Category: Business

Chennai, Mar 25th: In a significant development for underwater sports in India, Archana Sankaranarayanan has led the establishment of the Freediving Association of India (AIDA India), marking a formal step towards institutionalising the sport in the country. India has also been accepted as an observer member of AIDA International (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée), the global governing body for competitive freediving.

The observer status is expected to enable the newly formed association to organise official competitions, build a structured national platform, and support Indian athletes throughout their competitive journeys, paving the way for stronger international participation in the years ahead.

Ms. Sankaranarayanan, founder of AIDA India, has played a central role in building the association from the ground up, navigating regulatory and administrative processes to bring the initiative to fruition. Her efforts are seen as a key step towards securing full recognition for India within the global freediving community.

Alongside her administrative contributions, Ms. Sankaranarayanan has recorded notable achievements as an athlete. Over the past year, she has set 11 national records, emerging as one of the country’s leading figures in the sport.

In 2025, she became the first Indian brand ambassador for Molchanovs, a prominent international freediving organisation, further enhancing her global standing.

She has also made strides in officiating, becoming the first Indian to serve as a judge at an international freediving competition. She is currently en route to Bali, where she will officiate as the main judge at the Apnea Bali, Tulamben Pool Games her second international assignment and first in a lead role.

The formation of AIDA India, coupled with the country’s acceptance as an observer member, is being viewed as a milestone moment for Indian freediving, opening avenues for growth, wider representation, and increased participation at the global level.

New Delhi, India – Established in 1992, Affinity Salon has evolved into one of India’s most respected names in organized luxury beauty and grooming. With a legacy spanning over three decades, the brand is known for blending international standards of precision with Indian warmth and hospitality—creating salon spaces that are professional, consistent, and experience-led.

Since 2018, Affinity has undergone a significant transformation—moving beyond traditional salon operations to become a structured, technology-enabled beauty enterprise. The brand operates on standardized protocols, centralized training systems, and advanced consultation models, ensuring that each outlet delivers the same premium experience across locations. From AI-powered scalp and skin diagnostics to app-led consultations and data-driven backend systems, Affinity integrates science and technology into every layer of the customer journey.

Current Footprint and Expansion Plans

Affinity Salon currently operates 13 outlets across Delhi NCR and is set to launch 15 additional salons pan-India as part of its next growth phase. The expansion strategy is carefully structured, combining flagship formats with efficient boutique models to ensure scalability without compromising service standards.

The upcoming outlets will mark Affinity’s deeper entry into high-growth Tier 2 and emerging urban markets, where aspirational consumers are increasingly seeking organized, premium salon experiences backed by expertise and reliability.

Leadership & Spokesperson Profiles

At the helm of Affinity Salon’s strategic transformation is Vinit Dua, Chairman of Affinity Salon. Since assuming leadership in 2018, he has played a pivotal role in redefining the brand’s long-term vision and operational philosophy. With a focus on bringing structure and professionalism to an otherwise fragmented industry, Vinit has steered the company toward building a system-driven salon ecosystem that prioritizes consistency, skill development, and operational excellence.

Under his leadership, Affinity transitioned from a traditionally run salon business into a highly structured organization supported by standardized operating procedures, centralized training academies, and disciplined expansion frameworks. Vinit has been instrumental in introducing operational playbooks that ensure uniform service standards across locations, allowing the brand to scale while maintaining the same premium experience that customers associate with Affinity.

Beyond operational growth, Vinit has consistently emphasized the importance of education and talent development within the beauty industry. By strengthening Affinity’s training infrastructure and investing in skill-building initiatives, he has focused on nurturing a new generation of beauty professionals who can deliver global standards of service while maintaining the warmth and personalized care that define Indian hospitality.

His leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that true luxury in the beauty sector is not defined solely by ambience or aesthetics, but by the reliability of service, depth of expertise, and the ability to create a consistent experience for every customer. Through a disciplined approach to growth, Vinit has helped position Affinity as a brand that is not only expanding but also contributing meaningfully to the professionalization of India’s organized salon industry.

 

For Vinit Dua, this journey goes beyond business strategy—it reflects a broader vision for the industry’s future. “India deserves salon spaces that are as global in standard as they are grounded in Indian hospitality,” he says. “Our goal is not just to open more outlets, but to create more professionals, empower more entrepreneurs, and elevate beauty as a serious, respected industry across the country.”

Complementing this leadership is Siddhanth Dua, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Salon, who represents the next generation of leadership driving the brand’s modernization. Taking on the role at a notably young age, Siddhanth has brought a forward-looking perspective to the organization, focusing on technology integration, data-driven decision-making, and scalable operational models.

Siddhanth has been instrumental in embedding innovation into Affinity’s core systems, helping transform the salon experience through technology-enabled solutions. His initiatives include the introduction of AI-powered scalp and skin diagnostics, digital consultation journeys, analytics-based performance tracking, and structured backend systems that allow the brand to monitor service quality and operational efficiency across locations.

He has also played a key role in developing scalable franchise and expansion frameworks that enable the brand to grow in a disciplined manner while maintaining its core standards. By combining technology with strong training programs and standardized processes, Siddhanth has helped ensure that every new Affinity outlet reflects the same level of professionalism, expertise, and customer experience that the brand has built its reputation on.

Mumbai, Mar 25: One of Mumbai’s most iconic heritage single-screen theatres, Bharatmata Cinema, located in the heart of Parel, has reopened its doors to audiences on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026, bringing back the charm of traditional cinema-going with modern technology and upgraded comfort.

A cinema that holds nostalgic value for generations of movie lovers, Bharatmata Cinema has been carefully restored and upgraded while retaining its heritage character and emotional connect with the local community. The revival of this historic cinema has been undertaken by One Cinemas, powered by Mukta A2 Cinemas, with a shared vision of bringing back the magic of single-screen cinemas for today’s audiences. 

The upgraded Bharatmata Cinema now offers an enhanced movie experience featuring Dolby Surround Sound, 2K Laser Projection, luxury recliners and sofas, and a refreshed food and beverage experience, ensuring audiences enjoy a larger-than-life cinematic experience in complete comfort. While the cinema has been technologically upgraded, special care has been taken to maintain its heritage aesthetic and nostalgic identity. 

The reopening of Bharatmata Cinema represents a larger vision of reviving heritage cinemas and making cinema-going accessible, comfortable, and enjoyable for all sections of audiences, while bringing back the culture and community experience of watching films on the big screen.

Rajat Haksar, One Cinemas, said, “Bharatmata Cinema holds a special place in the hearts of Mumbai audiences, and reviving this heritage cinema is a matter of great pride for us. Our vision is to bring back the culture of single-screen cinemas while upgrading the experience for today’s audiences and keeping cinema-going accessible to everyone.” 

Satwik Lele, COO, Mukta A2 Cinemas, said, “This partnership between One Cinemas and Mukta A2 Cinemas is built on a long-term vision of growing the cinema business together and expanding quality cinema experiences across markets. Reviving heritage cinemas like Bharatmata is an important step towards preserving cinema culture while building the future of exhibition together.”

Bengaluru, Mar 25: Autoverse Mobility, a leading auto parts digital distributor, providing on-time deliveries and exceptional service to garage owners and vendors, has announced a suite of new initiatives and product launches aimed at strengthening trust, improving access to genuine parts, and building future-ready capabilities across India’s rapidly evolving automotive aftermarket.

Unveiled at Motor Mechanic Day 2026, Autoverse Mobility’s flagship industry event, these initiatives underscore the company’s focus on leveraging technology, partnerships, and skill development to address long-standing challenges in the aftermarket, particularly around part authenticity, discovery of trusted service providers, and readiness for electric vehicles.

The company has introduced a first-of-its-kind warranty program enabling multi-brand garages to procure the right parts with confidence. Powered by an advanced traceability system, the program ensures that genuine parts are verified and tracked across the supply chain. It is currently live for select brands and will be expanded across the broader aftermarket ecosystem.

Additionally, to improve access to trusted service providers, the company has launched a WhatsApp-based mechanic discovery feature. This helps end customers to seamlessly connect with verified garages that use genuine parts, thereby bridging the trust gap in vehicle servicing. Customers can connect through WhatsApp on the given number – 888 499 8600.

On strengthening the after-market ecosystem, Rama Shankar Pandey, Co-founder, Autoverse Mobility said. “As vehicles become more advanced and electrified, the role of mechanics is becoming even more critical to the reliability and safety of mobility. The future of mobility will not just be defined by vehicles, but by the strength of the ecosystem that supports them. For too long, the aftermarket has operated with fragmentation, limited transparency, and unequal access to quality parts and capabilities.  By empowering mechanics with the right tools, trust, and opportunities, we are enabling a more reliable, transparent, and scalable aftermarket for India through Autoverse Mobility. Our vision is to fundamentally redefine how India services its vehicles while significantly reducing the need for heavy capex.

Talking about the new initiatives, Mihir Mohan, Founder, CEO, Autoverse Mobility said, “Through our new initiatives, we aim to strengthen an ecosystem where garages can operate with confidence and customers can rely on every repair. As mobility evolves, especially with the shift to electric, enabling mechanics with the right capabilities and access will be critical to the future of the aftermarket. Motor Mechanic Day 2026 reflects our commitment to bringing the industry together while laying the foundation for a more trusted, transparent, and future-ready automotive aftermarket in India.”

In partnership with Paracoat Products Limited, Autoverse Mobility has unveiled Pynoseal, a high-performance underbody coating solution designed to enhance vehicle durability and long-term performance.

As the industry transitions toward electric mobility, the company has also launched an EV Mechanic Certification Program to train and certify mechanics in handling electric vehicles—equipping garages with future-ready capabilities.

The event witnessed active participation from leading automotive component brands, including Sumax Industries, Lumax Auto, and Delux Bearings, showcasing their products and engaging directly with garage partners. The platform also featured Getafix, a garage management system provider, highlighting digital solutions aimed at improving workshop operations and efficiency.

During the event, Rama Shankar Pandey, Co-Founder, Autoverse Mobility, delivered a session on ‘Right to Repair’ and shared key industry insights.

New Delhi, Mar 25 (BNP): The Centre on Tuesday signed reform-linked memoranda of understanding with Andhra Pradesh and Odisha under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 to strengthen sustainable and community-driven rural drinking water systems.

The agreements aim to advance structured reforms focused on transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability of water supply services in rural areas.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil said the next phase of the mission will prioritise bridging infrastructure gaps, ensuring reliable water supply, and strengthening community-led management systems.

He highlighted the need for proper handover of completed schemes to local communities and emphasised women’s participation in water quality monitoring through field test kits.

The MoU with Andhra Pradesh was signed in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, while Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi participated virtually during the signing of the agreement with his state.

Both states reaffirmed their commitment to achieving universal household tap water coverage and improving service delivery through community participation and sustainable operation and maintenance systems.

Officials said the reform framework includes measures to strengthen infrastructure, improve monitoring through digital platforms, and enhance citizen engagement through local committees and grievance redressal systems.

The agreements are part of the Centre’s broader push under JJM 2.0 to ensure adequate and quality drinking water supply to every rural household, aligned with the goal of long-term water security and improved living standards.

The development was announced by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in a statement.

New Delhi, Mar 25 (BNP): Capital expenditure by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Heavy Industries rose to ₹577.41 crore in 2024–25, reflecting increased investments in new projects, expansion, and modernisation.

According to data shared in Parliament, total CapEx by these CPSEs stood at ₹340.58 crore in 2022–23 and ₹388.94 crore in 2023–24, indicating a steady upward trend over the past three financial years.

Among the CPSEs, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) accounted for the largest share of investment, with CapEx rising from ₹262 crore in 2022–23 to ₹536 crore in 2024–25.

Other enterprises, including Cement Corporation of India Ltd and Sambhar Salts Ltd, also recorded notable investments, though at a smaller scale.

The investments were primarily aimed at setting up new plants and machinery, expanding production capacity, and manufacturing new products, officials said.

Several CPSEs, however, reported relatively modest or declining capital expenditure over the period, reflecting varied operational and investment cycles across entities.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi, Mar 25 (BNP): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed revised guidelines to strengthen safeguards against unauthorised electronic banking transactions, including a compensation mechanism for small-value frauds and enhanced use of artificial intelligence in fraud detection.

The draft instructions, released for public consultation on March 6, 2026, aim to update the existing 2017 framework in view of rapid technological adoption in banking and digital payments.

As part of efforts to curb cyber fraud, the RBI has rolled out “MuleHunter.AI”, an artificial intelligence and machine learning-based system to detect mule accounts used for illicit fund transfers. The system is currently operational in 26 banks and is being expanded further.

The central bank has also advised banks to deploy robust real-time transaction monitoring systems, adopt AI and machine learning tools to detect suspicious patterns, and use network analytics to identify mule account networks.

In a related development, the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) has been set up as a Section 8 company to detect and prevent fraud in the digital payments ecosystem using advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and big data analytics.

Officials said the government is working closely with the RBI and other regulators to strengthen systems and controls to prevent cyber-enabled financial frauds.

The RBI has also undertaken multiple initiatives to improve financial literacy and cybersecurity awareness. These include the Centre for Financial Literacy project, under which over 2,400 centres have been set up, and nationwide campaigns such as “RBI Kehta Hai” to promote safe banking practices.

Market regulator SEBI is also running awareness initiatives, including the “SEBI vs SCAM” campaign and the Saa₹thi mobile app, to educate investors and prevent fraud.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi, Mar 25 (BNP): The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with air conditioning major Blue Star Ltd to support startups and strengthen India’s manufacturing and innovation ecosystem.

The partnership aims to promote product startups working in areas such as HVAC technologies, digital solutions, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain innovation, officials said.

Under the collaboration, startups will receive mentorship from industry experts, access to R&D laboratories and testing facilities, pilot opportunities, and market linkages to help scale industry-relevant solutions.

DPIIT said the initiative will enable startups to achieve key milestones including product validation, proof-of-concept development, and integration into industry value chains.

Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Sanjiv, said the partnership would help foster industry-driven innovation by enabling startups to work on real-world challenges and scale solutions with tangible outcomes.

As part of the initiative, DPIIT and Blue Star will also explore organising innovation challenges and hackathons under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, focusing on HVAC, digital technologies, and manufacturing sectors.

Selected startups will be offered opportunities for pilot deployment and further engagement through structured proof-of-concept programmes.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, T.L.K. Singh and Managing Director of Blue Star Ltd, B. Thiagarajan, in the presence of senior officials.

Officials said the collaboration is expected to strengthen linkages between startups and industry while enhancing innovation capacity in key manufacturing sectors.

New Delhi, Mar 25 (BNP): India’s total exports of merchandise and services rose to $714.73 billion during April–January of FY 2025–26, registering a growth of 5.26 per cent over $679.02 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, the government said on Tuesday.

The data reflects continued resilience in India’s trade performance despite global uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, and volatile commodity prices.

Over the longer term, exports have shown steady growth, rising from $497.90 billion in 2020–21 to $828.25 billion in 2024–25, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.9 per cent.

The government said it is strengthening the export ecosystem through policy support, digital infrastructure, and financial incentives, with a focus on enhancing global competitiveness, especially for MSMEs.

The Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 continues to play a key role, supported by schemes such as Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) and the recently approved Export Promotion Mission (EPM), which has an outlay of ₹25,060 crore.

As part of efforts to mitigate risks arising from geopolitical disruptions, the government has also launched a time-bound “RELIEF” scheme under the Export Promotion Mission, to be implemented through the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC).

Officials said digital platforms and trade facilitation measures have improved efficiency, transparency, and access to global markets for exporters.

India is also expanding its global trade footprint through free trade agreements, with 19 FTAs in place and several others under negotiation, including with the EU, UK, and New Zealand.

The government said the integrated approach combining policy reforms, digital systems, and market access initiatives is aimed at building a resilient and future-ready export ecosystem.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.