Business Bureau

Employee medical plan costs in India are projected to rise by 11.5% in 2026, remaining above the global average of 9.8%, according to the latest Global Medical Trend Rates Report released by Aon. While costs continue to climb, the report notes a moderation in growth, supported by stabilising healthcare utilisation across markets. The report highlights that cancer and cardiovascular-related conditions remain among the most significant drivers of medical costs globally and in India. In the Asia-Pacific region, including India, improved access to advanced diagnostics and therapies is enhancing patient outcomes but also increasing utilisation, placing added pressure on healthcare systems…

Amazon India has announced a research collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee to develop innovative packaging solutions made from agricultural waste, aimed at reducing dependence on virgin wood pulp and curbing stubble burning. Under the project, crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse will be converted into high-quality pulp to produce strong, lightweight paper mailers comparable to conventional paper packaging. The initiative seeks to divert agricultural waste from burning, reduce imports of virgin wood pulp, and create additional income opportunities for farmers by building a market for crop residues. The collaboration with IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and…

Indian exporters are set to benefit from greater predictability and financial stability following the revised 18% US tariff under the India–US trade deal, according to a senior executive of Aon. Reacting to the development, Manoj Kumar A S, Head of Sales & Growth at Aon, said the revised tariff structure marks the beginning of a more stable phase for India’s export sector. He noted that improved cost visibility would allow exporters to plan pricing strategies and long-term contracts with greater confidence. Stronger margins, he added, are also expected to support timely payments and improve overall trade credit health. Kumar said…

Amazon MX Player, India’s leading free, premium, ad-supported video streaming service, has unveiled the trailer of its upcoming original series Amar Vishwas, a gripping courtroom drama that dives deep into the intersection of power, crime, and justice. Headlined by Rajeev Khandelwal in the titular role, alongside Ravi Behl, Aamir Ali, and Barkha Bisht, the series sets the stage for a high-stakes courtroom battle where truth is where truth is elusive and justice comes at a steep price. The trailer opens with the brutal murder of an influential film producer, Jessu Momin, a case the media is quick to label as…

Nemichand Bamalwa Jewellers (NCB), a nearly four-decade-old jewellery brand known for its transparency and craftsmanship, has announced the launch of its flagship showroom in Guwahati, marking a significant expansion of luxury jewellery retail in the Northeast. The store, located at Ganeshguri on GS Road, will open to the public on February 7, 2026. The showroom was officially unveiled by noted personality Nishita Goswami. With the new outlet, customers in Guwahati and across the Northeast will gain direct access to NCB’s signature collections, including wedding, bridal and party wear jewellery crafted in natural diamonds, gold, jadau and polki designs. NCB is…

Personal loans in India are undergoing a significant shift, moving away from their traditional image as tools meant only for emergencies. Increasingly, borrowers with stable jobs, steady incomes and disciplined investment habits are opting for personal loans to fund a wide range of planned needs from education, healthcare and home upgrades to travel, wellness and lifestyle aspirations. Industry trends indicate that post-Covid, many salaried professionals have reassessed what “investment” truly means. While they have continued systematic investments and long-term savings, there is a growing recognition that health, well-being and quality of life also require timely financial commitment. Rather than redeeming…

India’s hiring market remains buoyant, but recruiters are finding it increasingly difficult to match candidates with roles, according to new research released by LinkedIn on February 3, 2026. The study reveals that 74% of recruiters in India now struggle to find qualified candidates, even as hiring activity is running nearly 40% above pre-pandemic levels. The challenge is being driven by a widening volume-quality gap. More than half of recruiters facing hiring difficulties cited a surge in AI-generated applications, while 47% pointed to persistent shortages of in-demand skills. Nearly 48% said identifying genuine applications amid low-quality or misleading profiles has added…

South African Tourism concluded the fifth edition of its flagship corporate engagement initiative, Corporate Think Tank, with Kolkata as the fourth and final stop of the current four-city series. The event brought together over 25 corporate leaders for discussions focused on business travel trends, collaboration opportunities and destination-led experiences. Designed to deepen engagement with India’s corporate sector, the initiative showcased South Africa’s growing strengths as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), alongside leisure travel. Through interactive sessions and destination presentations, the programme highlighted the country’s positioning as a value-driven and experience-rich choice for business events. Kolkata has…

Škoda Auto India marked the first anniversary of its compact SUV Kylaq by announcing that the model has crossed the 50,000 sales milestone, underlining its growing footprint in the highly competitive sub-4-metre SUV segment. The automaker also unveiled an expanded variant portfolio and limited-period anniversary benefits for customers. Since its launch, the Škoda Kylaq has emerged as a key growth driver for the brand, contributing significantly to Škoda Auto India’s best-ever sales performance in 2025. To build on this momentum, the company has expanded the Kylaq range from four to six variants, now spread across 11 price points. The new…

The Security Solutions business of Godrej Enterprises Group has announced a strong growth outlook for its home locker business this wedding season, with sales expected to grow by 20%, driven by rising consumer preference for secure, long-term gifting solutions amidst India’s peak marriage period. The wedding season has emerged as a critical consumption period for home security, driven by rising investments in gold, jewellery, cash, and important documents. With gold prices skyrocketing, the risk profile has gone up, and hence the need to secure the jewellery is a pressing need. Weddings are one of those events of household asset creation, and a…