Category: Business

New Delhi, June 26: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has been conferred the UK-India award in recognition of his contribution to strengthening economic and trade relations between India and the United Kingdom.

 Pic Credit: https://x.com/PiyushGoyal

The award acknowledges his efforts in deepening bilateral engagement, promoting investment flows, and expanding cooperation across key sectors of mutual interest, including trade, industry, and innovation.

Officials noted that India and the UK have witnessed growing collaboration in recent years, supported by sustained high-level dialogue and efforts to enhance economic partnership frameworks. Goyal’s role in advancing these engagements has been highlighted as a key factor in strengthening ties between the two countries.

The recognition comes at a time when both nations are exploring new opportunities to further expand trade relations and build a more comprehensive economic partnership.

The award underscores the importance of continued cooperation between India and the UK in fostering long-term economic growth and strategic collaboration.

New Delhi, June 26: India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector continues to play a key role in the country’s economic growth, with its contribution to the national GDP crossing 31% and employment rising to 38.9 crore, according to recent official estimates.

The sector remains one of the largest employment generators in the country, supporting livelihoods across manufacturing, services, and trade segments. Officials noted that MSMEs are also a crucial driver of exports and industrial output.

The growth has been supported by various government initiatives aimed at improving access to credit, promoting digital adoption, and enhancing ease of doing business for small enterprises.

Experts said the steady expansion of the MSME sector reflects its resilience and its central role in strengthening India’s self-reliant economic framework. The sector continues to support inclusive growth by generating employment opportunities across urban and rural areas.

The latest figures underline the MSME sector’s importance as a backbone of the Indian economy, contributing significantly to GDP while also absorbing a large share of the workforce.

June 26: India has organised its first-ever mango promotion events in Iceland as part of efforts to expand the global reach of Indian agricultural exports and promote premium fruit varieties in new international markets.

The initiative aimed to showcase India’s diverse range of mango varieties to importers, distributors, and consumers in Iceland, highlighting the fruit’s quality, flavour profile, and export potential.

Officials said the event is part of a broader strategy to strengthen India’s agri-export footprint in non-traditional markets and create new trade opportunities for Indian farmers and exporters. The promotion also focused on building awareness about India’s horticultural strengths and improving market access for premium produce.

Participants at the event were introduced to several popular Indian mango varieties, along with discussions on export logistics, quality standards, and potential trade partnerships.

The initiative reflects India’s growing efforts to diversify its export destinations and enhance the global visibility of its agricultural products, particularly in high-value international markets.

New Delhi, June 26: India’s grocery market is projected to grow to nearly $992 billion by financial year 2030, according to a recent industry report, reflecting strong growth prospects in the country’s fast-expanding retail sector.

The report highlights that the growth will be driven by rising household consumption, increasing urbanisation, and a shift in consumer preferences towards organised retail and digital grocery platforms.

It notes that the sector continues to be dominated by traditional retail channels, but organised retail and quick-commerce platforms are rapidly gaining market share, supported by improved logistics, digital payments, and wider internet penetration.

Industry experts said that changing lifestyles, growing disposable incomes, and expansion of e-commerce are expected to further accelerate the transformation of India’s grocery market over the next few years.

The report also pointed out that India remains one of the fastest-growing consumer markets globally, with the grocery segment forming a significant share of overall retail consumption.

The projected growth underscores the long-term potential of the sector and the increasing role of technology-driven retail models in shaping consumer buying behaviour.

Strengthening the growing collaboration between India and Japan in the creative technology ecosystem, IICT extended the earlier signed MoU for a series of engagements around Manga, Anime, digital creativity and skill development bringing together Japanese industry expertise, technology leaders and India’s emerging AVGC talent ecosystem.

As part of this collaboration, a Manga Masterclass was conducted on 22nd June 2026 in collaboration with Wacom India, which facilitated the participation of Akiko-San, a renowned Manga Artist from Japan with over 30 years of industry experience. The session introduced participants to the history and evolution of Manga, traditional Manga creation techniques, storytelling methods and professional approaches used in the industry.

Held at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, the workshop was conducted across two batches of 30 participants each, with one session exclusively for IICT students and another open to the public. The free masterclass received over 250 registrations, reflecting the growing interest among Indian creators and students in Japanese creative formats and global storytelling practices.

The Manga Masterclass was part of a broader India–Japan engagement focused on expanding opportunities in Anime, Manga and creative technology education. A strategic meeting was also held between Mr. Koji Yano, Global Head of the Creative Experience Unit at Wacom Co., Ltd., Japan; Mr. Rajiv Malik, Senior Director, Wacom India; Ms. Jenica Kalra from JETRO; and representatives from IICT, including its leadership team and faculty members from Animation and Comics disciplines.

The discussions explored opportunities for specialised training initiatives in Anime and Manga, knowledge exchange, industry engagement and strengthening industry led education models for future creators.

Further strengthening this partnership, IICT and Wacom India exchanged an addendum to their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), building on their collaboration in creative education, industry readiness and access to global digital creative technologies. The MoU provides a framework for joint workshops, expert sessions, industry-oriented training programmes, access to professional creative tools, inter-institutional initiatives and mentorship opportunities for students.

Speaking on the India–Japan collaboration, Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, Chief Executive Officer, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), said,

 “India’s creative economy is at a stage where global partnerships, industry exposure and access to advanced tools will play a key role in building future-ready talent. The collaboration between Indian and Japanese stakeholders brings together Japan’s expertise in Manga, Anime and creative technology with India’s growing talent base in the AVGC sector. Such initiatives will help create stronger pathways for learning, innovation and international engagement for aspiring creators.”

Mr. Koji Yano, Global Head of the Creative Experience Unit at Wacom Co., Ltd said,

 “I am truly honored to have the opportunity to hold this workshop at the IICT campus. This innovative workshop allows participants to learn the essential skills of idea creation and storytelling through Manga, one of Japan’s most iconic cultural expressions. I hope this experience will inspire young creators and strengthen the creative connection between Japan and India. Wacom has been supporting creative education in India through its partnership with IICT, and we look forward to building an even stronger partnership to help nurture and empower many more creators in India.”

Mr. Rajiv Malik, Senior Director, Wacom India, said,

“At Wacom, we believe India has the potential to become a global leader in the AVGC ecosystem. Our collaboration with IICT reflects Wacom’s long-term commitment to strengthening the country’s creator economy by investing in skill development, industry-academia partnerships, and access to world-class digital creative technologies. Through initiatives such as the Manga Workshop and continued engagement, we aim to equip students with globally relevant creative skills while encouraging innovation, storytelling, and digital content creation. We see this partnership as the beginning of a long-term roadmap to nurture future-ready talent, support the growth of India’s AVGC sector, and contribute to building a globally competitive creative workforce.”

June 26: Crude oil prices fell by up to 2% in early trading on Friday, extending losses through the week amid concerns over supply-demand imbalances and shifting global market sentiment.

Benchmark crude contracts continued to remain under pressure as investors weighed expectations of steady production levels against uncertain demand outlooks in key consuming regions. The decline has put oil prices on track for their sharpest weekly losses in recent weeks.

Market analysts said the downward trend reflects cautious trading sentiment, with participants closely tracking global economic indicators, inventory data, and production signals from major oil-producing nations.

Despite short-term volatility, energy markets remain sensitive to geopolitical developments and policy decisions that could influence future supply dynamics.

Traders are expected to monitor upcoming economic data and industry reports for further direction in global crude price movements.

New Delhi, June 26: India and the United Kingdom are exploring new opportunities to further deepen their economic and trade partnership, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.

Goyal said both countries are actively engaged in discussions aimed at expanding bilateral trade, enhancing investment flows, and identifying new areas of cooperation to strengthen the overall economic relationship.

He noted that the India–UK partnership continues to offer significant growth potential across key sectors, including technology, manufacturing, services, and innovation. According to him, ongoing engagements reflect a shared commitment to building a stronger, more balanced, and mutually beneficial trade relationship.

The minister added that closer economic cooperation between the two countries will help create new opportunities for businesses and contribute to long-term economic growth on both sides.

India and the UK have been regularly engaging through high-level dialogues to further deepen their strategic and economic ties.

Hyderabad, June 26: The 10th day of the HSBC Rugby Premier League powered by Avid Season 2 witnessed Chennai Bulls secure Semi Final qualification with a 14-14 draw against the Bengaluru Bravehearts while Delhi Redz and hosts Hyderabad Heroes secured victories at the Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Thursday.

Delhi Redz knock out Kolkata Banga Tigers 40-28

Delhi Redz made a commanding start, patiently building their attacks before Nygel Amaitsa broke through to open the scoring. Samuel Asati and Josep Serres quickly added further tries, while Hitesh Dagar extended the advantage as the Redz dominated possession and territory.

With their semi–final hopes hanging in the balance, Kolkata Banga Tigers finally found a response through Vuiviwa Naduvalo before half-time. Serres struck again after the break, but Naduvalo almost single-handedly dragged the Tigers back into the contest with two brilliant individual tries late in the third quarter. Jon Okeyo restored Delhi’s breathing space in the final period, while Naduvalo produced another moment of magic, though the Redz maintained their composure and controlled the closing stages to secure an important win.

Hyderabad Heroes overpower Mumbai Dreamers 33-0

The Heroes dictated proceedings through swift ball movement and aggressive defensive pressure, stretching the Dreamers across the width of the field. Manuel Moreno opened the scoring after a well-worked move before Taitaifono Tavita exploited space out wide to add another try.

 The Heroes continued to dominate territory in the second quarter, with Tavita crossing over again from the left wing and Francisco Cosculluela capitalising on sustained pressure as Mumbai struggled to retain possession and build phases. Although the Dreamers tightened their defence in the third quarter and limited scoring opportunities, Hyderabad maintained control through possession and field position. Ravuama Seruvakula eventually broke through in the final quarter, while the Heroes’ organised defence and superior pace prevented Mumbai from finding a way onto the scoresheet.

Chennai Bulls play out 14-14 draw with Bengaluru Bravehearts

The Bulls made the brighter start, using their physicality and quick recycling of possession to pin the Bravehearts inside their own half.

Santiago Alvarez finished off the early pressure with a well-taken try, but Bengaluru responded efficiently whenever they had the ball, with Jonas Mikalcius completing a patient attacking move to level the scores at the end of the opening quarter.

 Defences dominated the second period as both sides closed down space and disrupted attacking phases. Magomederassul Magomedov drove the Bravehearts forward after the restart, allowing Akuila Rokolisoa to finish a promising move and hand Bengaluru the advantage.

 However, Mohit Khatri responded almost immediately with a powerful run through the middle to restore parity.

 Chennai applied sustained pressure in the closing stages, but Bengaluru’s resilient defence ensured the points were shared.

Bhubaneswar, June 26: Moving forward in its mission to propagate the benefits of Ayurvedic herbs, India’s largest Science-based Ayurveda company, Dabur India Ltd, launched a campaign to promote Pudina as a wonder herb. Pudina is packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that can work wonders for the human stomach especially during the scorching summers. 

With the accelerating frequency of heatwaves & rising mercury levels, health issues have become recurrent during the summer season. Tackling these intensifying seasonal health concerns, Dabur is manifesting the use of Pudina for those who remain under the sun for the longest hours of the day and become prone to common summer diseases.

“The best management to modern day diseases are deep embedded in the manuscripts of Ayurveda. The historical background of Pudina goes back to 3,000 years and it has been christened as the Wonder Herb which is beneficial for human digestive system. The menthol present in Pudina stimulates the enzymes necessary for digestion, relaxes the muscles of the stomach, reducing the chances of indigestion and spasms. It is also known for its calming effect on stomach cramps and ability to triumph over acidity and flatulence.” said Dr. Ambika Prasad Nayak. 

Today a lot of antacids are available in market which contains harsh chemicals like aluminum/magnesium hydroxides which if taken on regular basis can have some harmful effect on health. Dabur Pudin Hara which is over 100 Yrs old brand from Dabur, is an ayurvedic solution with goodness of Pudina Satva to give fast and effective relief in all stomach problems like Gas, Indigestion, Stomach Pain and acidity.  Pudin Hara is available in multiple formats like tablets/Liquid, Powder format as Pudin Hara Fizz –which is natural remedy for acidity vs harsh chemicals. 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Sriram Padmanabhan, Director Marketing, Dabur India Ltd said: “Observing the evolving trends in lifestyles and work patterns the consumers today are continuously multi-tasking and therefore they require effective and natural solutions. Dabur, as the most trusted healthcare company, strengthens its goal of instigating traditional Ayurveda to combat daily health issues and Pudin Hara is one sure shot solution for multiple gastric disorders. Considering the numerous diseases prevalent during the summer season, Pudin Hara helps in managing stomach problems like indigestion, Gas and Acidity”.