Business Bureau

Bata India is banking on product innovation, retail experience, digital acceleration and operational efficiency to drive its next phase of sustainable and profitable growth, the company said at its 93rd Annual General Meeting. The footwear major said its transformation is focused on becoming more agile and consumer-centric, with greater emphasis on contemporary styling, comfort, value and convenience. Bata operates more than 2,000 brand outlets and 775-plus franchise stores, while over 1,000 stores are omnichannel-enabled and 70% offer hyperlocal delivery. The company said its Zero Base Merchandising initiative is operational across more than 800 stores and is targeting over 900 stores…

Eicher Trucks & Buses, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. (VECV), has inaugurated its first dedicated Eicher Pro X dealership in East India in Howrah, strengthening its presence in one of the region’s key commercial and logistics markets. The state-of-the-art Future Automobile Agency Private Limited 3S dealership at Dey Motors Compound, NH-6, Chamrail, Kona, offers Eicher Pro X small commercial vehicles in 3T and 3.5T GVW categories across electric, diesel and CNG variants. Spread over about 8,000 sqft, the facility combines sales, service and spare parts, along with dedicated service bays, a display area, customer and driver lounges…

Royal Enfield, the global leader in the 250cc–750cc mid-size motorcycle segment, has launched the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition in India at ₹2,10,684 (ex-showroom, New Delhi), with bookings opening today. The special edition pays tribute to the enduring legacy, courage, discipline and resilience of the Gorkha Regiment. The motorcycle is finished in a distinctive Gorkha Green colourway and carries a bespoke insignia featuring the legendary crossed Khukris. Retaining the Classic 350’s signature upright riding posture and J-series engine, the edition gets an Assist & Slipper clutch for smoother gear shifts and a Type-C USB fast-charging port. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Chief Commercial…

Indian children at risk of undernutrition showed significantly better growth and body composition outcomes when an oral nutritional supplement was provided alongside dietary counselling, according to findings from a randomized controlled trial announced by Abbott. The six-month study involved 223 children aged about 3 to 7 years with picky eating habits who were undernourished or at risk of undernutrition. While all participants received dietary counselling, around half were also given two daily servings of PediaSure, an Abbott pediatric oral nutritional supplement. Children receiving the supplement recorded approximately 2.4 times greater height gain and nearly 15% higher lean mass gain than…

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, hosted a Professors’ Roundtable in Kolkata, bringing together 16 professors from 15 leading colleges and institutions to discuss strengthening wealth management education and industry-academia collaboration. The session, themed “Preparing the Future Generation of Wealth Management Professionals”, focused on curriculum alignment, emerging industry trends, skill development and the growing importance of technical expertise and ethical foundations in finance careers.Sayan Banerjee, Senior Officer, University Relations - India, CFA Institute, said the organisation aimed to create meaningful dialogue between academia and industry and help educators align learning outcomes with skills sought by employers. The session…

South Africa’s Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille will visit Jaipur on August 21 and 22 to represent the country at the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting hosted by India under its 2026 BRICS Chairship. South African Tourism COO Ismail Dockrat will accompany her as part of the delegation. The visit is expected to strengthen tourism cooperation between India and South Africa, with both countries seeking deeper engagement across trade, culture, investment and people-to-people ties. Minister de Lille said India is a “valued and strategic partner” and highlighted tourism as an important avenue for strengthening bilateral connections. India is an important and…

India Yamaha Motor on Tuesday announced a refresh of its 125cc Fi Hybrid scooter range, introducing new colours, updated graphics and technology upgrades across the RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid and Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid models. The company said the move is aimed at meeting the preferences of young and style-conscious riders seeking a combination of design, performance, convenience and connectivity.The RayZR Street Rally variant now gets a Colour TFT instrument cluster with Turn-by-Turn navigation, while the wider RayZR range receives new paint finishes and graphics. The Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid has also been updated with new shades and contemporary design…

India’s life insurance market is witnessing a gradual shift towards higher protection levels, with policyholders increasingly opting for larger coverage and spending more on financial protection, according to an analysis of FY2021-FY2025 business data compiled by the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) of India. The data showed that the share of policies with a sum assured of ₹2 lakh-₹5 lakh increased by 5.6 percentage points between FY2021 and FY2025, while the ₹10 lakh-₹25 lakh category gained 2 percentage points. Policies with cover above ₹50 lakh rose 68% from 4.4 million to 7.4 million during the period, generating annual premium of ₹975…

The western Himalaya is warming faster than the central and eastern stretches of the mountain range and is projected to suffer the greatest snow loss by the end of the century, according to a new study published in the Journal of Earth System Science. The study, titled “Vulnerability of the Himalayan region under the climate change”, analysed 120 years of temperature observations from 1901 to 2020 and projections from eight global climate models under five emission scenarios. Researchers from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Ashoka University found that the western…

Asian Energy Services Limited reported a strong start to FY27, with consolidated net profit for the first quarter rising 129% year-on-year to Rs 12.8 crore, while revenue surged 135% to Rs 271.2 crore. EBITDA increased 81% year-on-year to Rs 21.9 crore, supported by strong execution, operating discipline and continued momentum across the company’s domestic and international operations. The company said its FY27 guidance for both Asian Energy Services and Kuiper remains unchanged. As of June 30, 2026, Asian Energy’s standalone order book stood at Rs 1,754 crore, with around 60% coming from oil and gas services and 40% from mineral…