Business Bureau

Ai+ Smartphone has  forayed deeper into the AIoT segment with the launch of NovaPods and NovaWatch, while announcing that its next smartphone, Pulse 2, will be unveiled on March 2, followed by the Nova 2 Series. The expansion comes less than a year after the brand’s debut in July 2025, during which it claims to have built nearly one million users. Pulse 2 will feature a 50MP AI dual rear camera, 8MP front camera, the slimmest 6000mAh battery, and Android 16 on NxtQuantum OS. The company said the device is designed to deliver a simpler and smoother user experience at…

BHIM Payments App has introduced a new feature called UPI Circle, aimed at making authorised UPI payments simple, structured and secure for shared household use. The feature allows a primary user to extend controlled payment access to trusted individuals such as children, elderly parents or staff, without sharing UPI PINs, passwords or device access. UPI Circle enables a primary user to add up to five secondary users and authorise them to transact from the primary user’s UPI-linked bank account within preset limits. A monthly spending cap of up to ₹15,000 can be set, with validity ranging from one month to…

India’s upcoming cricket season has triggered a sharp spike in domestic travel, with new data from Airbnb showing a 46% rise in searches across key match-hosting cities. The surge is being led by Gen Z travellers, nearly 60% of whom plan to travel to attend live cricket matches in 2026. Searches between February 5 and June 2 recorded steep year-on-year growth in emerging cricket hubs. New Chandigarh topped the list with a 318% jump, followed by Raipur (232%), Ranchi (118%) and Thiruvananthapuram (114%). Jaipur and Lucknow also reported strong double-digit gains, signalling a shift beyond traditional metro centres. During the…

In Kolkata, food has always followed rhythm and ritual. Sunday afternoons mean mangsho and bhaat shared with family, office mornings begin with neatly packed tiffin carriers, and evenings are often spent at para joints over rolls and cutlets. Chicken, in many forms, has long been part of these familiar meals, whether cooked slowly at home or picked up on the way back from work. People never stopped to think about what these meals provided beyond taste and comfort. But that is beginning to change. Across households and younger consumers, there is a growing awareness of protein and its role in…

As rapid technological change reshapes hiring trends, LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise 2026 report has identified five fast-growing skill stacks to help professionals stay competitive — AI & Automation, Data & Analytics, IT & Cybersecurity, Business & Growth, and People & Leadership. According to LinkedIn data, 38% of Indian job seekers feel unprepared for how quickly technology is changing required skills. While 46% of recruiters globally rely on skills data to fill roles, 74% of recruiters in India say finding qualified talent is harder than ever. The report highlights rising demand for skills such as Prompt Engineering, Workflow Automation, LLMOps…

Veeam Software convened government officials, academia and industry leaders at the Bharat Cyber Suraksha – North-East Cyber Resilience & AI Transformation Summit in Guwahati, aiming to strengthen cyber resilience and AI readiness across the region. At the event, the company released the “Bharat Cyber Suraksha – North-East Cyber Resilience & Digital Readiness Report 2025,” developed with the Northeast India Public Policy Forum. The report outlines measures to protect citizen data, enhance cloud infrastructure, and comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and CERT-In norms. The company cited Ministry of Home Affairs data showing over 47,000 cyber incidents reported across…

JSW Group and the Government of Assam on February 22 formally began construction of a state-of-the-art heritage museum in Guwahati, marking a major cultural initiative for the state. The foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal at the project site in Khanapara. The event was attended by Savitri Jindal, Sangita Jindal, Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah and museum curator Richard Blurton, former Head of South and Southeast Asia at the British Museum. The museum is being developed at the Sericulture Farm, Khanapara, on a 45,000-square-foot plot allotted by the state government.…

Seagram’s Royal Stag announced the successful launch of the fourth edition of Royal Stag BoomBox – The Original Sound of Generation Large – with a grand opening at Aquatica Ground, Kolkata on February 21. The platform, built around the brand’s philosophy of ‘Living It Large’, brings together Bollywood melodies and hip-hop beats alongside immersive art, culture and gaming experiences. The Kolkata edition witnessed strong participation, with thousands attending the high-energy evening. The venue was transformed into a multi-sensory arena featuring vibrant installations, curated food experiences and interactive gaming zones. The event commenced with a live gaming face-off led by Payal…

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) and Manulife have appointed Suresh Agarwal as the MD & CEO designate of their proposed 50:50 life insurance joint venture, subject to regulatory approvals. The partnership to set up the life insurance business was announced in November last year, marking the companies’ entry into India’s fast-growing insurance sector. Suresh brings nearly 30 years of experience across life and general insurance, and corporate and retail lending. He earlier played a key role in building Kotak’s life insurance operations and later led the transition of Kotak General Insurance into a joint venture with Zurich Insurance. Since September…

Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Tuesday inaugurated its new premises at B/O-Malkanihat under Jalpaiguri district, marking a significant step towards strengthening banking services in the rural belt. The new branch premises was formally inaugurated by Circle Head Smt. Sarita Singh in the presence of Assistant Commandant, BSF Raninagar, Sri Naresh Ch. Roy; Pradhan of Khariza Berubari-2 Gram Panchayat, Sri Taranath Roy; Sri Pritam Ghosh, Chief Manager; along with other dignitaries and valued customers. During the programme, officials highlighted the legacy and long-standing contribution of Punjab National Bank in nation-building. The speakers underlined the vital role of banking in accelerating rural…