Category: Business

New Delhi: India’s national shipping fleet has crossed a major milestone, surpassing 14.2 million Gross Tonnage (GT) for the first time, supported by the addition of 92 new vessels during FY 2025–26.

Officials said the sharp expansion reflects a significant boost in the country’s maritime strength, with vessel additions recording a threefold increase in tonnage growth compared to previous periods.

 Pic Credit: Pexel

The development is seen as a key step towards enhancing India’s presence in global shipping and reducing dependence on foreign fleets. It also aligns with the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, aimed at strengthening self-reliance in critical strategic sectors.

Experts note that the rising fleet capacity will improve cargo handling capability, support trade efficiency, and enhance India’s competitiveness in international maritime logistics.

With sustained investments and policy support, the shipping sector is expected to play an increasingly important role in driving trade growth and strengthening India’s blue economy ambitions.

HOLMDEL, N.J. and CHICAGO – Apr. 10 – Litera, a leading legal AI platform provider that unifies the practice and business of law, announced the promotion of Priyanka Singh to Executive Vice President, Operations & Chief Financial Officer. Since joining Litera one year ago as CFO, Priyanka has expanded her impact beyond financial leadership, overseeing support and services, legal, and HR, and playing a central role in the company’s operational transformation. Her elevated title reflects the scope she has taken on, and the transformation she has led, helping reshape the company into a customer‑first organization and redefining how Litera partners with customers.

“From day one, Priyanka has shown a relentless drive to do right by our customers, and that commitment is showing up where it matters most,” said Avaneesh Marwaha, CEO of Litera. “What sets Priyanka apart is that she never stops at the balance sheet. She brings a CFO’s discipline to every corner of the business, and it’s her genuine care for our customers that has truly set the tone. Sentiment in the market is up, and Priyanka’s promotion reflects the direct impact her leadership has had on delivering the operational foundation behind our mission to pave the path for the future of law.”

Priyanka brings more than 20 years of experience in financial strategy, operations, and organizational transformation to her expanded role. Her background spans public and private companies focused on SaaS, mergers, and acquisitions at Togetherwork, Global Payments Inc., Heartland Payment Systems, and several verticals at General Electric. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA).

During her first year at Litera, Priyanka has also been instrumental in the company’s return-to-office initiative, overseeing the opening of seven offices and building a culture of in-person collaboration that employees are choosing to embrace. That cultural shift reflects her broader leadership philosophy that strategy only works when it translates into concrete priorities at every level of the organization.

“Litera is at an exciting point in its growth,” said Priyanka Singh. “The opportunity in front of us to help law firms unify the practice and business of law through AI requires operational excellence and a dedication to customers that matches our technology ambition. I’m energized by what we’ve built in the past year, and even more so by what we’re positioned to build for the next decade on a foundation of 30 years of unmatched legal expertise along with our rapid pace of innovation.”

Litera’s pedigree of 30 years of legal expertise, combined with the AI capabilities embedded across its platform through Lito, its award-winning legal AI agent, positions the company as the only legal AI platform built to unify the practice and business of law. Priyanka’s expanded role strengthens the operational foundation to execute that vision.

New Delhi,Apr 10 (BNP): Shares of India’s largest IT services company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) came under pressure on Friday, falling over 3% in early trade after its March quarter results failed to meet investor expectations.

 The stock declined by about 3.25% to ₹2,503.45 on the BSE, while on the NSE it slipped nearly 3.24% to ₹2,505, reflecting broad-based selling pressure following the earnings announcement.

Investor sentiment turned cautious as the results did not provide strong triggers for fresh buying, leading to profit booking in the heavyweight IT stock.

Market participants said the reaction indicates muted near-term expectations from the IT sector, which continues to face global demand uncertainties and margin pressures.

Despite the decline, analysts note that TCS remains a key benchmark stock for the Indian IT industry, and its performance is closely tracked for broader sector cues.

Gurugram, April 10: Samsung, announced the expansion of its Bespoke AI Top-Mount Freezer refrigerator line-up. This new range is designed to bring intelligent energy-saving and modern aesthetics to Indian homes. The refrigerators, which boast a sleek Bespoke design, incorporate advanced AI features, smart connectivity, and reliable performance.

 In this new range of refrigerators, select models in 256L and 236L capacities come with Wi-Fi connectivity to seamlessly integrate with SmartThings for convenient control and monitoring via your smartphone. These models feature a sleek flat-door design, along with Power Cool and Power Freeze functions for quick cooling. In alignment with the best of industry standards, they are built to deliver reliable performance while saving electricity.

“As Samsung marks its 30th anniversary in India, we continue to innovate and deliver smarter and more energy-efficient solutions for Indian consumers. Our new AI-enabled refrigerators under 300L capacity, including the Bespoke AI Top Mount Freezer, bring SmartThings connectivity, modern design, and better energy management to Indian households. This reflects our commitment to democratising AI technology and delivering accessible, tailored solutions,” said Ghufran Alam, Vice President, Digital Appliances Business, Samsung India.

The new refrigerator line-up allows consumers to track and adjust refrigerator settings through the SmartThings app. This enables greater control over cooling performance and day-to-day usage, even when users are away from home. To enhance appliance reliability, SmartThings Home Care monitors refrigerator performance and automatically notifies users if any issue is detected or when parts may require attention.

AI Energy Mode for Smarter Energy Management

The Bespoke AI refrigerators are equipped with AI Energy Mode that analyses usage patterns and estimates power consumption to help reduce energy usage by up to 10%. Consumers can also track electricity consumption on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis through SmartThings Energy for informed energy management.

Smart Alerts with Software Updates

The refrigerators provide door-open notifications through the SmartThings app to prevent loss of cold air. With Smart Forward, the refrigerator receives regular software updates so features remain up to date over time.

Sleek Flat Door Design

All models in the Bespoke AI Top Mount Freezer range feature flat doors for a clean, elegant, and modern aesthetic that aligns with contemporary home interior trends. The minimalist styling seamlessly integrates the refrigerator into today’s kitchen spaces. Select models in the Bespoke AI Top Mount Freezer range offer convertible 2-in-1 functionality that allow users to convert the freezer into additional refrigerator space whenever more storage is required.

Energy Efficiency Aligned with Standards

All models in the Bespoke AI TMF refrigerator range comply with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) guidelines for 2026–2028. Samsung is among the few brands to offer 3-star refrigerators under the revised BEE norms to help consumers benefit from improved energy efficiency while meeting future regulatory requirements.

All Around Cooling

The refrigerators are equipped with All Around Cooling technology, which checks temperature and circulates cool air evenly through strategically placed vents for consistent cooling and long-lasting freshness across every shelf.

For faster cooling needs, Power Cool and Power Freeze functions enable quick chilling of beverages and faster firming of frozen foods at the touch of a button. The refrigerator also features a dedicated Fresh Room, designed to store dairy products, fruits and beverages at a slightly cooler and more stable temperature than the main fridge compartment. In the event of power interruptions, the Cool Pack in the freezer helps prevent food from defrosting, keeping food frozen for up to 12 hours.

Limited Period Launch Offer

Samsung Care+ gives consumers peace of mind with extra protection for their appliances. You can choose plans ranging from one to four years, starting at just INR 3 per day. It includes access to expert service from 13,000+ certified engineers and 2,500+ service centres for quick and reliable repairs. You can also track services and get reminders through the Samsung app.

For the new Bespoke AI Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator, there is a special offer: Buy a one-year extended plan and get a free two-year extended warranty, giving you four years of total coverage. This offer is valid from April 8 to May 31, 2026.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): Gold and silver prices edged lower on Friday in the domestic futures market, as investors booked profits and demand for safe-haven assets eased.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures fell by around 0.5–1%, touching an intraday low of ₹1,52,561 per 10 grams. The yellow metal later recovered slightly but continued to trade weaker during the session.

Silver futures also came under pressure, declining about 0.7% to an intraday low of ₹2,42,067 per kilogram, compared to the previous close.

During the trading session, gold hit a high of ₹1,52,990 per 10 grams before slipping again, while silver also saw intraday volatility.

Market analysts said the decline was mainly driven by profit-taking at higher levels, along with a temporary reduction in safe-haven buying interest.

Despite the dip, traders continue to watch global cues and currency movements closely, which are likely to influence precious metal prices in the coming sessions.

NEW ORLEANS, LA — April 9, 2026— WhereWeGo, a leading workforce technology company founded by former educators, today announced the launch of WhereWeGo Labs, a new initiative to build fast, free workforce tools around real problems workers and workforce organizations face every day. 

The initiative responds to a growing gap in the workforce ecosystem: too often, tools are slow to build, expensive to maintain and ultimately underutilized after launch. The workforce field generates an enormous amount of research, reports and strategy documents, but relatively few lightweight tools that translate those ideas into practical use for workers. AI now makes it possible to build those tools much faster and cheaper. WhereWeGo Labs will launch new workforce tools every 30 days and is inviting workers, workforce practitioners, training providers and partners to suggest problems the team should tackle next. 

“Everyone recognizes the need to fill jobs in high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing, yet most people would struggle to name even three of the roles in that field,” said Ben Ifshin, co-founder and CEO of WhereWeGo. “That is exactly the kind of gap WhereWeGo Labs is built to tackle. We’re launching fast, building in public, and inviting workers, practitioners, and partners to tell us what problems we should solve next.

Founded by two former public high school teachers, WhereWeGo has built digital platforms that have helped more than three million Americans explore careers, training programs and career pathways. The company’s work spans multiple regions and partners, with a focus on connecting workers, employers and training providers.  

WhereWeGo Labs is built around two core goals: showing that useful workforce tools can now be built faster and more affordably, and tackling real problems faced by workers and workforce organizations whether or not they fit a traditional business case. 

Initial tools currently in development, along with examples of the kinds of problems the WhereWeGo Labs initiative is designed to tackle, include: 

• Training Program Navigation for Mississippi: Workers often struggle to find clear, trustworthy information about local training options. This tool helps people explore Mississippi training programs through a searchable, filterable experience built around the questions real workers are actually asking. 

• Industry Clarity Score: Some industries have major opportunities, but from a worker’s perspective they can still feel opaque, fragmented or hard to enter. This tool evaluates how clear an industry is for workers by assessing barriers to entry, visibility into roles and pathways, and how easy it is to understand the steps needed to get started. 

• “Am I Cooked?”: As AI reshapes the labor market, many workers have little clarity about whether their role is vulnerable or what to do next. This interactive tool helps individuals assess career risk and identify adjacent pathways using the latest research on AI-driven job displacement. 

• Workforce Pell Eligibility Check: Many training providers and institutions are trying to understand whether their programs may qualify under emerging Workforce Pell guidelines. This tool helps them quickly assess eligibility questions in a policy environment that is still evolving. 

• Can a Mom Actually Work Here: Many workplaces say they support families, but workers with caregiving responsibilities often face hidden barriers in practice. This tool helps organizations evaluate how supportive their workplace is and identify concrete ways to improve. 

The launch of WhereWeGo Labs builds on the company’s broader approach: combining research, user data and real-world application to create light and easy-to-use tools that help to connect individuals with the right training and career pathways. 
 
“When you build out in the open, you give your products a chance to evolve and get tangible feedback from real workers and practitioners,” said Leah Lykins, co-founder and chief product officer of WhereWeGo. “Our approach is to act fast, embrace imperfection and use real-world feedback to refine our tools. This means that we have a much greater chance of solving the problems that are real barriers for workers and those who try to serve them.” 
 
The company’s latest report, informed by years of platform data, user behavior insights and work with workforce organizations across the country, highlights ongoing challenges in career navigation, training discovery and system complexity. WhereWeGo Labs extends that work by putting those insights into practice.  
 
WhereWeGo invites workers, training providers, workforce organizations and other partners to explore the first WhereWeGo Labs tools and submit ideas for future builds. To learn more, visit labs.wherewego.org. 

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): At a time of “unprecedented volatility” in the global economy, Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, has called on Indian industry to focus on safeguarding jobs, strengthening balance sheets, and making strategic investments to stay prepared for future challenges.

Speaking at the All-India Management Association National Leadership Conclave in New Delhi, where he was also conferred the Public Service Excellence Award, he delivered a keynote address titled “Turning Turbulence into Triumph: India’s Journey Through Crises.”

He said businesses must prioritise building organisational resilience, redesigning supply chains, and reducing overdependence on vulnerable networks. Companies—especially exporters—should also diversify into new markets and invest in skilling their workforce to improve adaptability.

“These measures are essential for ensuring long-term sustainability and enabling future growth for Indian industry,” he noted.

His remarks come amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which have begun affecting global supply chains and pushing up input costs for Indian manufacturers. Crude oil prices have also surged sharply, adding inflationary pressure on businesses.

Recent data from S&P Global shows that manufacturing input costs have risen at their fastest pace in nearly four years, while new orders have slowed to their weakest level since mid-2022.

Against this backdrop, he underlined the importance of energy security, self-reliance, and diversification as key pillars for sustaining India’s economic momentum in an uncertain global environment.

Most Indian families trust their water purifier to deliver safe drinking water. The appliance is installed, serviced periodically, and assumed to be doing its job.

But many households don’t realise a serious risk: the purifier may still be working, but the filter inside it may have been replaced with a spurious or low-grade substitute. The machine looks the same, water flows normally, yet filtration performance may be compromised.

Counterfeit and generic filters have rapidly spread through India’s unorganised service market. During routine servicing, genuine OEM filters are sometimes swapped for cheaper alternatives that fit the unit but fail to remove harmful contaminants effectively. The consumer often remains unaware.

“Clarity is not a measure of safety. Water free of visible impurities can still carry pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants at concentrations that pose serious health risks. A spurious filter creates the appearance of protection while allowing the most harmful substances to pass through unchecked and that false assurance is often more dangerous than no filter at all.” Dr. Anil Kumar,Scientist, Eureka Forbes

Multiple studies across Indian cities have found drinking water samples exceeding permissible limits for contaminants such as nitrates, arsenic, and chemical pollutants. Even treated municipal water can pick up impurities while travelling through ageing pipelines. In this environment, a purifier is only as reliable as its filter.

Genuine vs spurious filters

Genuine Aquaguard Nanopore Long-Life Filters are designed to remove pesticides, heavy metals, microplastics, viruses, and bacteria through precision-engineered pore structures.

Independent testing has shown that ordinary filters can lose performance rapidly, sometimes within months, allowing contaminants to pass through long before the consumer expects a replacement.

Signs your filter may be failing

· Metallic or musty taste in water

· Slower water flow

· Cloudy output

· Filter alerts ignored or reset without verified replacement

How to stay protected

· Ask to see the filter packaging before installation

· Check for Aquaguard branding and the unique QR code

· Scan the QR code to confirm authenticity

· Book service only through Eureka Forbes’ official app, website, or customer care

Insist on genuine.

Insist on authorised.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): Godrej Properties Ltd has reported a strong performance for the last financial year, with its pre-sales rising 16% to a record ₹34,171 crore, driven by robust demand for housing projects across key markets.

 The company not only surpassed its own target of ₹32,500 crore but also strengthened its position in the sector. With this growth, it is on track to become the largest listed real estate developer in India in terms of sales bookings during FY26.

The impressive numbers reflect sustained buyer interest, especially in urban housing, as well as the company’s focus on launching well-located, high-demand residential projects. Its ability to consistently deliver and maintain brand trust has also played a key role in attracting homebuyers.

This milestone highlights how Godrej Properties is scaling up rapidly in India’s competitive real estate market, combining strong execution with favorable housing demand to cement its leadership position.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected that India’s economy will continue to grow at a healthy pace, estimating GDP growth at 6.9% for the current financial year and 7.3% for the next.

Pic Credit: Pexel 

The outlook is supported by strong domestic demand, improving financial conditions, and relatively lower US tariffs on Indian goods. These factors are expected to help sustain momentum despite global uncertainties.

At the same time, the ADB has flagged potential risks. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East could impact India’s economy by driving up energy prices, disrupting trade, and affecting remittance flows from the region.

Overall, the report reflects confidence in India’s growth story, while highlighting the need to stay alert to external challenges.