Business - The Purbottar

11 Feb

DPDP compliance fast-track may hurt startups, investors flag risks at policy briefing

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Experts have cautioned that compressing compliance timelines under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules could strain businesses and weaken investor confidence, particularly in the startup ecosystem. The concerns were raised during a media briefing hosted by InGovern Research Services. While industry stakeholders broadly welcomed the intent to strengthen data privacy, speakers warned that advancing implementation timelines from the originally proposed 18 months to 12 months — and in some cases immediate enforcement — could impose disproportionate operational and financial burdens. They stressed that DPDP compliance requires deep changes in technology architecture, governance systems and internal processes, not just paperwork.…

11 Feb

Royal Stag BoomBox Season 4 returns with multi-city music tour, Kolkata to host opening show

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Seagram’s Royal Stag BoomBox, the popular experiential music festival known for blending Bollywood melodies with hip-hop beats, is returning with its fourth season, promising its biggest edition yet. The multi-city tour will travel across four major youth hubs—Kolkata, Vizag, Mumbai and Mohali—bringing together leading Indian music artists and immersive fan experiences. Season 4 will begin in Kolkata on February 21, followed by Vizag on March 7, Mumbai on March 14 and Mohali on March 28. The festival will feature a star-studded line-up including Badshah, Armaan Malik, Divine, Neeti Mohan, Nikhita Gandhi, Rashmeet Kaur, Sreerama Chandra and legendary rock band Fossils.…

10 Feb

Nestlé India marks 50 years of MAGGI with commemorative postal stamp

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Nestlé India celebrated the completion of 50 years of MAGGI in India with the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp, highlighting the brand’s long-standing presence in the country’s processed food market. The stamp was unveiled by Manish Tiwary, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé India, along with Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries. The commemorative stamp honours MAGGI’s five-decade journey, during which the brand expanded from instant noodles to a wide portfolio that includes masalas, sauces, soups and ready-to-cook products. The initiative, titled “50 Years of Togetherness,” recognises the brand’s role in shaping convenience food consumption across generations…

10 Feb

ABD Maestro debuts Rs 11-lakh limited edition 34-year-old single malt in India

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ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., the super-premium and luxury spirits company and a subsidiary of Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD), on Wednesday announced the launch of its ultra-exclusive luxury series, ‘The Collective’, with the debut of a rare 34-year-old Speyside Single Malt Scotch whisky distilled at the Macallan Distillery in 1991. Co-founded by actor Ranveer Singh, the company has released only 60 hand-crafted and individually numbered bottles, each priced at ₹11 lakh (MRP in Maharashtra for 700 ml). The limited edition is being introduced as part of ABD Maestro’s strategy to position India as a key market for rare collectible spirits.…

10 Feb

Hanumankind, Vishal Dadlani power Thums Up’s new ‘Taste the Thunder’ anthem

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Coca-Cola India’s flagship billion-dollar beverage brand Thums Up has launched a new high-energy “Taste the Thunder” anthem featuring rapper Hanumankind and singer Vishal Dadlani, marking a major push to strengthen youth engagement ahead of the summer season. The anthem, built around the line “Aaj Kuch Toofani Kartein Hain,” was unveiled at an invite-only showcase in Mumbai attended by the artists along with director Bijoy Shetty, lyricist Varun Grover, and composer Sushin Shyam. Conceptualised by WPP Ogilvy and produced with Universal Music Group, the track blends Hanumankind’s English rap with Dadlani’s powerful vocals, while the video features cricketers Suryakumar Yadav and…

10 Feb

Senior professionals drive India’s AI upskilling surge: Great Learning Report

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Senior professionals are leading India’s artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling wave, with individuals having over 15 years of work experience accounting for more than 40% of all GenAI and AI/ML enrolments in 2025, according to new insights released by edtech firm Great Learning. The analysis, based on behavioural data from over one million learners, highlights how AI skills are increasingly becoming essential for leadership roles and strategic decision-making across industries. The report shows that AI and Machine Learning remained the most sought-after domain in 2025, recording a 17% year-on-year increase in demand, followed by Data Science, Software Development, Cloud Computing, and…

10 Feb

RBI policy outlook: Limited scope for further rate cuts, says Kotak Mahindra Bank Economist

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The Reserve Bank of India’s latest monetary policy decision has broadly aligned with market expectations, with economists indicating limited room for further rate reductions amid emerging inflationary risks. Reacting to the policy announcement, Upasna Bhardwaj, Chief Economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered decisions “completely in line with expectations” in terms of both the policy rate and overall stance. Bhardwaj noted that the inflation outlook for the first half of FY27 has been revised marginally upward, reflecting concerns over external price pressures and currency movements. She highlighted that uncertainty persists regarding growth and inflation projections…

10 Feb

Kotak launches India’s first fully digital FPI registration with e-signature onboarding

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Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced that it has become the first custodian in India to enable Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) registration and account opening through electronic signatures, marking a significant step in the digitisation of India’s capital markets. The bank has already issued the first two FPI licences based entirely on digitally signed documentation, aligning the initiative with SEBI’s broader digital-transformation agenda under the FPI framework. The new system allows execution of all onboarding and account-opening processes without physical paperwork, eliminating wet signatures, reducing operational risk and enabling faster access for global investors seeking entry into Indian markets. Kotak said…

10 Feb

Maharashtra orders crackdown on illegal mosquito agarbattis ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sleep Well’

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The Maharashtra Department of Agriculture has ordered a statewide crackdown on the illegal sale of mosquito agarbattis marketed under the brand names “Comfort” and “Sleep Well,” directing insecticide inspectors to initiate raids, seizures, and prosecution of violators under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Retailers and distributors across the state have been instructed to immediately stop stocking and selling the products, with authorities mandated to report enforcement actions to the Commissionerate of Agriculture. The action follows earlier investigations that detected unapproved insecticides in the two products through laboratory testing in Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai, prompting regulatory scrutiny.…

10 Feb

Organic India unveils wellness-focused Valentine’s Day gift hampers

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Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Organic India, part of Tata Consumer Products Limited, has introduced a curated range of wellness-themed gifting hampers designed to promote mindful living and meaningful celebrations. The special “Valentine’s Day Gifting Edit” features a selection of gift boxes that combine organic pantry essentials, herbal teas and wellness products, targeting consumers seeking healthier and thoughtful gifting alternatives. Among the offerings, the Savoury Sweetheart Gift Box priced at ₹1,999 includes certified organic staples such as Himalayan multifloral honey, cow ghee, quinoa, brown rice, chia and flax seeds, jaggery powder, nuts, raisins and the brand’s Tulsi detox kahwa, aimed at…