Category: Business

Bengaluru, June 17:  Bandhan Bank today announced that it has inaugurated a dedicated Corporate Banking Branch in Mumbai, marking a significant step in strengthening its presence in the financial capital of India. The new branch located at INS Tower, BKC Mumbai, was inaugurated by Mr. Partha Pratim Sengupta, MD & CEO, Bandhan Bank, in the presence of Mr. Rajinder Kumar Babbar, ED & CBO, Mr. Ratan Kumar Kesh, ED & COO and Mr. Satish Kumar, Head-Wholesale Banking, along with other senior officials of the Bank.

This specialized Corporate Banking Branch has been designed to exclusively cater to the needs of corporate and institutional clients, offering a comprehensive suite of tailored financial solutions. The branch will focus on delivering end-to-end banking services to large corporates, mid-sized enterprises and institutional clients. By setting up a dedicated corporate banking hub in BKC, Bandhan Bank aims to deepen client relationships, enhance service delivery, and provide faster, more specialized support to its growing corporate customer base. The branch will also serve as a key centre for relationship management, structured finance solutions, and sector-specific advisory services, ensuring a high-touch, consultative approach for corporate clients.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Partha Pratim Sengupta, MD & CEO, Bandhan Bank, said “We are delighted to announce the launch of our dedicated Corporate Banking Branch at BKC. This initiative reflects our strategic focus on expanding our corporate banking franchise and providing specialized, relationship-led services to our corporate customers. As we continue to strengthen our network, we remain committed to sustainable growth and to delivering innovative, flexible banking solutions across customer segments. Our corporate banking vertical will play a key role in driving this next phase of growth.”

Bandhan Bank is currently present in 35 out of the 36 states and Union Territories in India and serves more than 3.2 crore customers through a robust network of over 6,380 banking outlets. The launch of the Corporate Banking Branch in Mumbai highlights the Bank’s commitment to diversifying its offerings and strengthening its position as a full-service bank catering to both retail and corporate clients.

As temperatures soar across the country, the Indian refrigerator is undergoing a seasonal makeover. Gone are the days when summer refreshment meant simply reaching for a cold drink. Today’s consumers are increasingly seeking beverages that do more, offering hydration, energy, wellness benefits, convenience, and even moments of indulgence.

This shift is reshaping India’s beverage landscape, with consumers gravitating toward drinks that align with their lifestyles and daily needs. Whether it’s a quick energy boost during a hectic commute, a refreshing break between meetings, or a wellness-focused addition to everyday routines, beverages are becoming more functional than ever before.

One category witnessing significant momentum is ready-to-drink coffee. As café culture continues to influence consumption habits, chilled coffee beverages have become a summer staple, particularly among Gen Z and young professionals. Products such as Tata Coffee Grand Cold Coffee are catering to this demand by offering a convenient, on-the-go coffee experience that combines refreshment with indulgence. The rise of cold coffee reflects a broader trend where consumers are looking for beverages that fit seamlessly into fast-paced lifestyles without compromising on taste. 

At the same time, wellness-oriented beverages are carving out their own space in Indian households. Fermented drinks, once considered niche, are increasingly entering the mainstream as awareness around gut health grows. Kombucha, in particular, has emerged as a preferred choice among health-conscious consumers looking for refreshing alternatives to traditional sugary beverages. Brands like Tetley Kombucha are helping introduce probiotic beverages to a wider audience, reflecting the growing importance of wellness-led consumption.

The demand for quick and effective energy replenishment remains equally strong during the summer months. Long commutes, outdoor activities, and rising temperatures have made instant-refreshment beverages a key part of everyday life. Functional drinks such as Tata Gluco+ continue to appeal to consumers seeking convenient hydration coupled with an immediate energy boost, especially during busy days spent on the move.

What ties these trends together is a larger consumer shift toward purposeful consumption. Summer beverages are no longer chosen solely for their ability to cool down the body; they are increasingly expected to support specific needs, whether that is sustained energy, better wellness, convenience, or indulgence.

Ahemedabad , June 17 :Nila Spaces, one of Gujarat’s real estate developers, is introducing IKEA-designed and furnished homes at Vida, its premium residential project in Ahmedabad. A first-of-its-kind offering for a residential project in Gujarat, it leverages IKEA’s life-at-home expertise in functional, well-designed and affordable home furnishing solutions to create a ready-to-move-in format.

At Vida, IKEA has designed show flats across studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom configurations, offering homebuyers practical inspiration for personalised spaces. New buyers will have the option to have their homes planned and furnished by IKEA, bringing together convenience, functionality and thoughtful design. This reflects a growing shift towards homes that are easier to set up and live in from the outset.

Residents will also have access to IKEA’s design expertise beyond the initial purchase, helping them plan their spaces over time. Having served customers in Ahmedabad through e-commerce since 2020, IKEA brings a strong understanding of life at home in the city and will work with homeowners to create solutions that reflect their evolving needs.

Talking about the launch Deep Vadodaria, MD & CEO, Nila Spaces, said,

“India’s real estate market is evolving rapidly, with homebuyers increasingly looking for homes that are ready to move into and easy to live in from the start. Vida brings together Nila Spaces’ understanding of residential development and IKEA’s expertise in life at home to address a gap we see in urban India, while people invest significant time and resources in buying a home, setting it up often remains a fragmented and time-consuming process. We believe there is growing demand for homes that combine thoughtful planning, functionality and design from day one. What makes this particularly interesting is the shift in consumer attitudes. Homebuyers today are increasingly embracing comfort, convenience and well-designed living experiences, moving beyond traditional concerns around standardisation. They are looking for solutions that simplify everyday life while still allowing their homes to evolve with their needs. We believe this reflects a broader change in expectations and will shape the future of residential development in India, where the focus is increasingly moving from simply delivering homes to delivering a better living experience from day one.”

Manisha Prabhu, Country Business Manager, IKEA India, said,

“At IKEA, we start with real life at home- how people cook, rest, work, and grow into their spaces over time. In a city like Ahmedabad, where more people are investing in their first or next home, there is a clear need for solutions that are practical from day one, yet flexible and lasting for years ahead. Nila Spaces are bringing that thinking into the foundation of these homes, making them easier to move into, use, and adapt as life evolves. We are excited about the opportunity that the ready-to-move-in category holds and look forward to learning alongside Nila Spaces.”

Project Highlights

●IKEA designed and furnished show flats: Studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats at Vida will showcase IKEA home furnishing solutions

●Ready-to-move-in option for buyers: New buyers can opt for homes with IKEA designed and furnished interiors at the time of purchase

●Access to IKEA design expertise: Vida residents will have access to IKEA’s design team to plan and personalise their living spaces over time

Mumbai, June 17: Most products are introduced with claims. Pahadi Story is taking a different route. Today, the Himalayan produce venture unveiled #TheTruthCampaign, an initiative built around the public release of independent laboratory findings for Truth Batch 01, its first-ever product release.

Rather than beginning with marketing promises, the campaign begins with evidence—placing laboratory analysis, traceability and transparency at the centre of the conversation.

As part of the initiative, Pahadi Story commissioned independent testing through laboratories in India and Germany, including Intertek and Bruker, to better understand the authenticity, composition and quality of the harvest sourced from forest ecosystems in Champawat, Uttarakhand. The findings are now being made publicly available for consumers to review before making a purchase decision.

Speaking on the launch of #TheTruthCampaign, Pravin Shah, Founder @ BigBrandTheory and ThePahadiStory, said, “Most products are introduced with promises. We chose to begin with questions. What exactly is inside the jar? Where does it come from? Can its story be independently verified? The answers came through the laboratory findings, and #TheTruthCampaign is our way of sharing those answers openly before asking consumers to place their trust in us. If transparency is important, it should begin before the purchase, not after it.”

The independent findings include:

• No foreign sugars or syrups detected through NMR profiling conducted in Germany.
• HMF below detection limits, indicating no measurable heat damage.
• Invertase activity approximately four times higher than the German beekeeping benchmark.
• No contaminants detected across 276 pesticides and antibiotics screened through independent testing.
• Classification as honeydew honey, a forest-derived honey type identified through laboratory analysis.

The complete laboratory reports have been made publicly available and can be accessed at:
https://www.thepahadistory.com/pages/honey-lab-test-reports 

Truth Batch 01 is a limited release of 500 numbered jars sourced from a single forest ecosystem in the Kumaon Himalayas and is now available through ThePahadiStory.com.

The idea for #TheTruthCampaign emerged during the testing process itself. What began as an effort to better understand the harvest gradually evolved into a larger question: if brands routinely ask consumers for trust, should they also make the evidence behind their products easier to access? The campaign is Pahadi Story‘s attempt to answer that question by making independent findings part of the product story from day one.

 A liquid detergent built for bucket wash redefines what modern, affordable cleaning looks like for the everyday Indian home

Kanpur, June 17: RSPL Group, one of India’s most trusted FMCG conglomerates and the maker of the iconic Ghadi detergent, has launched Ghadi Rapid Wash, a liquid detergent specially designed for everyday bucket washing. The launch marks a significant milestone in India’s home care category, addressing a long-standing consumer need by combining the trusted cleaning performance of traditional detergent powders and bars with the convenience and modern appeal of liquid detergents. With Ghadi Rapid Wash, RSPL aims to redefine the daily laundry experience for millions of Indian households while driving the next phase of innovation in the detergent segment.

The launch took place in Kanpur, the birthplace of Ghadi’s enduring legacy. Aimed at driving mass awareness and reshaping consumer perceptions of liquid detergent, the event brought together key stakeholders and brand associates to celebrate and champion this landmark innovation in the laundry care category.

For generations, Indian households have trusted the bucket-and-hand washing method as part of their daily laundry routine. Recognising the evolving needs of homemakers, Ghadi is making the convenience and effectiveness of liquid detergents more accessible than ever before. With the launch of Ghadi Rapid Wash, consumers can now enjoy a powerful, easy-to-use liquid detergent solution that combines superior cleaning performance with affordability—bringing the benefits of modern laundry care within reach of every household.

Powered by Rapid Release Technology, Ghadi Rapid Wash dissolves instantly in water, penetrating deep into every fibre of the fabric to lift stubborn stains with significantly less scrubbing effort — delivering the thorough clean that Indian consumers expect, now in a format that is as easy to use as it is effective.

Rahul Gyanchandani, Joint Managing Director, RSPL Group said, “The Indian consumer has always aspired to upgrade, but the market never gave them a liquid detergent that suited the way they actually wash clothes. Ghadi Rapid Wash is our answer to that gap — a product that brings together the best of both worlds: the cleaning muscle and trust that generations have associated with Ghadi, the convenience and innovation of a modern liquid detergent format, at a price point that makes it truly accessible. With this launch, we are bringing our legacy of delivering effective, value-driven solutions into a new era of laundry care, where tradition meets innovation to serve the evolving needs of Indian households.”

At the heart of Ghadi Rapid Wash lies a commitment to democratizing liquid detergents for Indian households. Priced at an accessible ₹85 for a 900ml pouch, the product makes the transition to liquid detergent both affordable and practical for millions of consumers—delivering superior cleaning performance without compromising on quality or value. To suit varied preferences, Ghadi Rapid Wash is also available in other smaller, affordable pack sizes: ₹5 for a 35ml trial pack (for one bucket wash) and a ₹10 Judwaa pack containing two 40ml sachets (80ml total), ideal for two bucket washes. These variations will expand access across regions, bringing the benefits of liquid detergent to more Indian homes.

RSPL Group’s deep understanding of mass-market consumer needs is reflected in a solution that combines affordability, convenience, and performance, while seamlessly aligning with the everyday purchasing habits of Indian families.

LONDON, June 17: Global shipments of XR headwear will decline by 12% to 6.2 million units in 2026, according to the latest forecast from Omdia. However, the market is expected to return to growth in 2027, reaching 6.5 million units, an increase of 4.8%. This recovery will be driven by the rapid expansion of XR glasses, offsetting declines in headset shipments, as both consumers and manufacturers increasingly favor lighter form factors over bulkier devices.

The tethered XR glasses segment, led by Chinese vendors like RayNeo and Xreal, is projected to reach 900,000 units in 2026 – a 19% increase – and maintain double-digit growth to reach 3.8 million units by 2030. Meanwhile, standalone XR glasses remain a relatively small segment, largely confined to enterprise and developer use, with shipments forecast to reach just 93,000 units in 2026. However, the category is expected to grow rapidly over the next five years as hardware matures and spatial computing capabilities improve.

XR headwear is part of the wider intelligent headwear market as defined by Omdia, which also includes AI glasses. “Following three years of rapid growth, AI glasses have begun normalizing face-worn computing for daily use,” said George Jijiashvili, Senior Principal Analyst at Omdia. “This growing consumer familiarity is directly fueling the XR glasses segment, laying groundwork for an industry-wide evolution toward slimmer glasses form factors.”

The standalone XR headset category, which includes the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, is projected to decline 15% in 2026 to 4.7 million shipments, with contractions continuing into 2027, marking a fifth consecutive year of decline for the category since its pandemic-induced peak in 2021/22. A return to growth is predicted in 2028, with shipments forecast to rise to 5 million units.

This recovery relies on Apple introducing a more accessible Vision Pro around 2028, acting as the catalyst for players like Samsung and Vivo to make a more competitive push. Without these developments, growth prospects for the segment remain uncertain. Meanwhile, tethered headsets continue their steep decline, dropping 34% in 2026 to 500,000 units as standalone alternatives displace them.

“Despite maturing technology, bulky XR headsets struggle to demonstrate everyday utility for mainstream consumers,” noted Qiran Ju, Senior Analyst at Omdia. “Meta has prioritized AI glasses, while Google signaled a similar direction through emphasis on XR glasses at I/O 2026. Lighter form factors are better positioned to gain widespread consumer acceptance and steer the future of XR development.”

Competition opens on the heels of a successful Berlin hackathon as developer momentum behind x402 payments accelerates

DOVER, DELAWARE, June 17:  The Algorand Foundation today launched the Global x402 Challenge, a five-month competition for developers building x402-powered, pay-per-request API services on Algorand mainnet.

The announcement follows the Algorand Builders Berlin: Agentic Commerce x402 Hackathon on June 6-7, where more than 100 builders gathered in Berlin for a 36-hour build sprint. Winning builds ranged from an agentic trust layer for regulated finance to a peer-to-peer energy market where an EV agent settles solar power purchases in real time, with no checkout step required.

x402 is an open protocol that embeds payment logic directly into HTTP requests. Originally developed by Coinbase, it enables AI agents and services to transact per call without API keys or billing infrastructure. Algorand’s instant finality and low transaction fees make it particularly well-suited as the settlement layer for high-frequency agent payments at scale.

To enter the Global x402 Challenge, developers must deploy a paid x402 endpoint on Algorand Mainnet. Usage is tracked automatically via the GoPlausible facilitator on a public leaderboard. The top 50 qualify for 10 finalist spots, who will present live (in-person or virtually) at Devcon 8 India. The top five finalists share $100,000 USD, with an additional 500,000 ALGO split across the top 20 endpoints on the leaderboard. Full eligibility requirements, prize terms, and conditions are set out in the Official Rules; the Challenge is void where prohibited and is not open to residents of sanctioned or otherwise restricted jurisdictions. 

June 17: Sensodyne, the leading oral care brand from Haleon, has launched the Pronamel Kids toothpaste in India, designed with dentists just for kids. Available in two exciting flavours – Strawberry and Bubble Mint for children aged 2+ years, Pronamel Kids is specially designed to help strengthen kids’ enamel^ and provides 24hr cavity protection. It has 100% natural flavours and is free from sugars. Aligned with Haleon’s purpose of delivering better everyday health, the launch marks Haleon’s foray into the children’s oral care segment in India.

With kids’ tooth enamel being up to 50% thinner than that of adults#, milk teeth are at a higher risk of cavities due to consumption of sugary foods, juices, and frequent snacking. If left unprotected, this can set the stage for cavities impacting health of kids dentition for future. Pronamel Kids addresses this critical gap with a gentle formulation designed for everyday use.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Kishlay Seth, Marketing Director – OHC, Haleon India Subcontinent, said, “Pronamel Kids builds on the strong foundation we have established with Pronamel in India. It is designed to help strengthen enamel^ and provide 24-hour cavity protection. Children’s toothpaste plays a critical role in early oral care. Milk teeth have thinner enamel and are more vulnerable to cavities, which can impact the development of permanent teeth. Early protection is essential to ensure that permanent teeth emerge healthy and strong. Awareness of the need for preventive, child-specific oral care remains limited. We aim to empower parents to adopt proactive oral care habits for their children, supporting strong enamel and healthy teeth for the future.”

To support the launch, Sensodyne is rolling out a consumer awareness campaign for Pronamel Kids across YouTube, Instagram, and leading OTT platforms. The campaign is designed to reach parents directly, spotlighting the heightened vulnerability of children’s enamel and the importance of specialized protection from an early age. By combining education with practical solutions, it aims to empower families to adopt proactive oral care routines tailored to children’s evolving needs. Pronamel Kids will be available across general trade, modern trade, and e-commerce platforms across India.

Keturah founder says the onus is now on developers to match the vision behind the new longevity authority

Dubai, UAE, June 17: Luxury developer Keturah has welcomed the establishment of the new Dubai Longevity Authority, saying it shows the emirate leading the world in how cities are designed around how people live and thrive.

Talal M. Al Gaddah, CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand, says developers in Dubai now have a key role to play in supporting the initiative by creating the homes and environments that make life better.

The Dubai Longevity Authority has been established to develop the emirate as the world’s leading hub for regulated longevity, wellness and advanced healthcare, and open up channels for investment in the sector.

“This is exactly the kind of institutional commitment that sets Dubai apart,” said Al Gaddah. “A dedicated government body with a clear mandate to lead the world in longevity and wellness sends a message that resonates well beyond the healthcare sector.

“Developers in Dubai now have a framework to align with and a standard to meet. The residents who will live in the communities we are creating today deserve homes that reflect the same ambition the new authority represents; homes that make life better, and allow people to thrive.”

Keturah has two luxury residential communities under development in Dubai which place wellness and healthy living at the heart of their design, construction and the everyday experience of the people who will call them home.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Keturah Resort, on the shores of Dubai Creek adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, will be the Middle East’s first fully wellness-certified resort.

With creek-side mansions, apartments, a Ritz-Carlton boutique hotel and a standalone wellness centre, the resort is certified by Delos, the US-based wellness real estate and technology firm, and the International WELL Building Institute.

Keturah Reserve, the AED5.7 billion bio-living community under development in Mohammed Bin Rashid City’s District 7, is the first development in the region to integrate wellness science into residential architecture at scale.

AED200 million has been invested in proprietary antimicrobial tiling, breathable wall systems and zero-VOC finishes which actively inhibit bacteria, regulate humidity and eliminate harmful airborne chemicals, creating homes where every surface contributes to healthier indoor living.

“The onus is on developers to ensure that the vision the Dubai Longevity Authority represents is reflected in every decision we make, from the materials we specify to the communities we design and the standards we build to,” says Al Gaddah.

“Dubai is setting a standard the world will follow, and we have an opportunity to help define what healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives look like for generations to come.”