Category: Business

Patiala, Mar 31: InterGlobe Foundation, the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, and IndiGoReach, the CSR arm of IndiGo, jointly organised a heritage walk in Patiala under the ‘My City My Heritage‘ campaign. The specially curated walk provided an immersive journey into the city‘s vibrant culture and rich historical legacy, fostering a sense of pride and encouraging long-term commitment to cultural preservation.

The heritage walk, themed “Through the Old City of Patiala”, offered participants a deep dive into city‘s unique fusion of Sikh, Mughal, Rajput, and colonial history. The tour began at the 19th-century Samania Gate and continued through historic lanes to the Shahi Samadhan royal memorials, lively Adalat Bazaar, Darshani Gate and more. Led by Harmilan Singh, the event drew enthusiastic participation from the local community, government officials, and senior leadership of InterGlobe Foundation and IndiGo. The walk concluded with a tour of the historical sections of Ran Baas at Qila Mubarak, hosted by the Park Hotels team followed by a short cultural experience.

‘My City My Heritage’ is an ongoing campaign by InterGlobe Foundation and Sahapedia, dedicated to raising awareness about India’s diverse cultural and historical legacy. Through engaging conversations and meaningful partnerships, the initiative aims to preserve and promote both tangible and intangible heritage, encouraging citizens to rediscover, connect with, and take pride in the stories that shape their communities. A key highlight of the project is the series of heritage walks, organized in partnership with IndiGoReach, which have already covered eleven cities—Prayagraj, Bhubaneswar, Shillong, Nashik, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahmedabad, Puducherry, and Gwalior, each offering a unique experience. These walks not only celebrate the distinct cultural fabric of each region but also foster a deeper sense of belonging and appreciation for India’s diverse heritage.

Speaking on the occasion, Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, “Patiala’s heritage reflects a rich tapestry of royal tradition, architectural excellence, and cultural expression. Through our ‘My City My Heritage‘ initiative, we bring renewed attention to the city’s historic treasures to strengthen local pride and encourage collective stewardship, ensuring its distinctive legacy continues to inspire generations to come. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, our campaign aims to raise awareness about India’s cultural and historical legacy while preserving and protecting the tangible and intangible heritage of our cities.”

Both InterGlobe Foundation and IndiGoReach have undertaken various projects to promote heritage conservation and preservation in India. Some of the major initiatives of InterGlobe Foundation include the conservation and cultural revival of Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan’s mausoleum in Delhi, the cultural mapping and documentation of eighteen cities, the restoration of ‘Indra Kund’ stepwell in Delwara, the tile restoration of Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum, and Heritage Fellowships. IndiGoReach has done projects for the conservation of Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad and the restoration of the interiors of the Lal Bagh Palace in Indore.

This Easter, Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore invites guests to slow down and settle in for a leisurely brunch at The Bengaluru Brasserie. Built around comfort, flavour, and a sense of occasion, the experience brings together a generous spread that works just as well for families as it does for catching up with friends.

The menu features a mix of global favourites and festive specials, with live counters, hearty mains, fresh salads, and a dessert selection that leans into classic Easter indulgence. Expect familiar flavours, a few seasonal touches, and enough variety to keep you going back for seconds.

Set in a relaxed, easy-going space in the heart of the city, it’s the kind of afternoon that’s less about rushing and more about enjoying good food at your own pace.

Event Details

• Venue: The Bengaluru Brasserie, Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore

• Date: Easter Sunday, 5th April

• Time: 12:30 PM – 04:00 PM

A simple plan for the day: show up hungry, stay a while, and make the most of a long Easter afternoon.

New Delhi, March 30: The government on Monday announced that interest rates for various small savings schemes will remain unchanged for the eighth consecutive quarter, starting April 1, 2026. The decision covers popular schemes such as the Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY).

A notification from the Finance Ministry stated that the interest rates for the first quarter of FY 2026-27 (April 1 to June 30, 2026) will stay the same as those applicable in the previous quarter (January-March 2026).

Key interest rates include:

• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY): 8.2%
• Three-year term deposit: 7.1%
• Public Provident Fund (PPF): 7.1%
• Post Office Savings Deposit: 4%
• Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP): 7.5% with maturity in 115 months
• National Savings Certificate (NSC): 7.7%
• Monthly Income Scheme (MIS): 7.4%

The decision reflects the government’s focus on stability and predictability for small savers, providing a reliable avenue for long-term investment. These schemes continue to play a key role in encouraging financial discipline and savings among individuals, while offering safe returns amid broader economic fluctuations.

Experts note that keeping the rates unchanged benefits retirees, households, and risk-averse investors, who rely on these instruments for regular income and wealth accumulation.

With these measures, the government aims to maintain public confidence in small savings schemes and promote their continued use as a foundation of personal financial planning.

New Delhi, Mar 31:  Let’s Talk Womxn (LTW), a global business-building action movement of women owners in food and drink, marked its launch in India with the Delhi chapter on March 23, 2026, at Kikli, Connaught Place.

Founded by Rohini Dey, LTW is a unique action movement of 1000+ women restaurateurs and entrepreneurs across 16 cities in the US and Canada, and now India. Built by women owners for women owners, LTW focuses on strengthening businesses by sharing resources, generating revenue opportunities, increasing visibility, and empowering women to grow together across the food and beverage ecosystem.

The launch evening was hosted by LTW co-hosts and leading industry voices, including Chef Amninder Sandhu (Founding Partner, Bawri, Kikli, Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries and Barbet & Pals), Priya Paul (Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels), Akriti Malhotra (Founder, Aku’s The Burger Co.), along with Rohini Dey, PhD, Founder, Let’s Talk Womxn. The gathering brought together a dynamic mix of founders, chefs, and entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the vision behind LTW, Rohini Dey, PhD, Founder, said, “A sheer pleasure to team up with powerhouse women entrepreneurs to lift each other up, our core Let’s Talk Womxn ethos. Launching LTW Delhi is an even more special homecoming for me.”

The evening featured a candid exchange on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building and scaling businesses as women owners. Among those present were Chef Ruchira Hoon, Chef Megha Kohli, Chef Shambhavi Joshi,Chef Vanshika Bhatia,Chef Tanya Gupta,Chef sharmistha cheema amongst many others.

Highlighting the importance of such a platform, Chef Amninder Sandhu said,“If there’s a room where women aren’t lifting each other up, I’d rather build a new one. That’s why Let’s Talk Womxn is in Delhi.”

Adding to this, Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said, “There’s a quiet strength in women coming together and showing up for each other. Let’s Talk Womxn captures that spirit, it’s about shared journeys, mutual support, and building something that lasts.”

What sets Let’s Talk Womxn apart is its renegade and action-driven approach. It is open to all women owners in food and drink, no elitism, no fees, and no bureaucracy. It is not a traditional industry forum and does not duplicate panels, webinars, or networking formats. Instead, LTW operates as a platform where women owners engage in ongoing monthly sessions focused on solving real business challenges, sharing what works, and driving tangible outcomes.

Attendees List For The First Chapter of Let’s Talk Womxn Launch Event : List

WHAT IS LET’S TALK WOMXN?

Who doesn’t love restaurants? Now add women-owned. That’s us. Let’s Talk Womxn (LTW) is a unique action movement of 1000+ women restaurateurs and entrepreneurs in food and drink across 16 cities in the US, Canada & now India. Founded mid-2020 by Rohini Dey, Ph.D., LTW is nourished by leading CoHost women owners in each city: Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Greater NY, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Miami, Minneapolis St. Paul, Houston, Milwaukee, Columbus, Detroit, Toronto, with Delhi soon. Everything LTW does is to boost our businesses, combine strength, counsel each other, share resources, generate revenue, visibility, and empower women owners together. Apart from restaurateurs, LTW has grown to include food CPG & beverage makers, distributors, cafes, bakers, bars, farms, and entrepreneurs across the value chain. LTW is an all-volunteer action movement and nonprofit. It is open to all women owners in food and drink. No eliteness, no fees, no BS, and no bureaucracy. It is not your usual industry forum. It does not duplicate the webinars, luncheons & leadership panels most industries abound in, especially in March as a token for women. Now in its sixth year, LTW is all year backing with monthly sessions for concrete mentorship by our members on business issues. LTW hosts city and national initiatives to feature members with marquee partners. LTW deliberately has no overheads or institutional bloat. All support or revenue is allocated to our women owners with maximal multiplier impact for our employees and communities. For partners seeking to work directly with women entrepreneurs, small business owners, and highly followed innovators in food and drink, LTW is a natural choice.

LTW was invited to ring the NASDAQ bell alongside many awards for its innovative collaborative approach and leadership empowering women business owners. See more on our launch Today Show, Good Morning America, WGN NewsNation, http://www.letstalkwomxn.com or our Instagram. LTW was lauded at inception as the top forces in food leadership Top 50 Power List NRN. LTW has keynoted forums across countries and global corporations to share its unique collaborative model by competitors for empowerment. A model applicable to all entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. Forums include Women’s World Banking, Sysco, Mondelez, Destinations International, Seramount, Women in Finance, International Women’s Forum, FED Summit, University of Chicago, City of Chicago, International Food Manufacturers Association, National Restaurant Association, Choose Chicago and more.

CITY COHOSTS: Every city is nurtured by 3-5 leading women owners with gravitas who help run the monthly sessions, grow city members, and foster connections. Our 35+ LTW cohosts across our 16 cities are powerhouses.

HOW LTW WORKS: Being a restaurateur/entrepreneur is isolating and all-consuming. We’re all busy. We keep LTW informal and easy. Our core is monthly sessions by zoom for an hour the first Tuesday or Wednesday by city. City cohosts run sessions alongside Rohini, who sends the zoom & topic monthly. We do a deep dive to share what’s working for each of us in a business area. We learn a lot, share sources and referrals, and build friendships. Many LTW cities host collaborations, socials & initiatives. That’s optional. Our monthly sessions are candid & confidential. We are not your usual industry forum.

Hyderabad,  Mar 31: Westlife Foodworld, which owns and operates McDonald’s restaurants across West and South India, has announced the opening of a new McDonald’s restaurant at L&T Next Premia Mall, Irrum Manzil. 

The launch is part of Westlife’s ongoing strategy to expand in high-growth urban corridors and leverage transit-linked consumption opportunities. The restaurant also builds on the company’s association with L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, aligning with the city’s increasing reliance on metro connectivity for daily movement. The new restaurant is a 2,800 sq. ft. dine-in form and is located at the entry level of the bridge connecting directly to the metro station, ensuring seamless access and strong visibility.

Strategically located, the area is emerging as a prominent retail and lifestyle destination. Its direct skywalk connectivity to the Irrum Manzil Metro Station positions it as a high-access hub for commuters, office professionals, students, and families. Food lovers can come and enjoy a range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu items such as all burgers and wraps, fried chicken, hand-crafted McCafé beverages.

As of December 2025, the company has a network of 458 restaurants across 73 cities. With this addition, Westlife Foodworld adds to its existing footprint of over 20 restaurants in Hyderabad, that offer accessibility, convenience, and relevance to evolving urban lifestyles.

Mar 31: In a landmark moment for the media and entertainment ecosystem, HKI Media has officially partnered with the National Skill Development Corporation and Startup Stairs, reinforcing its position as a driving force in shaping the future of India’s creative economy. This strategic collaboration is aligned with the vision of a National Entrepreneurship Drive under the theme “1 Sector | 1 Entrepreneur | 1 Panchayat.” Over the next five years, the initiative aims to enable 30 lakh entrepreneurs across 2 lakh panchayats, spanning 15 sectors—creating a far-reaching and inclusive impact at the grassroots level. Through structured skill development, industry exposure, and employment generation, the program is set to foster rural enterprise creation and unlock new avenues for local economic growth. 

With this partnership, HKI Media will play a pivotal role in upscaling talent nationwide—bridging the long-standing gap between raw creative potential and industry readiness. Alongside this, Gig Media, HKI Media’s technology-driven platform, will act as a critical enabler by creating a direct bridge between skilled talent and real-time industry opportunities, ensuring that trained individuals can seamlessly transition into the workforce.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony stood as a testament to the scale and credibility of this achievement. Industry-leading organizations, including DeHaat, PC Jeweller, Ferns N Petals, and Divya Yog Mandir Trust, were also present, marking their own strategic collaborations with NSDC and Startup Stairs. Being part of this high-impact cohort further underscores HKI Media’s growing influence and cross-sector recognition. The company’s participation in this initiative also marks a significant step toward empowering artists and technicians across the country.

A key pillar of this initiative is Gig Media—HKI Media’s technology-driven platform—which will act as the aggregation and placement engine for this nationwide entrepreneurship drive. Gig Media will seamlessly connect institutes, trained students, and industry opportunities by enabling students to onboard directly onto the platform and access real-time jobs, gigs, and projects. As part of this initiative, HKI Media will also introduce government-backed subvention schemes such as Chief Minister YUVA Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, alongside an HKI franchise model for top-performing students across partnered institutes. This approach not only empowers young talent to become entrepreneurs but also enhances institutional credibility by demonstrating clear, high-value career pathways and leadership opportunities.

This milestone positions HKI Media not just as a platform, but as a full-scale ecosystem enabler—actively contributing to the evolution of India’s film and media landscape. By aligning with NSDC’s national vision for skill development, HKI
Media is unlocking new opportunities for aspiring creators, technicians, and professionals from every corner of the country.

Speaking on the achievement, the leadership at HKI Media emphasized that this is only the beginning. The collaboration is expected to unlock large-scale training programs, certification initiatives, and direct industry integration—building a future where talent and opportunity are seamlessly connected.

With this partnership, HKI Media takes a bold step forward, solidifying its position as one of the most influential players in India’s media and entertainment ecosystem—driving growth, creating impact, and shaping the next generation of creative professionals.

Gandhinagar, Mar 31: The Leela Gandhinagar reinforced its commitment to environmental responsibility during Earth Hour 2026 through sustainability-led initiatives focused on energy conservation and conscious operations.

As part of the global movement, the hotel switched off non-essential lighting and reduced power consumption across designated areas for 60 minutes from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, symbolising a collective step towards climate awareness and responsible energy use. The initiative reflected the property’s continued efforts to minimise environmental impact while maintaining the standards of refined luxury hospitality.

Earth Hour also highlighted the hotel’s broader sustainability philosophy, which includes energy-efficient practices, responsible resource management, and environmentally conscious measures integrated into daily operations.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikas Sood, General Manager, said “Earth Hour reminds us that meaningful change begins with small yet consistent actions. At The Leela Gandhinagar, sustainability remains integral to how we operate and deliver thoughtful luxury experiences.”

Through its participation, the hotel reaffirmed its dedication to advancing sustainable hospitality and contributing to a more responsible future.

Varanasi, Mar 31: Allcargo Logistics Limited, housing its Domestic Supply Chain business, Express Distribution and Consultative Logistics has, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth and success of the Varanasi handloom cluster, home to thousands of weavers, traders and MSMEs engaged in the production and distribution of the world-renowned Banarasi silk sarees and other handloom products.

Allcargo Logistics serves several hundred active customers in the Varanasi handloom cluster, including small-scale weavers, traders, established saree manufacturers and exporters. The company provides door-to-door pick-up and delivery services along with value-added offerings such as cash-on-delivery (COD), helping businesses move their products safely and reliably to customers across India while enabling timely and secure payments, reducing credit risk and improving working capital cycles. Allcargo Logistics connects Varanasi to a wide distribution network across India, covering thousands of pin codes and key destination markets such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat and Ahmedabad.

Under the Varanasi cluster operating model, all consignments are first consolidated and routed to the Lucknow’s Transshipment Centre. From this mother hub, shipments are further distributed to transshipment centres across key locations such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati and other major markets. From there, shipments are routed for final delivery to retailers and wholesalers, ensuring a seamless, reliable and fully integrated end-to-end distribution network.

In addition to door-to-door delivery and COD, Allcargo Logistics offers express distribution, air and surface transportation, multimodal logistics solutions, shipment tracking and visibility tools, insurance coverage for high-value goods, reverse logistics and specialized handling for delicate handloom and saree consignments.

“We are proud to support the Varanasi handloom cluster, which represents a unique blend of India’s cultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit”, said Mr. Ketan Kulkarni, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Allcargo Logistics. “For businesses handling high-value and delicate consignments such as Banarasi sarees and handloom products, reliability, security and timely delivery are critical. Our door-to-door services, supported by secure transportation, technology-enabled tracking and customer-centric solutions such as COD, are helping MSMEs and traders expand their reach and operate with greater confidence.”

Situated on the banks of the holy river Ganges, Varanasi is one of India’s most revered pilgrimage and spiritual centres and is equally celebrated for its rich handloom heritage, particularly its Banarasi silk sarees. The handloom sector in and around Varanasi supports a large artisan base and continues to play an important role in the region’s economic and social fabric.

Shipments from the Varanasi cluster are typically smaller in size but high in value, requiring careful handling and secure movement. Allcargo Logistics supports the cluster through a hub-and-spoke operating model, with connectivity enabled via regional hubs, branch offices, and line-haul routes to ensure efficient first mile and last mile movement. Many shipments move by road, while air services are used for time-sensitive deliveries.

Over the years, Allcargo Logistics has witnessed consistent year-on-year growth in customer onboarding and shipment volumes from the Varanasi cluster, driven by growing trust in its services and wider network reach. The company’s logistics support has enabled businesses in the cluster to expand beyond traditional local markets, improve delivery reliability, build direct-to-customer capabilities, and move towards more organized and scalable operations.

As part of its ongoing focus on MSME-led clusters, Allcargo Logistics continues to evaluate opportunities to strengthen its presence in Varanasi and similar markets through improved route efficiency, expanded service coverage and capacity, enhanced technology-enabled solutions and additional infrastructure support wherever required.

New Delhi: The final trading day of the financial year 2025–26 turned out to be highly unfavorable for both the currency and stock markets in India. The Indian rupee weakened sharply, crossing the 95 mark against the US dollar for the first time in history.

This means that more than ₹95 was required to purchase one US dollar during the day’s trading. The sharp depreciation reflects growing pressure on the domestic currency amid global and domestic uncertainties.

One of the key factors behind the decline is the ongoing geopolitical tension in the Middle East, which has now entered its fifth week. The conflict has pushed up global crude oil prices, increasing India’s import bill. At the same time, foreign investors have been pulling money out of Indian markets, adding further strain on both the rupee and equity markets.

As a result, concerns are rising over higher inflation and weakening financial stability in the country.

The rupee had already closed at a record low of 94.81 against the dollar last Friday. On the latest trading day, it opened stronger at 93.59 but quickly lost ground, slipping to as low as 95.20 during intra-day trade. However, possible intervention by the Reserve Bank of India helped the currency recover slightly, allowing it to settle at 94.83 by the end of the session.

To curb volatility, the central bank had recently tightened rules for banks dealing in foreign exchange. It capped their daily net open foreign exchange positions at $100 million and instructed compliance by April 10. While the move initially supported the rupee, the relief proved short-lived.

Meanwhile, the stock market also faced heavy selling pressure, with the Sensex tumbling 1,635 points, reflecting investor anxiety and capital outflows.

Overall, during the financial year 2025–26, the rupee has depreciated by around 11.4% against the US dollar—marking one of its steepest declines in over a decade.

Hyderabad, Telangana, Mar 31: Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Limited, a provider of AI-driven enterprise and digital infrastructure solutions, has received orders from, Hyderabad City Police, for the following:

• Supply, installation, and commissioning of AI-enabled high-performance rack servers and GPU-powered
• Deployment of “Blura Saga”, an AI-powered social media monitoring and intelligence platform for the Social Media Unit.

The scope of work involves delivery of advanced computing infrastructure and AI-based analytics solutions designed to enhance data processing, intelligence gathering, and mission-critical operations within Hyderabad City Police.