Business - The Purbottar

29 Jan

Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Rishabh Pant named global ambassadors as ‘Good Game’ launches in India with Rs 1 crore prize

Business BureauBusiness

Good Game, billed as the world’s first as-live global gaming reality show, has officially launched in India with the aim of finding the country’s first Global Gaming Superstar. Actor and entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu has joined cricketer Rishabh Pant as a global brand ambassador, alongside popular gaming creator Ujjwal Chaurasia. The show has announced a prize money of ₹1 crore, among the highest for a reality show winner in India, along with an opportunity to represent the country at a global level. The platform plans to invest up to ₹100 crore annually and is inviting brands and sponsors to associate…

29 Jan

Great Learning calls for GST rationalisation on digital courses, easier access to education loans to boost upskilling

Business BureauBusiness

Edtech company Great Learning has called for a more balanced approach to taxation on digital education services and improved access to affordable education loans, saying these steps are critical to accelerating upskilling efforts across India. Highlighting gaps in the current Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, the company noted that while core educational services offered by formal institutions are exempt from GST, many online courses, coaching programmes and digital learning offerings continue to attract an 18 per cent tax. This, it said, adds to the financial burden on learners and education providers, particularly in a price-sensitive market focused on skill-based…

29 Jan

Data privacy becomes business imperative as AI raises cyber risks: Aon

Business BureauBusiness

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the way organisations collect, analyse and use data, protecting personal information has become a major business priority, according to a senior executive at Aon. Sharing her views on Data Privacy Day, Apurva Gopinath, Cyber Leader and Vice President, Financial Services & Professional Group, India at Aon, said the financial and reputational impact of data breaches has reached unprecedented levels. Citing publicly available sources, she noted that in 2025 the global average cost of a data breach was estimated at between $4.4 million and $4.9 million. At the same time, global cybercrime losses are projected to…

29 Jan

BPCL to Invest ₹25,000 Crore in City Gas Network Expansion Over Five Years

editorBusiness

State owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will invest ₹25,000 crore over the next five years to expand its City Gas Distribution (CGD) network across India. The investment aims to strengthen gas infrastructure and accelerate cleaner energy adoption.Speaking on the sidelines of India Energy Week in Goa on Wednesday, BPCL’s Business Head for Gas, Rahul Tandon, said the company has already spent around ₹8,000 crore in its 26 operational geographical areas. He expressed confidence that BPCL would scale up its CGD operations faster than other players in the sector.Aligning the expansion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat,…

29 Jan

HortiConnect India Expo 2026 to return to Bengaluru with expanded agriculture focus

Business BureauBusiness

The HortiConnect India Expo 2026 will be held from October 1 to 3 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, marking a significant expansion as the platform begins engaging more directly with India’s wider agriculture sector. The trade fair will be co-hosted by Messe Muenchen India in partnership with Bengaluru-based HortiConnect Global Pvt. Ltd., the organisers said. Originally positioned as an international-standard exhibition focused on horticulture, the 2026 edition reflects growing convergence across crop segments. Technologies pioneered in horticulture—such as protected cultivation, precision irrigation, climate-resilient inputs and post-harvest infrastructure—are increasingly being adopted across field crops and mixed farming systems. Horticulture will…

28 Jan

Medanta highlights advanced cardiac care as heart disease burden rises in Assam

Business BureauBusiness

With cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) emerging as a major public health concern in Assam, especially among adults above 40 and increasingly among younger urban populations, Gurgaon-based Medanta – The Medicity showcased the future of advanced heart treatment in Guwahati on Wednesday. Studies indicate that people living in urban and hilly regions are becoming vulnerable to heart ailments well before the age of 40, underscoring the need for early detection and timely intervention. Addressing doctors and patients, Dr. Praveen Chandra, Chairman, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Care at Medanta, highlighted recent advances in the treatment of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Valvular Heart Disease…

28 Jan

Kanishk Aluminium India IPO Day 1!

Purbalee DuttaBusiness

The initial public offering of Kanishk Aluminium India opened for subscription on Wednesday, January 28, and will remain open until Friday, January 30. This fixed-price SME IPO is valued at ₹29.20 crore and consists entirely of a fresh issue of 0.40 crore equity shares, each priced at ₹73. Investors can apply in a lot size of 1,600 shares. Retail investors are required to apply for a minimum of two lots, translating into a minimum investment of ₹2,33,600. The company plans to utilise the funds raised to repay certain outstanding loans, strengthen brand promotion activities, and meet general corporate requirements. As…

28 Jan

Renault revives Duster with hybrid tech, advanced connectivity for India

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Renault India has unveiled the all-new Renault Duster, marking the return of the iconic SUV that once defined the mid-size segment in the country. The new-generation Duster retains its rugged DNA while introducing modern design, advanced powertrains, connected technology and enhanced safety, tailored specifically for Indian customers. Unveiled at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai before a gathering of over 15,000 people, the new Duster is the first product reveal under Renault Group’s International Game Plan 2027 for India. Built on the new Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), nearly 90 per cent of the vehicle is India-specific and engineered for extreme…

28 Jan

slice backs early-stage founders at IIT Guwahati, boosts Assam’s startup ecosystem

Business BureauBusiness

slice Small Finance Bank (slice SFB) has extended support to early-stage startups at IIT Guwahati, strengthening Assam’s growing startup and innovation ecosystem. As part of its continued engagement with young founders, the bank awarded non-dilutive startup grants to two ventures—Picapool and ImpactWeaver—during Disrupt, the startup pitching platform of UDGAM, the annual entrepreneurship festival organised by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Guwahati. The selected startups were recognised for developing technology-driven solutions addressing real-world challenges. Picapool is building a collaborative commerce platform that allows users with similar purchasing needs to pool demand and access better prices. ImpactWeaver, an Assam-based venture, focuses on…

28 Jan

Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition for athletes at Milano Cortina 2026

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Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition, a special smartphone designed exclusively for athletes competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. As a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Samsung will provide the device to nearly 3,800 Olympians and Paralympians from around 90 countries to support them throughout their Games journey, from life in the Olympic Village to medal celebrations. The Olympic Edition device will play a key role during official podium moments through the Victory Selfie, which will make its Winter Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. For the first time,…