Business Bureau

Indian Silk House Agencies, one of East India’s leading saree retailers, has completed one year of operations in Guwahati, strengthening its presence in the Northeast and expanding its reach in the organised saree retail market. The company said the Guwahati outlet has emerged as a preferred destination for saree buyers in the region over the past year, helping the brand deepen customer engagement in Northeast India. The store’s success, along with the recent launch of a new outlet in Silchar, has expanded the company’s Northeast footprint to two states within 12 months. Located in Guwahati, one of the fastest-growing urban…

As India celebrated National Chai Day, leading tea brands introduced a range of new blends focused on regional preferences, energy, wellness and traditional flavours, reflecting the evolving tastes of Indian consumers. From customised regional teas to wellness-based herbal blends, companies are increasingly targeting consumers seeking both flavour and health benefits in their daily cup of chai. Tata Consumer Products through its Tata Tea Premium brand continued to strengthen its “Desh Ki Chai” proposition by offering customised blends tailored to regional tea preferences across India. The company said the initiative includes state-specific packaging and localised communication inspired by regional pride, while…

Tata AIA Life Insurance has announced the launch of its new “Tata AIA Dividend Leaders Index Pension Fund”, aimed at helping consumers build long-term retirement wealth through investments in India’s leading dividend-paying companies. The newly launched fund will invest in 50 consistent dividend-paying firms and track the BSE 500 Dividend Leaders 50 Index through a passive investment strategy in line with IRDAI regulations. According to the company, the fund is designed to combine market-linked growth opportunities with life insurance protection while focusing on financially strong and established businesses. Tata AIA said dividends generated by companies in the portfolio will be…

Marking 20 years since its foundation, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited on Thursday launched ‘Value Plus’, an affordable health insurance product aimed at expanding healthcare coverage in Tier 2, 3 and 4 cities, including Guwahati. The company said the new plan offers sum insured options ranging from ₹7.5 lakh to ₹25 lakh for both individual and family floater covers at nearly 20 per cent lower premiums through a curated hospital network. The offering is available for adults aged 18 years and above and dependent children from 91 days to 25 years. According to the company, customers will receive…

Škoda Auto India has launched its new brand campaign titled ‘G.O.A.T – Greatest On A Track’, highlighting the company’s motorsport legacy and performance-oriented engineering across its product range. The campaign began with the company setting an India and Asia Book of Records title for the “Fastest Multi-Car Relay of a Single Manufacturer on a Circuit” at the Coimbatore Automotive Sports and Technical Training (CoASTT) track. The record-setting fleet, comprising the Kylaq 1.0 AT, Kushaq 1.5 DSG, Slavia 1.5 DSG, Octavia RS and Kodiaq Selection L&K, completed the relay in 12:30.97, including pit-lane changeovers. The Octavia RS emerged as the fastest…

Sarala Development & Microfinance Pvt. Ltd. has continued its efforts to support women micro-entrepreneurs and preserve traditional rural craftsmanship through financial inclusion initiatives in West Bengal. In Darjeeling district, Anita Das, a local artisan engaged in crafting traditional rattan stools, has expanded her livelihood activities with the help of microfinance support provided by the company. Using techniques passed down through generations, Das produces small rattan stools that contribute to her household income while helping sustain indigenous craftsmanship in the region. According to the company, Das received her first microfinance loan of ₹50,000 from Sarala’s Champasari branch in January 2024. The…

Global travel platform Airbnb on Wednesday announced a major expansion of its services and experiences, introducing car rentals, grocery delivery, airport pickups, luggage storage, boutique hotels and exclusive FIFA World Cup 2026 experiences as part of its summer 2026 update. The company said the new features are aimed at making travel more convenient and personalised for users worldwide. Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said travel should be “meaningful” and help people explore and learn through unique experiences. Among the new additions, Airbnb users can now book grocery delivery in partnership with Instacart across select US cities, airport pickups through…

The BHIM Payments App, developed by NPCI BHIM Services Limited, registered a sharp rise in digital payment transactions in FY26, recording a 301 per cent increase in total transaction volumes compared to FY25, the company said on Thursday. According to the company, monthly transaction volumes on the app increased from 5.93 crore in April 2025 to 21.6 crore in March 2026. The growth momentum continued in April 2026, with transaction volumes touching 22.49 crore and transaction value reaching ₹26,040 crore. In West Bengal, the app witnessed rising adoption in daily payment activities, with 71 per cent of transactions categorised as…

Tata Soulfull has expanded its breakfast portfolio with the launch of its new Ultimate Millet Muesli range, aimed at consumers looking for targeted nutrition solutions linked to weight management, protein intake and gut health. The company on Tuesday announced that the new range includes three variants — Tata Soulfull Ultimate Millet Muesli Slimcare for weight management goals, Ultimate Millet Muesli Hi-Protein for protein goals, and Ultimate Millet Muesli Probiotic for gut health support. The products are built around millets as the core ingredient as the company looks to strengthen its position in India’s growing millet-based foods segment. Alongside the launch,…

The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), on Tuesday convened the first meeting of its Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to strengthen research-driven policymaking in India’s vocational education and training ecosystem. The meeting was chaired by Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE and Chairperson of NCVET. Senior representatives from government bodies, industry, academia, think tanks and research organisations participated in the discussions, including NITI Aayog, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Directorate General of Training (DGT), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), IIM Calcutta, NCAER, TISS, Ashoka University and NIEPA. The committee discussed…