Business - The Purbottar

26 Mar

Chetak Screen Awards 2026: Dhurandhar leads nomination race; live broadcast signals digital push

Business BureauBusiness

The Indian Express Group’s Screen Academy has unveiled nominations for the Chetak Screen Awards 2026, with Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar emerging as the frontrunner with 24 nominations. Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara follows with 17 nods, while Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound has secured 15, underlining strong competition ahead of the April 5 ceremony. Spanning 31 categories across theatrical and OTT releases, the awards reflect the expanding business and creative landscape of Hindi entertainment. From Best Film contenders such as Dhurandhar, Homebound, Saiyaara, Chhaava and Superboys of Malegaon to acting races featuring Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, and Radhika Apte, the nominations highlight a…

26 Mar

Coke Studio Bharat Season 4 opens with ‘Ae Ajnabee’, blend folk roots with modern pop

Business BureauBusiness

Coke Studio Bharat has launched Season 4 with its first track Ae Ajnabee, bringing together singer Aditya Rikhari, folk maestro Kutle Khan, and producer Ravator in a collaboration that bridges generations and musical styles. The song centres on the timeless emotion of longing, presenting it through both traditional and contemporary lenses. Ae Ajnabee reflects how expressions of love have evolved—from handwritten letters and quiet glances to unsent messages and late-night texts—while retaining the same emotional core. Musically, it blends folk melodies with modern pop production, creating a track that resonates with diverse audiences. Shantanu Gangane, IMX Lead at Coca-Cola India…

26 Mar

BHIM rolls out biometric UPI payments, targets faster and secure transactions up to Rs 5,000

Business BureauBusiness

NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has introduced biometric authentication for UPI payments on the BHIM Payments App. The feature enables users to approve transactions up to ₹5,000 using fingerprint or facial recognition, aiming to make digital payments faster and more secure. The facility is available on both Android and iOS devices that support biometric capabilities. With this update, users can complete transactions without entering a UPI PIN for smaller payments, reducing failed transactions caused by incorrect PIN entries. The feature can be used across multiple use cases, including…

26 Mar

BPCL-Sembcorp JV wins 10KTPA green hydrogen deal from Numaligarh refinery

Business BureauBusiness

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has secured a major boost to India’s clean energy push after its joint venture, NeuEN Green Energy Pvt. Ltd., won a contract to supply 10,000 tonnes per annum (10KTPA) of green hydrogen to Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL) in Assam. NeuEN, a 50:50 joint venture between BPCL and Sembcorp Green Hydrogen India, will develop a green hydrogen production facility at NRL with a long-term offtake agreement. The project is slated to begin commercial operations in 2028 and will integrate renewable energy with advanced storage systems to ensure round-the-clock operations. The contract was awarded at what BPCL…

25 Mar

Life Insurance sector pays ₹6.30 lakh crore in FY25, signals strong fundamentals amid rising protection gap

Business BureauBusiness

India’s life insurance sector reported total benefit payouts of ₹6.30 lakh crore in FY2024-25, reflecting strong fundamentals and its growing role in household financial planning, according to the IRDAI Annual Report 2024-25. The data highlights a structural shift in the market, with 92% of payouts attributed to living benefits, indicating increased adoption of life insurance as a long-term savings and liquidity instrument. Industry metrics such as robust persistency ratios, near 100% claim settlement and solvency levels above the regulatory threshold of 1.50 underscore operational stability. Withdrawals and surrenders accounted for ₹2.33 lakh crore, up 1.77% year-on-year, suggesting planned lifecycle exits…

25 Mar

Tata AIA launches three innovation-focused funds to tap India growth, Ggobal AI boom

Business BureauBusiness

Tata AIA Life Insurance on Monday announced the launch of three new funds—Large Mid Cap Innovation Fund, Large Mid Cap Innovation Pension Fund, and Global AI & Technology Leaders Fund—aimed at helping investors benefit from India’s innovation-led growth and global technology trends through its Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs). The New Fund Offer (NFO) will remain open from March 24 to March 31, 2026, with units priced at ₹10 for domestic funds and $10 for the global fund. The funds are regulated under IFSC norms and designed to offer a mix of wealth creation and life insurance protection. The Large…

25 Mar

Philips launches ‘OneChef’ smart appliance to simplify Indian cooking

Business BureauBusiness

Philips Home Appliances has launched ‘OneChef’, an all-in-one smart cooking appliance aimed at simplifying everyday cooking for Indian households. The product was unveiled at a “Chef’s Tasting Table” event in Mumbai, curated by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, where guests experienced live tastings and interactive food stations showcasing India’s diverse cuisine. At the launch, Ranveer Brar, along with Gulbahar Taurani, MD & CEO of Versuni India, demonstrated how modern kitchen technology can simplify complex recipes while retaining authentic flavours. The appliance combines 33 cooking functions, including air frying, stir frying, steaming, and boiling, into a single unit. Powered by AmbiHeat™ technology,…

24 Mar

Mosquitoes not guests: Godrej launches public film to push preventive action against vector-borne diseases

Business BureauBusiness

With mosquito-borne diseases continuing to pose a major public health challenge in India, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has launched a public service film titled ‘Machar Hai, Mehman Nahi’ under its CSR initiative Elimination of Mosquito Borne Endemic Disease (EMBED). The campaign urges households to rethink their approach towards mosquitoes, highlighting that they should not be treated as harmless visitors. India reported over 1.13 lakh dengue cases in 2025, alongside widespread cases of malaria and chikungunya, underlining the urgent need for stronger awareness and preventive action beyond the monsoon season. The film draws on India’s tradition of hospitality, flipping the…

24 Mar

Axis Max Life, Saarathi Finance tie up to expand insurance cover for MSMEs

Business BureauBusiness

Axis Max Life Insurance Limited has entered into a strategic corporate agent partnership with Saarathi Finance and Credit Private Limited to enhance financial security for India’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Saarathi Finance, a new-age NBFC, focuses on bridging the credit gap for MSMEs, particularly at the grassroots level. Under the partnership, Axis Max Life will offer its Group Credit Life Secure (GCLS) product to Saarathi’s borrowers. The product is designed to act as a financial safety net, ensuring that in case of unforeseen events, the loan burden does not fall on the borrower’s family or disrupt the business. …

24 Mar

ICONiQ White Whisky crosses 10 million cases, becomes world’s fastest growing millionaire spirits brand

Business BureauBusiness

Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited (ABD) has announced that its flagship brand, ICONiQ White International Grain Whisky, has crossed a landmark 10 million cases in FY26, marking one of the fastest growth trajectories in the global spirits industry. Launched in September 2022 through a digital-first debut on ABD’s MetaBar in the metaverse, the brand initially rolled out in select East and North Indian markets before expanding nationwide. The whisky recorded 0.32 million cases in FY23, surged to 2.27 million cases in FY24, and crossed 5.7 million cases in FY25. It was recognised as the fastest growing millionaire spirits brand globally…