Category: Business

Bengaluru, Mar 2: United Way Bengaluru (UWBe) proudly steps up as the official Philanthropy Partner for the TCS World 10K Marathon, scheduled to be held on April 26, 2026, in Bengaluru.

This year, UWBe provides a structured fundraising platform that empowers participants to support credible grassroots initiatives in education, environment, women empowerment, sports, healthcare, and community development.

As a trusted partner, UWBe ensures every contribution undergoes rigorous due diligence and monitoring, directing funds precisely to the communities that need them most.

For United Way Bengaluru, this is more than just a run; it’s a powerful opportunity for corporates, communities, and individuals to unite and drive meaningful change. Through transparent processes, UWBe connects supporters with NGOs creating real impact on the ground. United Way Bengaluru requests corporates, CSR leaders, NGOs, institutions, and passionate individuals to join hands as changemakers. Participate in the run, fundraise, and turn steps into lasting progress. 

Chandigarh, Mar 02: CDSL Investor Protection Fund (CDSL IPF) and BSE Investor Protection Fund (BSE IPF), under the aegis of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), jointly hosted a Mega Regional Investor Awareness Seminar (Mega RISA) at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh.

 The Mega RISA, themed “Shikshit Se Saksham”, brought together over 350 participants, including women entrepreneurs, students, and general investors, for a comprehensive day of financial literacy and awareness activities.

The seminar was conducted in association with key Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) – NSE, MSE, NSDL, MCX, NCDEX, and AMFI. The initiative aimed to strengthen understanding of the securities market, promote responsible investing practices, and enhance awareness on cyber safety, thereby reinforcing the importance of informed financial decision‑making in an increasingly digital and dynamic market environment.

The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including:

• Chief Guest: Ms. Yatri Dave Vitekar, Chief Vigilance Officer, SEBI,
• Shri Vijayant Kumar Verma, Regional Director, SEBI
• Ms. Deepti Agrawal, Chief General Manager, SEBI,
• Dr. Shobna Dhiman, Registrar, Punjab Engineering College
• Inspector Ms. Eram Rizvi, Cyber Crime Division, Chandigarh Police
• Shri Sudhish Pillai, Head – CDSL IPF
• Shri Gaurav Kapoor, Senior Vice President, BSE

The seminar featured high‑level presentations and insights from regulators, cyber security specialists, and market experts. Interactive stalls from all MIIs and a financial quiz further enriched participant engagement. Key focus areas included preventive measures to combat financial cybercrime, financial planning, smart investing for long‑term wealth creation, and awareness initiatives such as #SEBIvsSCAMs and demonstrations of tools like SEBI CHECK provided by the regulator. Speakers also emphasized the growing importance of informed participation in capital markets as digital accessibility continues to rise.

The Mega RISA in Chandigarh witnessed enthusiastic participation and meaningful engagement throughout the day, reflecting the growing interest in financial literacy and investor awareness initiatives across the region.

This seminar is part of the ongoing nationwide efforts of BSE IPF, CDSL IPF, SEBI and all Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to promote financial literacy, strengthen investor confidence, and build a well‑informed and financially secure investor community – i.e., Atmanirbhar Investors – across India.

Mar 02: Action TESA, the country’s largest manufacturer of engineered wood panel products and a category leader, has unveiled ‘TESA Inside’ — an industry-first invisible security marking designed to redefine product authenticity. Visible only under UV light for verification, this innovative feature enables easy and reliable authenticity checks. Currently introduced across the Pre-Lam range, ‘TESA Inside’ will soon be extended to the Plain series, further strengthening the brand’s commitment to quality assurance and customer trust.

 In addition, the company announced the launch of a new manufacturing facility at Rambilli Mandal, Vishakhapatnam that will cater to the growing demand of the company’s products in the South India market while generating significant employment opportunities in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajay Aggarwal, Managing Director, Action TESA said,

“At Action TESA, we have always believed that trust is built through transparency and consistent quality. With the launch of ‘TESA Inside’, we are taking this commitment a step further by introducing an industry-first invisible security marking that enables instant authenticity verification under UV light. As the country’s largest manufacturer of engineered wood panel products, we take immense pride in delivering unmatched transparency and upholding our promise of superior quality. ‘TESA Inside’ is not just a mark — it is a trusted assurance to our customers that their furniture is crafted from genuine Action TESA material. Beginning with our Pre-Lam range and soon expanding to the Plain series, this initiative reinforces our leadership in setting new benchmarks for credibility and customer confidence in the category.”

He further emphasized,

“We are delighted to announce the establishment of our new manufacturing facility in Vishakhapatnam, a strategic move that will enable us to bridge market gaps and cater to the growing demand for premium products in the region. These initiatives not only strengthen our leadership in the engineered wood panel industry but also reaffirm our mission to raise benchmarks in quality and customer satisfaction.”

Action TESA is built on five foundational pillars IITCS that shape its identity and market approach. The first pillar TESA Intelligence reflects the company’s “Thinking Ahead” philosophy, driving purposeful innovation at every level.The second pillar TESA Inside stands for the belief that consumers deserve best-in-class quality and have the right to know what goes into the products they use. Action TESA firmly believes that “Ethics is our first ingredient.” This commitment is not just a statement but a practice and forms the foundation of its third pillar, TESA Trust. The company uses Industrial Grade Urea instead of the significantly cheaper Farmer’s Urea, despite it being six times more expensive, ensuring superior quality and long-term reliability. Transparency, customer-first thinking, and social responsibility remain integral to its operations.

The fourth pillar TESA Connect is the organisation’s commitment to building strong, transparent, and growth-focused relationships that ensure when one succeeds, we all rise together.

Key initiatives under TESA Connect

• TESA Connect App: A digital bridge connecting Carpenters, Retailers, and soon architects and consumers. TESA Initiated and skill development program for Carpenters wards named WPPT with MSME Sitarganj and it offer a 3 months free program absolutely free. The last batch are placed 100% with CTC of 25K with national brands.

• Kalpa-Taru Initiative: A farmer-centric program designed to boost farmer income through scientifically backed plantation practices. Action TESA distributed 64 lakh eucalyptus saplings in FY 24-25

TESA Salaam, the final pillar, embodies gratitude and respect for the people who shape the industry every day. TESA Salaam was the first initiative to formally celebrate Carpenters’ Day and Architecture Day, recognizing the two driving forces behind the furniture ecosystem.

Last year, the company launched Studio on wheels 3.0, a revolutionary mobile experiential center designed to bring the latest trends and sustainable innovations in interior and building solutions directly to customers’ doorsteps. At INDIAWOOD 2026, the company proudly showcased the innovative Studio on Wheels 3.0, giving thousands of visitors the opportunity to experience firsthand the superior quality and versatility of its products.

Ludhiana, Mar 2: MBD Group, one of India’s most trusted names in educational publishing and learning solutions, hosted its Distributors Meet 2026 in Ludhiana, bringing together partners from the Punjab region ahead of the upcoming academic year. The meet was led by Ms. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director, MBD Group, and saw the presence of Mr. Praveen Singh, CEO, AASOKA, along with senior leaders from MBD Group, including Mr. Sanjay Bhatt, Senior Zonal Head, and members of the team. The meetunderscored MBD Group’s focus on strengthening long-term relationships, improving distribution effectiveness, and ensuring the timely and affordable delivery of learning resources to schools.

 The distributors meet focused on aligning book trade partners with the academic year’s priorities and product roadmap, while also addressing affordability, supply chain efficiency, and market readiness. It served as a strategic forum to review evolving curriculum requirements, market dynamics, and the changing needs of schools and educators. With a strong emphasis on quality-first education, MBD reiterated its approach of combining strong content with accessibility and cost-conscious delivery. Discussions also centred on equipping partners with clearer planning visibility, streamlined processes, and collaborative growth opportunities to ensure smoother reach across schools and institutions in the region.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director, MBD Group, said,

“For MBD Group, the strength of our distribution network directly impacts the quality and consistency of learning delivered in classrooms. This meet was about setting clear priorities for the academic year ahead, including curriculum relevance, academic integrity, and execution excellence, while ensuring our partners are equipped to deliver consistently across geographies. Alongside this, we remain focused on responsible pricing, so that our books continue to make quality education accessible without compromising on standards.”

Sharing his perspective on the Group’s digital learning journey, Mr. Praveen Singh, CEO, AASOKA, added,

“Growth at MBD Group has been guided by disciplined execution and strong alignment across the ecosystem, rather than scale for its own sake. As blended learning becomes integral to classroom delivery, the focus remains on ensuring clarity around learning outcomes, effective use of technology, and consistent on-ground implementation. These elements are critical to building a sustainable education ecosystem that supports teachers, strengthens classroom effectiveness, and maintains rigorous academic standards, while also ensuring learning solutions remain simple, effective, and affordable for students.”

A key highlight of the meet was MBD Group’s integrated blended learning strategy, where academic content is designed simultaneously for print and digital learning. As part of this blended learning ecosystem, AASOKA has engaged with over 4,000 schools since its launch in 2021, supporting 9.5 lakh students and having trained over 80,000 teachers across the country. The discussions emphasised the role of distributors in strengthening the reach and delivery of AASOKA’s blended learning offerings, ensuring adoption aligned with curriculum requirements and classroom outcomes.

The MBD Distributors Meet 2026 concluded with interactive discussions and strategic exchanges aimed at reinforcing trust, collaboration, and shared growth. With a steadfast focus on quality, innovation, and partnership-led expansion, MBD Group continues to strengthen its mission of building a resilient, future-ready education ecosystem in India.

By Kirsten Hilgeford

When it comes to the price of financial services such as loans, mortgages, and insurance, the perception of what is “fair” has a lot to do with how wealthy you are. In the study “Seeing Like a Company or a Customer: Selective Empathy in Pricing,” appearing in the February 2026 issue of the American Sociological Review, authors Barbara Kiviat (Columbia University) and Carly R. Knight (New York University) examine how Americans evaluate the fairness of risk-based pricing—where consumers who are predicted to be high-risk/costly are charged more. 

Grounding their approach in previous sociological research on empathy, Kiviat and Knight demonstrate that either side of an economic transaction—company or customer—can become the object of empathy. To establish this, Kiviat and Knight conducted three studies on risk-based pricing, focusing on transactions between customers and companies. In the first study, they analyzed two nationally representative surveys to examine the relationship between household income and beliefs about the fairness of charging high-risk people more for insurance and credit. The authors uncovered a pattern in which wealthier individuals, regardless of their economic self-interest or ideology, were more likely to accept the moral legitimacy of tying prices to a person’s behavior.  

The authors then proposed the new lens of “selective empathy” to apply to their remaining two studies. Selective empathy is when an individual disproportionately directs their empathy to and takes the perspective of either the company or the customer in evaluating pricing arrangements. Kiviat and Knight found that wealthier individuals are more likely than lower-income individuals to empathize with companies—and less likely to empathize with high-risk consumers. 

“Our findings show that support for pro-business pricing practices is not simply about self-interest,” said the authors. “Instead, wealthier Americans more easily see things from a company’s ‘point of view,’ making these practices appear fair even when they consistently burden high-risk consumers. This class-based split in perspective matters to how people judge the fairness of our economy.” 

The authors note that their findings ultimately “reveal that risk-based pricing—even in its most institutionalized, ostensibly innocuous form—reflects a class-based understanding of market fairness.” 

New Delhi, Mar 02: Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, announced that it recorded total sales of 7,212 units with domestic sales of 5,629 units and exports of 1,583 units in February 2026.

Sharing his thoughts on the sales performance, Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “We maintained our sales momentum through February, driven by strong popularity of Honda Amaze as a practical sedan with outclass safety. Honda City and Elevate also recorded steady volumes with exciting promotions during the month. As we approach the final month of the fiscal, we remain optimistic about market performance.”

The company had registered 5,616 units in domestic sales and 4,707 units in exports during February 2025.

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, Mar 2: Higher oil and gas prices are certain as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to disrupt 15% of global oil supply and 20% of global LNG supply, with oil prices potentially exceeding $100/bbl if tanker flows are not quickly restored, according to Wood Mackenzie. Following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian government, military and nuclear facilities, Iran warned shipping away from the waterway and insurers withdrew coverage, effectively halting tanker traffic.

The disruption creates a dual supply shock: not only are current exports through the Strait halted, but OPEC+ additional volumes and ultimately most of OPEC’s spare capacity—typically a key lever for balancing the global oil market—are inaccessible while the waterway remains closed.

“The key question is when do vessels re-establish export flows,” said Alan Gelder, SVP of Refining, Chemicals and Oil Markets at Wood Mackenzie. “No doubt, tanker rates and insurance will increase dramatically, but these costs would only be a small part of the oil price impact associated with a curtailment of oil flows if they last for more than a few days.”

Given the uncertainty around events, it is plausible that it takes a few weeks for export flows to re-establish themselves in the most optimistic scenario (in which the Iranian regime elects to co-operate with the US), Gelder added.

“During that time, oil prices are heavily risked to the upside,” Gelder said. “The most recent comparison is during the early days of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, when the fear of loss of Russian supplies drove the oil price to over US$125/bbl.”

In the current scenario, oil prices over US$100/bbl are possible if transit flows are not re-established quickly, according to Gelder.

OPEC+ production response

The group of eight OPEC+ countries responsible for voluntary production cuts – Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman – agreed on 1 March to resume unwinding the April 2023 1.65 million b/d cut. They will increase production by 206,000 b/d in April and meet again on 5 April to assess next steps.

“The OPEC+ decision does not come as a surprise, due to the uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran tensions, and that the market for non-sanctioned crudes is tight,” said Gelder. “There is, however, a risk that the OPEC+ decision is moot if flows do not resume through the Strait of Hormuz.”

While there are potential alternative supply routes available to Middle East producers—including Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline to the Red Sea and additional Iraqi volumes via the Mediterranean—no alternatives can fully compensate for the loss of exports that transit the Strait of Hormuz. Strategic stock releases by IEA member countries could provide some relief, but IEA members account for less than half of global oil demand.

Gas market implications

A halt in LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz would be equally disruptive for global gas and LNG markets, according to Wood Mackenzie. Around 81 Mt (110 bcm) of LNG transited the Strait in 2025—primarily from Qatar—accounting for nearly 20% of global LNG supply.

“Disruptions to LNG flows would reignite competition between Asia and Europe for available cargoes, particularly at a time when European storage levels are below seasonal norms and around 10% lower than at the same point last year, following a severe cold spell in January,” said Massimo Di Odoardo, Vice President, Gas and LNG Research at Wood Mackenzie. “With approximately 1.5 Mt (2.2 bcm) of LNG exports at risk for each week that flows through the Strait of Hormuz are halted, both Asian and European markets would need to draw more heavily on existing storage and would increase the need for restocking over the summer. This would tighten market conditions well beyond the eventual resumption of trade through the Strait.”

Precautionary closures of the Leviathan and Karish gas fields in Israel—which supplied more than 10 bcm to Egypt last year—could add further pressure, as Egypt would likely increase LNG imports to offset lost volumes. Potential disruptions to gas exports from Iran to Turkey, which accounted for more than 7 bcm in 2025, could compound the supply strain.

A halt in LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz would be comparable in scale to the curtailment of Russian gas supplies to Europe, which sent prices soaring to nearly US$100/mmbtu at their peak and averaging US$40/mmbtu in 2022, according to Di Odoardo.

“This time, however, the reaction is unlikely to be as extreme,” added Di Odoardo. “Unlike the prolonged disruption of Russian pipeline flows, a blockage in the Strait could be viewed as temporary, tempering the upside. Still, Monday will see a dramatic price jump at market opening, and any signal that disruptions could drag on would add further fuel to the rally.”

Looking forward

“The nearest historical analogue in our view is the Middle East oil embargo of the 1970s, which increased oil prices by 300 percent to around US$12/bbl in 1974,” said Gelder. “That is only US$90/bbl in 2026 terms. Eclipsing this in today’s market concerned about significant losses of supply seems very achievable.

“The global economy is now far less oil intensive than 50 years ago. The shock at the time of the oil embargo was the pace and scale of the price increase. Oil prices would need to reach well over US$200/bbl to exert a similar level of shock to today’s global economy.”

Cuts 50% membership fee to encourage more women founders to join their fold. The offer is open only in March

Hyderabad, Mar 1: TiE Hyderabad launched the 7th edition of TiE Women 2026 at a brief function held during the Women Entrepreneurs’ Special Edition of TiE OpenMic at Akan, near Durgam Cheruvu, this weekend.

Announcing an ambitious expansion plan, Murali Kakarla, President, TiE Hyderabad, said the chapter is targeting 200 applicants this year—double the participation from last year. He, along with Ankit Sanjay Shah and other TiE members, unveiled the TiE Women 2026 poster at the event.

Addressing the gathering, Murali Kakarla emphasised that language should not be a barrier for aspiring women entrepreneurs. “Let language not stop women from participating,” he said, adding that women founders from rural backgrounds will be allowed to pitch in the TiE Women 2026 challenge in the Telugu language to encourage women founders who are comfortable communicating in Telugu.

He also clarified that there is no entry fee to participate in the TiE Women program.

This year, the Chapter will be conducting roadshows in Tier 2 cities of Telangana, like Nizamabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and others.

To further encourage women to join the network, the TiE Hyderabad Board has announced a 50 per cent discount on Associate and Charter Membership fees for women who register on or before March 31.

Ankit Sanjay Shah, TiE Hyderabad Committee Chair for TiE Women, described the initiative as a flagship global program that collaborates with over 60 TiE chapters worldwide to embrace, engage, and empower women entrepreneurs through mentorship, investor connects, networking opportunities, and entrepreneurial development programs. Each participating chapter selects one woman entrepreneur to represent it at the Global Pitch Competition, which will be held in Jaipur later this year. Over the years, TiE Hyderabad has engaged and mentored more than 600 women entrepreneurs, with over 100 receiving structured mentorship support.

Highlighting the program’s impact, Murali Kakarla noted that last year’s winner, Sowmya Darapaneni, Founder of Avinya Neurotech, was featured on the prestigious TiE50 and TGS100 global lists of promising startups.

TiE Women Hyderabad has so far engaged over 600 women entrepreneurs and facilitated more than $352,000 in equity-free grants, underlining its tangible contribution to strengthening the startup ecosystem.

Shanthala Veigas, Senior Director, TiE Hyderabad, said that building on the success of last year’s Nizamabad roadshow, the initiative will expand its outreach across Tier-2 cities, including Nizamabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam, and other parts of Telangana. Supported earlier by KOTAS Foundation, the program received 103 applications last year, and with enhanced state-wide roadshows and regional engagement this year, it aims to significantly widen participation.

The launch event brought together entrepreneurs, aspiring founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers, providing a vibrant platform for networking, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Women entrepreneurs across Telangana are invited to apply for TiE Women 2026 by expressing their interest through the official application link. Through this expanded edition, TiE Hyderabad reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women founders, enabling access to mentorship and global exposure, and strengthening their role in shaping the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.

TiE Hyderabad has also organised Women Entrepreneurs’ Special Edition of TiE OpenMic where seven women founders shared their journey, challenges, lessons learnt, their strengths, weaknesses etc. More than two aspiring entrepreneurs participated in the program.

BOSTON – Mar 1: Vodia Networks, Inc., a provider of unified cloud communications solutions to enterprises, contact centers, and service providers, today announced the new Vodia Partner Portal and Partner Program. Vodia partners now have the exact tools they need to provide their customers with Vodia’s industry-standard phone system, in the cloud or on-prem, faster, more efficiently, and more profitably. 

The new Vodia Partner Portal and the Partner program help Vodia partners be truly competitive. Vodia partners need to get licenses quickly, access attractive pricing, reduce the burden on sales teams, and focus on CX and higher margins, and the portal and the program have been designed to address these day-to-day needs. Vodia partners can now purchase, manage, and track PBX licenses with just a few clicks. 

Partner certification is the first milestone in the Vodia Partner Program. Once certified, partners can move through different levels to gain more benefits. Partner levels and points structure apply to licenses purchased directly through the portal. 

The new Vodia Partner Portal and Partner Program

·        The partner program is structured around a transparent points system. Completion of the Vodia Partner Certification provides the points required to reach Silver level, after which partners accumulate points and progress to higher membership tiers.
Pre-qualified sales leads are accessible within the portal. Vodia partners receive contact information for potential customers who have already expressed interest in a VoIP solution.
Vodia partners have access to professionally crafted marketing collateral, sales presentations, and argumentation frameworks for immediate deployment in local markets. 

·        Partners can now access Vodia Professional Services, implementation support, and other technical assistance via the Portal. 

These capabilities are available now, with others to be introduced as the portal and program evolve:

·        Purchase experience: direct access to Vodia Professional Services, including training, implementation support, integration support, AI integration, call-flow optimization, and add-ons.

·         Knowledge transfer: certifications and regular webinars to help partners build their expertise and enhance their competitive advantage.

·         Ordering efficiency: integration of the portal with partner ordering systems.

·         Faster PBX customization: call-flow and industry-specific templates to accelerate deployments and tailor the Vodia PBX to customer needs. 

To celebrate the launch of the Vodia Partner Portal, every registered partner will receive an exclusive welcome package upon first login. To thank current Vodia partners for their loyalty, Vodia will give each partner complimentary premium support for the first 90 days after login, plus a starter kit with demo licenses and ready-to-use sales materials.

Hyderabad, Feb 28: On 28th February, Upasana Kamineni Konidela, Vice Chairperson – CSR, Apollo Hospitals, inaugurated the 1000th Apollo Pharmacy store in Telangana, marking a significant milestone in Apollo’s continued effort to expand access to quality healthcare. India’s largest and most trusted pharmacy network now operates across all 33 districts of Telangana and employs more than 10,000 people across its retail, digital and supply chain ecosystem.

The network provides access to over 50,000 genuine medicines and wellness essentials round the clock, with quick delivery facilities available across all districts, strengthening essential healthcare access across urban and semi-urban communities. Apollo currently services more than 1.65 lakh medicine orders daily and plans to add over 200 new pharmacy stores in Telangana over the next three years.

Expressing her thoughts on the milestone, Upasana Kamineni Konidela said, “This milestone is not only about expanding access to quality healthcare, but also about creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities especially for women across Telangana. As we grow, we are committed to building inclusive workplaces that empower women with stable careers, leadership opportunities, and financial independence, enabling them to uplift their families and communities.”

Through its omni-channel platform, Apollo 24/7, Apollo offers an integrated continuum of care including teleconsultations with Apollo doctors, diagnostic services, and customised insurance solutions all accessible from the comfort of home.