POWERCON Group Deepens Leadership Bench with Ravindra Chauhan’s Appointment

Pune, 12th September 2026: POWERCON Group, a global leader in renewable energy asset creation and management, has appointed Ravindra Chauhan as Senior Management Officer– Business Development. The appointment reinforces POWERCON’s commercial leadership as it expands across India’s fast-growing renewable energy sector.

Ravindra brings 22 years of leadership experience in wind energy and engineering, spanning business development, strategic customer engagement, engineering services, and operations & maintenance. He has held senior roles at Suzlon, Senvion, and InoxWind, where he drove business growth and supported large-scale renewable energy portfolios.

In his new role, Ravindra will support POWERCON’s business development function, working closely with the leadership team to deepen customer relationships, identify new opportunities, and expand the company’s market presence.

“POWERCON Group has established itself as a trusted partner in the renewable energy industry, and I’m pleased to join the PowerTeam,” said Ravindra Chauhan, SMO – Business Development. “I look forward to bringing my experience to the table and helping deliver greater value to renewable energy asset owners.”

“We are pleased to welcome Ravindra to the POWERCON family,” said Manoj Sonawane, Chief Growth & Resolution Officer, POWERCON Group. “His deep experience and understanding of the renewable energy sector make him a valuable addition to our team.”

POWERCON is currently executing its full turnkey wind projects in Maharashtra and Karnataka, taking end-to-end ownership from concept and feasibility through design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning. It marks a major step for the Group, extending its reach beyond project development to constructing and operating renewable energy assets across their full lifecycle. 

The World’s oldest trade body on Biologicals, the Hyderabad based BIPA calls for 25% reduction in Chemical Inputs through Biological Integration; Puts INR 40,000 crore savings potential on table

Hyderabad, Sept 12: The BioAgri Input Producers Association (BIPA), the world’s oldest trade body dedicated to agricultural biologicals, has called for a phased 25% reduction in chemical fertiliser and pesticide usage through the scientific integration of biological inputs, which it estimates could potentially save the national exchequer around ₹40,000 crore annually, besides reducing import dependence, lowering farm input costs, improving soil health and strengthening the competitiveness of Indian agricultural exports.

The proposal will be a key focus of the 6th Annual BioAgri Industry Summit – BIOAGRI 2026, to be held on October 7 and 8 at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, under the theme “Biological Intelligence & Smart Agriculture.” More than 250 delegates, 35 speakers and 50 exhibitors are expected to participate in the summit, which will bring together industry leaders, scientists, researchers, startups, policymakers and regulators.

 BIPA Office Bearers Srinivas, Dr. John Peter, Dr. Venakatesh Devanur And  Paharaju Laxminarayana Seen Unveiling The Summit Brochure

BIPA office bearers Dr. A. John Peter, President; Dr. Venkatesh Devanur, Secretary General; Praharaju Laxminarayana, Vice President; and C.H. V. Srinivas, Joint Treasurer, announced the summit and outlined the association’s priorities addressing a press conference in a city hotel in Necklace Road. 

They put Biologicals as a complement to chemical agriculture.  BIPA said biological inputs such as bio-fertilisers, bio-stimulants and bio-pesticides should not be seen merely as substitutes for chemical inputs, but should be scientifically integrated into the existing agricultural system.

According to the association, biological inputs can support nutrient availability, beneficial soil microorganisms and sustainable crop protection, thereby enabling farmers to progressively reduce their dependence on chemical inputs without compromising productivity when appropriately selected and used.

“India needs to move from a predominantly chemical-dependent agricultural model towards an integrated system in which biologicals and chemicals work together scientifically and responsibly. A phased 25% reduction in chemical fertiliser and pesticide usage can deliver significant economic, environmental and agricultural benefits,” said Dr. A. John Peter, President, BIPA.

India consumes around 35 million tonnes of urea annually, besides depending substantially on imported raw materials for DAP, potash and other fertilisers. With the annual fertiliser subsidy bill exceeding ₹1.75 lakh crore, BIPA believes that reducing chemical dependence could help contain subsidy expenditure and foreign exchange outflows.

BIPA has urged the Government, industry, research institutions and academia to jointly develop a national programme to improve soil organic carbon, which it considers fundamental to the long-term health and productivity of Indian soils.

The association said restoring soil biological activity should become an important component of India’s agricultural policy, with greater emphasis on sustainable nutrient management, microbial activity and improved soil resilience.

Dr. Venkatesh Devanur, Secretary General, BIPA, said the focus needs to move beyond short-term crop productivity to the restoration of the biological health of agricultural soils.

BIPA also stressed the growing importance of pesticide residue management in protecting India’s agricultural exports. Increasingly stringent Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) requirements in international markets are making residue management an important issue for Indian exporters.

“Food safety and residue standards are becoming increasingly stringent across global markets. Agricultural produce from India, including consignments exported to neighbouring countries such as Nepal, has also faced rejection. India cannot afford to lose valuable markets because of avoidable residue-related issues. Greater adoption of Integrated Pest Management and scientifically validated biological crop-protection solutions can contribute to a safer and more export-competitive agricultural system,” said Dr. Venkatesh Devanur.

As a follow-up to BIOAGRI 2026, BIPA plans to bring out a White Paper on “Integrating Biologicals into the Framework of Chemical Fertilisers and Pesticides.”

The White Paper will draw on scientific research, industry experience and stakeholder consultations to propose a practical roadmap for integrating biological inputs into mainstream agriculture. BIPA also intends to initiate discussions with the Government, industry, research institutions and academia towards a National Policy on Biological Input Integration, covering scientific protocols, research, innovation, responsible adoption and an enabling regulatory framework.

“The next Green Revolution could be biological,” said the BIPA office bearers, noting that agriculture worldwide is increasingly looking for ways to improve productivity while reducing its environmental footprint.

Praharaju Laxminarayana, Vice President, BIPA, said the global focus is increasingly on reducing pesticide residues and moving towards more sustainable agricultural practices. He pointed to Europe’s stated long-term goals for reducing chemical dependence and increasing organic and sustainable farming, adding that residue reduction in food is becoming a global priority.

BIOAGRI 2026 will examine how biological science, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, precision agriculture and smart farming technologies can work together to address the emerging challenges facing Indian agriculture.

A key attraction of the summit will be the BIPA Startup Challenge 2026, which will provide early-stage companies developing innovative solutions in biological agriculture an opportunity to present their technologies and business ideas before industry leaders, investors and researchers.

An exhibition featuring around 50 companies will also showcase products, technologies and services from across the biological agriculture ecosystem.

BIPA, which represents more than 100 industry members, promotes innovation, industry collaboration, regulatory excellence and the wider adoption of sustainable biological solutions in agriculture.

Responding to questions on the increasing incidence of cancer and perceptions linking it directly to excessive use of fertilisers, BIPA office bearers said that a direct causal relationship between fertiliser or pesticide use and cancer has not been scientifically established and should not be presumed without evidence.

They, however, acknowledged concerns over the increasing use of chemicals in the production of vegetables and stressed the need for responsible input use, residue management and scientifically validated agricultural practices.

BIPA also pointed to the distortion caused by subsidised fertiliser pricing. Urea is supplied to farmers at a heavily subsidised price of around ₹280 per bag, against a much higher market-linked price, and the association said the pricing structure can encourage excessive application.

“Fertiliser subsidies are important for farmers, but the present pricing differential can encourage indiscriminate use. There is a need to promote balanced and scientifically recommended nutrient application rather than excessive dependence on urea,” the BIPA representatives said.

Building on the BIOAGRI summits held from 2021 to 2025, BIOAGRI 2026 will provide a national platform for knowledge exchange, research, innovation, business partnerships and policy dialogue in biological agriculture.

The summit is expected to attract stakeholders from across India and further strengthen Hyderabad’s position as a destination for knowledge-led industry conferences and agricultural innovation.

Flipkart Minutes Marks Two Years with 4X Growth, Reaches 150+ Cities

Bengaluru – Sept 12: Flipkart Minutes, the quick commerce offering from Flipkart, marked two years since its launch in August 2024, having grown 4X year-on-year and expanded to nearly 1,200 micro fulfilment centres across 150+ cities. The platform has created more than 4 lakh direct and indirect jobs since inception, while around 60% of customers return to shop on Flipkart Minutes, reflecting the growing adoption of quick commerce across the country.

Tier 2+ markets are emerging as an important driver of this growth, with the customer base growing nearly 25X year-on-year across cities such as Ambala, Barabanki, Bhagalpur, Durgapur, Kanpur, Roorkee, Siliguri, Salem and Tiruppur. Demand in these markets is also extending beyond daily essentials, with strong uptake of products such as Korean noodles, sauces and ready-to-eat meals, alongside premium skincare and personal care categories.

Rising Gen Z Adoption Broadens the Quick Commerce Basket

Gen Z has emerged as the fastest-growing customer cohort on Flipkart Minutes, with the customer base growing nearly 5X year-on-year in the past twelve months. Gen Z drives over 45% of orders across categories such as beauty, electronics, gaming, wearables, fragrance, health and nutrition, and grooming, while accounting for 1 in 3 gourmet orders on the platform. The data points to a generation using quick commerce for a much wider range of products, from everyday essentials to premium and aspirational categories.

Kunal Gupta, Senior Vice President and Head of Flipkart Minutes, said, “In two years, Flipkart Minutes has evolved from a convenience offering into a broader shopping channel, with customers using it for much more than their daily essentials. What is particularly interesting is how quickly this behaviour is spreading beyond the largest cities, while Gen Z is also bringing new categories and new shopping occasions to the platform. With our growing network, we have an opportunity to make this experience available to more consumers across the country, while creating new opportunities for brands, farmers and local businesses to reach customers.”

India’s Evolving Shopping Basket

Beyond daily essentials and fruits and vegetables, premium and aspirational categories are also seeing strong growth on Flipkart Minutes. Gourmet and specialty grocery, launched within the past year, has grown 8X, with demand for cold-pressed oils, imported cheeses, international avocado varieties and Korean ready-to-eat meals. Men’s grooming has grown nearly 6X year-on-year, while pet food has grown 5X, reflecting the expanding range of products customers are choosing to buy through quick commerce.

The platform’s biggest single order to date was worth ₹6 lakh and included five smartphones, illustrating how quickly quick commerce is expanding beyond everyday essentials.

Building for India: Partners, Farmers, and a Greener Footprint

Since August 2024, Flipkart Minutes has built a partner ecosystem of close to 500 D2C brands, giving them access to hyperlocal demand and new customer segments. Through partnerships with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), the platform has also connected thousands of farmers directly to consumers, helping them reach new markets and improve price realisation.

Flipkart Minutes is also building a more sustainable delivery network, with a growing share of last-mile deliveries now using electric vehicles and battery-swapping infrastructure across micro fulfilment centres. The platform has also introduced lighter compostable and biodegradable packaging across key fruits and vegetables categories, reducing the use of virgin plastic.