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Mumbai, Apr 28 (BNP): The Indian rupee slipped in early trade on Tuesday, losing 24 paise to touch 94.39 against the US dollar, as pressure from rising crude oil prices and month-end dollar demand weighed on the currency.

Dealers said the rupee remained under strain due to higher global oil prices, which tend to increase India’s import bill and widen external account concerns. At the same time, sustained demand for the US dollar from importers added to the downward pressure.

Market sentiment was also influenced by a cautious global environment, with investors showing a preference for safe-haven assets amid ongoing international uncertainties.

Overall, currency traders expect volatility to continue in the near term, with movements likely to be guided by crude oil trends, foreign fund flows, and global risk sentiment.

Roorkee, Apr 28: IIT Roorkee Hosts IDE Bootcamp 2026 (Edition 3 – Phase II) in Collaboration with AICTE, Wadhwani Foundation, and SBI Foundation. The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, through its Technology Innovation and Development of Entrepreneurship Society (TIDES), has commenced the Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship (IDE) Bootcamp 2026 – Edition 3 (Phase II).

The bootcamp is being conducted under the aegis of the All India Council for Technical Education, with Wadhwani Foundation as the Knowledge Partner and SBI Foundation as the Organising Partner.

The IDE Bootcamp 2026 is a flagship national initiative conducted in three phases across 30 locations, aiming to engage nearly 6,500 students from higher education institutions nationwide. Phase I (6th–10th April 2026) was successfully completed across 13 locations, while Phase II is currently underway at 13 locations, including IIT Roorkee. Phase III is scheduled from 11th to 15th May 2026.

The central theme of this edition, “Design Can Be the Greatest Change Agent for Development,” emphasises the transformative role of design thinking in solving real-world challenges. The bootcamp provides participants with a hands-on learning environment focused on problem-solving, innovation, product design, and the development of investment-ready startup pitches.

The program includes expert-led sessions, mentorship, exposure visits, and interactive workshops. Key highlights include exposure to innovation ecosystems, sessions on funding opportunities, government grants, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), as well as a final pitching session on Day 5.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Azam Ali Khan, CEO, TIDES IIT Roorkee, emphasised the importance of fostering innovation ecosystems within academic institutions and of encouraging students to translate ideas into impactful solutions aligned with national priorities.

Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, highlighted the institute’s commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that such initiatives empower students to become job creators and contribute meaningfully to the startup ecosystem.

Gopakumar Vishwanathan from the Wadhwani Foundation and Mohammad Mustkeem from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) also participated in the bootcamp as expert speakers.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Sai Ramudu Meka, IIT Roorkee, who appreciated the collaborative efforts of AICTE, partner organisations, mentors, and participants in making the bootcamp a success.

Launched in 2023 by the Hon’ble Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the IDE Bootcamp continues to play a significant role in strengthening India’s innovation and startup ecosystem by empowering young minds.

~Goa’s tourism minister, Rohan A. Khaunte focuses on high-value tourism, culture-led experiences, and segments like wellness, sports and tech tourism to drive next phase of growth~

Jaipur, Apr 28: Goa is positioning itself as a 365-day tourism destination, expanding beyond its traditional beach appeal to offer a year-round calendar of festivals, cultural experiences and emerging tourism segments, at the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) held in Jaipur from April 26–28.

The shift is driven by a clear objective, to extend the shelf-life of tourism in the state, attract higher-value travellers, and ensure consistent footfall across seasons rather than peak-driven influxes. By building a diverse mix of experiences across the year, Goa aims to move from a seasonal destination to a sustained, high-value tourism ecosystem.

At the heart of this strategy is the “Goa beyond beaches” narrative, with the state actively curating a robust calendar of festivals and cultural experiences that reflect its rich heritage. From traditional celebrations such as the Chikhal Kalo to flagship showcases like Spirit of Goa and a growing portfolio of community-led and seasonal festivals, the state is creating multiple entry points for travellers across the year. This is complemented by a strong push towards monsoon tourism, positioning Goa as an immersive, experiential destination even beyond the peak winter months.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 15th edition of GITB, Rohan A. Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of Goa, said, “Goa offers a strong value advantage over other global destination hubs. Inspired by initiatives like Dekho Apna Desh and with the continued support of Hon’ble Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, our focus is on positioning Goa as a globally competitive, year-round destination, one that not only delivers consistent value to travellers and partners, but also strengthens India’s presence in high-value tourism segments and drives sustainable, long-term growth for the sector.”

The state is also expanding into high-value and emerging tourism segments, including MICE, weddings, wellness and Ayurveda, while simultaneously building newer avenues such as sports tourism, culinary tourism and workation-led travel. With a growing focus on attracting Gen Z and experience-driven travellers, Goa is leveraging its evolving ecosystem to appeal to a younger, more global audience.

A key pillar of this strategy is the emphasis on wellness and Ayurveda tourism, with curated experiences that combine traditional healing practices with premium hospitality. Alongside this, Goa is strengthening its positioning in the MICE segment, aiming to play a leading role in increasing India’s global market share, supported by its infrastructure, connectivity and cost competitiveness.

Safety remains a key priority, with focused measures to enhance women’s safety and overall traveller security, further strengthening Goa’s positioning as a safe and welcoming destination.

To support this growth, the state continues to invest in connectivity and international market expansion. Building on strong charter traffic, Goa is opening up new routes and strengthening ties with emerging markets such as Kazakhstan, while also introducing airline incentive schemes to boost international arrivals.

Equally, Goa is embedding principles of regenerative tourism into its long-term strategy, promoting hinterland experiences, encouraging community participation, and ensuring that tourism growth contributes meaningfully to local economies while preserving cultural and environmental integrity, laying the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient tourism future.

–

New Delhi, Apr 28 (BNP): The gems and jewellery industry has welcomed the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand, calling it a major step toward expanding exports and strengthening India’s global position.

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said the agreement will create new opportunities for exporters by providing zero-duty access to the New Zealand market.

Currently, India exports gems and jewellery worth around $16.61 million to New Zealand. With the FTA in place, exports are expected to grow significantly to nearly $50 million over the next three years.

Industry Perspective

Kirit Bhansali, Chairman of GJEPC, said the agreement comes at an important time when global markets are uncertain and businesses are looking to diversify.

He noted that India’s ongoing trade agreements are helping reduce reliance on traditional markets such as the US and the GCC region, while opening doors to newer regions like Oceania.

Key Benefits of the FTA

• Zero-duty access for Indian jewellery exports
• Improved competitiveness against countries like China and Thailand
• Higher export potential, especially in gold, silver, platinum, and fashion jewellery
• Increased investment opportunities in the sector
• Market diversification into Oceania, including Australia and Fiji

Growth Opportunities

New Zealand’s high per capita jewellery consumption makes it a promising market for Indian exporters. The FTA is expected not only to boost trade but also to strengthen long-term economic ties between the two countries.

Industry experts believe this agreement will support sustainable growth, improve market share, and make the sector more resilient in a changing global environment.

Mumbai, Apr 28 (BNP): SBI General Insurance has reported a robust financial performance for FY26, registering strong growth well above the industry average and further strengthening its position in India’s general insurance sector.

The company posted a Gross Direct Premium (GDP) of ₹15,904 crore, marking a year-on-year growth of 14.5%. This performance represents a key milestone, as the insurer surpassed the ₹15,000 crore premium mark since its inception.

Demonstrating sustained momentum, SBI General Insurance grew at 1.6 times the industry rate, reflecting its focused strategy, diversified product portfolio, and expanding customer base across retail and corporate segments.

The company’s growth was supported by strong distribution capabilities, digital innovation, and continued emphasis on customer-centric solutions. Its performance also highlights increasing insurance penetration and rising awareness among customers in both urban and emerging markets.

Industry observers note that the company’s ability to consistently outperform peers underscores its operational efficiency and strategic execution in a competitive landscape.

Going forward, SBI General Insurance aims to build on this momentum by enhancing its digital ecosystem, expanding distribution networks, and introducing innovative insurance solutions tailored to evolving customer needs.

GURUGRAM, INDIA| Apr 28 — Unlimit, the global financial infrastructure for the borderless economy, has partnered with Brevistay to rebuild the financial nervous system for India’s high-velocity travel market. By plugging into Unlimit’s unified programmable layer, Brevistay is eliminating the structural friction of India’s fragmented payment landscape, gaining instant, frictionless access to UPI and global card networks through a singular infrastructure integration.

In a unique global paradox, financial infrastructure is rapidly consolidating into primary layers, yet consumer payment methods are becoming more hyper-localised and fragmented than ever. For a high-frequency platform like Brevistay, where micro-stays demand micro-precision, the challenge is maintaining global-standard reliability across these fragmented local rails. Unlimit solves this by abstracting the complexity of the Indian ecosystem into a high-octane operating layer, turning geographical and technical barriers into a seamless stream of value.

“For Brevistay, payments are not a service; they are the critical circulatory system of their business,” said Irene Skrynova, CEO, Global Payments at Unlimit. “By providing Brevistay access to our primary financial infrastructure, we are enabling scale across borders without the operational debt of fragmented systems.”

Brevistay’s model, offering flexible, on-demand room bookings, requires a payment experience that matches the speed of the modern traveller. Unlimit’s architecture ensures that time-to-market collapses from months to configuration time, allowing Brevistay to operate with the precision of a global leader while mastering the local friction of the Indian market.

“Payments must move at the speed of the booking journey itself,” said Nikhil Kumar Pathak, CTO & Co-Founder at Brevistay. “Unlimit provides the powerful infrastructure rails we need to simplify India’s payment complexity. They have given us the architectural freedom to scale without being held back by the limitations of legacy financial stacks.”

As Brevistay prepares for its next phase of expansion, Unlimit’s hard-won regulatory depth and global license portfolio ensure that international growth is no longer a matter of geography, but a matter of code.

New Delhi, Apr 28 (BNP): Investment demand for gold in India rose sharply, accounting for 42 per cent of total consumption in CY25 compared to 29 per cent in CY24, according to CareEdge Ratings.

The increase was driven by strong inflows into gold ETFs and higher demand for bars and coins, reflecting investor preference for safe-haven assets amid global uncertainty.

Globally, gold investment demand surged to a record 2,175 metric tonnes in CY25, surpassing the previous peak of 1,805 metric tonnes in CY20. ETF investments contributed over 800 metric tonnes to the total.

The report attributed the trend to diversification needs, volatile market conditions, and rising geopolitical risks, which have boosted gold’s appeal among investors.