Business

14 Apr

Sunrise Spices taps AI to boost festive engagement this Bihu season

Business BureauBusiness

ITC’s Sunrise Spices has rolled out a tech-driven initiative this Rongali Bihu, unveiling an AI-powered image filter that allows users to transform selfies into vibrant, Bihu-themed portraits featuring traditional Assamese attire. The move blends cultural celebration with digital innovation, aiming to enhance consumer engagement and brand visibility during one of Assam’s most cherished festivals. The filter, accessible via QR code or clickable link, offers users across India an opportunity to immerse themselves in Bihu festivities, regardless of location. This strategy aligns with Sunrise’s broader objective to connect with younger, tech-savvy audiences while staying rooted in tradition. With this innovative approach,…

14 Apr

Philips makes sure every outfit is flawless, fresh, and celebration-ready with its ‘Steam It Up’ campaign

Business BureauBusiness

Ahead of the festive Bihu season, Philips has launched its ‘Steam It Up’ campaign in Northeast India, introducing the Philips STH5000 Handheld Steamer as the ultimate style solution for celebration-ready outfits. Featuring regional icons Aimee Baruah, Nishita Goswami, and Barsharani Bishaya, the campaign positions the handheld steamer as an essential tool for quick, crease-free touch-ups on traditional and contemporary ensembles. With a swift 30-second heat-up time and a powerful 24g/min steam output, the Philips STH5000 is designed for convenience, especially for delicate fabrics like the Mekhela Chador and silk kurtas. Nishita Goswami also visited top regional retailers, Electrocity and Maitree,…

14 Apr

Sunrise Spices launches ‘Smritir Rongali’ to celebrate Assam’s cultural heritage and strengthen regional engagement

Business BureauBusiness

ITC Sunrise Spices has announced the launch of its festive initiative Smritir Rongali—a cultural campaign aimed at reviving the traditional essence of Rongali Bihu in urban Assam. Scheduled from April 14 to 17, the campaign will be activated across key locations in Guwahati including Latashil, Chandmari, Khanapara, and Geetanagar. Smritir Rongali recreates the charm of rural Bihu celebrations through immersive experiences featuring bamboo huts, haystacks, earthen lamps, folk music, and handcrafted décor. The initiative includes decorated mobile canters, live cultural performances, traditional games, and a unique AI-powered Bihu selfie filter—enabling users to virtually celebrate the festival in traditional Assamese avatars.…

14 Apr

UPI transactions gain to 18.3 billion in March

Priyanka RoyBusiness, News

India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recorded a robust 13.6 percent growth in transaction volumes in March, hitting a new peak of 18.30 billion transactions, according to the latest data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). While the top five UPI apps - PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, Navi and Super.money - retained their rankings, Axis Bank moved to the sixth spot, overtaking fintech unicorn CRED, which slipped to the seventh spot. This shift follows a similar pattern seen in February, when Super.money displaced CRED to enter the top five. In March, Axis Bank's growth was driven by a…

14 Apr

Bandhan Bank grants Rs 4 cr CSR support to Ramakrishna Mission for Viveka Tirtha project

Business BureauBusiness

Bandhan Bank has extended a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution of ₹4 crore to the Ramakrishna Mission to aid in the construction of the Ramakrishna Mission Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences, also known as Viveka Tirtha. The centre, focused on skill development and value-based education, is poised to become a hub for personal and professional empowerment. The cheque was handed over by Shri Partha Pratim Sengupta, MD & CEO of Bandhan Bank, to Swami Suvirananda, General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, at a ceremony held at Belur Math. “Education and skill development are key pillars of…

12 Apr

JK Tyre takes the thrill of performance-driven action to new heights with a focused tour across North-East

Business BureauBusiness

JK Tyre& Industries Ltd, a pioneer in Indian motorsport and tyre manufacturing, has announced a thrilling regional campaign—“JK Tyre powered Indian Racing Festival – a carnival of Total Control”—across five North-Eastern cities from April 12 to 22. The tour will accelerate through Kohima, Aizawl, Shillong, Guwahati, and Gangtok, offering a unique mix of motorsport showcase and brand engagement. The festival will spotlight international Formula 4 and Wolf cars, electrifying drifting displays, superbike stunts, and performances by young karting prodigies. These events will run on JK Tyre’s ultra-high-performance Levitas Ultra tyres, reaffirming the brand’s technological edge. Director-Sales & Marketing Srinivasu Allaphan…

12 Apr

Luxury Banking Made Easy: Bandhan Bank Introduces Elite Plus Savings Account

Business BureauBusiness

Bandhan Bank has rolled out its latest premium banking offering, the Elite Plus Savings Account, aimed at delivering an upgraded experience to its affluent customer base. The account offers a wide array of exclusive benefits including free movie tickets worth ₹750 per month, complimentary airport lounge access, golf sessions, unlimited free transactions, and accelerated reward points. The Elite Plus Savings Account was officially launched by Bandhan Bank MD & CEO Partha Pratim Sengupta, joined by ED & CBO Rajinder Kumar Babbar and ED & COO Ratan Kumar Kesh. Cricket legend Sourav Ganguly was among the first to open the new…

12 Apr

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates infrastructure development projects across six campuses of IMU

Business BureauBusiness

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a girls’ hostel at the Indian Maritime University (IMU) Kochi campus and virtually inaugurated infrastructure projects across six IMU campuses, marking a major push towards modernizing maritime education in India. The total estimated cost of these 17 projects is ₹67.77 crore. The newly announced girls’ hostel in Kochi, to be developed at ₹13.11 crore, aims to enhance accommodation facilities for female maritime students. The Minister also unveiled a series of upgrades across IMU campuses in Chennai, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai Port, and Visakhapatnam, which…

12 Apr

IIFL Finance raises up to Rs. 500 crores through bonds, coupon Up to 10.25% Per Annum

Business BureauBusiness

IIFL Finance Limited, a leading NBFC, announced a public issue of secured, redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to raise up to ₹500 crore, with an attractive coupon of up to 10.25% per annum. The issue opens on April 7 and closes on April 23, 2025, with an option for early closure. Proceeds will be used for onward lending, financing, and general corporate purposes. The NCDs are rated “Crisil AA/Stable” and “[ICRA] AA (Stable),” signifying high safety and low credit risk. Investors can choose from tenors of 15, 24, 36, and 60 months, with monthly, annual, or cumulative interest payment options. The…

12 Apr

India’s vegetable oil imports drop 16% in March

Priyanka RoyBusiness, News

New Delhi, India's vegetable oil imports fell 16 percent to 9.98 lakh tonnes in March due to a sharp drop in crude sunflower oil shipments, according to industry data.In a statement on Friday, the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) said imports of vegetable oils (edible and non-edible) declined to 9,98,344 tonnes in March 2025 from 11,82,152 tonnes in the same month last year.Edible oil imports declined to 9,70,602 tonnes in March 2025 from 11,49,681 tonnes in the same period a year ago. Imports of crude sunflower oil declined to 1,90,645 tonnes last month from 4,45,723 tonnes in March 2024.Arrivals…