineup of renowned cricketers including the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell.

New Delhi, 25 March 2025: The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) organised the second phase of “Festival of Australia,” a first-of-its-kind four-city showcase celebrating Australia’s world-class education and premium food and beverage products. The second phase, which started in Chennai followed by Pune, Ahmedabad and New Delhi brought together top-quality Australian universities and retail partners on a single platform.  The New Delhi showcase provided an invaluable opportunity for Indian students and parents to engage directly with representatives of Australian universities to explore educational programs designed to support their academic and career aspirations.

Prospective students gained insights on Studying in Australia by attending the following masterclasses organised as a part of the showcase:

1. Academic Masterclass on Building A Brighter Future, Together – The Education Chapter presented by Mr Kin Eng Chin, Associate Professor, School of Education, College of Health and Education, Murdoch University
2. Insight Masterclass on IELTS Essentials: Fastrack Your Success presented by Ms Sujata Chhabra, Independent education consultant.
3. Pep talk with Ms Shruti Chandra, Head of Government relations and Public Policy at Prudential PLC, Alumna of University of Melbourne

The festival also showcased an offering of premium food products including honey, nutrition bars, sauces, cheese, pasta, seafood, and lamb at the Australia Food pavilion. Austrade collaborated with Jio Mart to set up an ‘Australia Pavilion’ on their e-commerce platform and New Delhi based retailer Food Square to promote a range of Australian products at the food pavilion.

The Festival of Australia also featured a curated event, “Retail Dialogue” covering the current Indian retail landscape, trends, impacts and opportunities underAustralia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) and a general discussion on tariffs. The audience included prominent retailers and F&B importers of the city. Students from the International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA), New Delhi, participated in a virtual masterclass on “Careers in Global Hospitality” delivered by Prof Francisco Navarrete, Lecturer in the Food and Beverage Department of Torrens University, Adelaide. The masterclass delved into aspects of entrepreneurship required for setting up food businesses and explored sustainable hospitality. Australian hospitality education excels in practical, hands-on training, a multicultural environment, and internationally recognised qualifications, preparing students for diverse career paths and global opportunities.

IICA students also participated in the retail showcase, learning about Australian ingredients and brands, and experiencing live cooking demonstrations featuring Australian lamb and avocados. These offered guests an opportunity to taste dishes prepared using premium Australian ingredients, providing firsthand experience of Australia’s finest culinary delights.

Speaking about the festival, Mr Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner – South Asia, Austrade, said, “We are very happy to host the second phase of the festival, showcasing Australia’s excellence in education and cuisine. Through this event, we aim to raise awareness and create new opportunities for Indian students, families, and food enthusiasts to explore Australia as a leading destination for top-tier education and fine dining experiences. The growing presence of Australian produce in Indian cuisine is a testament to the increasing demand for high-quality ingredients.“

Australia and India’s educational ties have deepened over the years, fostering strong economic and cultural connections that continue to grow. The Festival of Australia strengthens Australia’s presence in India and celebrates a shared commitment to cross-cultural appreciation and collaboration.