Author: Neel Achary

Subway India reaches Historic Landmark of 1,000 stores

Bangalore, Jan 20 : Subway, one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant brands in freshly made-to-order, customisable sandwiches, announced the opening of its 1,000th store in India at Paras Florett, Gurugram. This historic milestone reflects the brand’s strong growth across the country. With an average of two new stores opening every week over the last three years, it is among the fastest-growing premium quick service restaurant brands in India.

Operated by EverBrands (part of Everstone Group), Subway India has in the last three years, opened 350+ stores in new locations in its network, expanding its footprint into over 165 cities with 3,500+ employees. Since its entry into the Indian market in 2001, Subway India continues to rank among Subway’s top global growth markets, encouraged by rising demand for fresh, customisable, value-driven food offerings.

Subway’s rapid expansion has been supported by a consistent evolution of its menu offerings including the value-oriented Sub Cravers range starting at INR 79, indulgent range Hot & Cheesy Signature Subs, Fresh Salads with 1.5x protein, and an innovative all-day Breakfast range, catering to the fast-paced Indian lifestyle. The Signature Rice Bowls offering a new range of flavours and customisable options designed with the Indian palette in mind, are the most recent addition to the already vibrant Indian menu. These offerings represent Subway’s ethos of adaptation to dynamic consumer preferences.

Tarun Bhasin, CEO, Culinary Brands (Subway India) remarked,

“This is a defining moment in time for Subway India’s growth trajectory and reflects the increasing scale of the brand’s ‘Better for You’ menu positioning across India. We are very grateful to our customers for their trust. I would also like to thank the thousands of Sandwich Artists and the great team working relentlessly across our stores, delighting customers every day. We look forward to the next 1,000!”

Eastern Coalfields Limited Conducts 64th Corporate-Level Tripartite Safety Committee Meeting

Sanctoria, Jan 20: Eastern Coalfields Limited successfully convened its 64th Corporate-Level Tripartite Safety Committee Meeting at the Dishergarh Officers’ Club, Sanctoria, reaffirming the organization’s unwavering commitment to occupational safety, health and welfare in mining operations.

The meeting was attended by ECL’s top management, including Shri Satish Jha, Chairman-cum-Managing Director; Md. Anzar Alam, Director (Finance); Shri Niladri Roy, Director (Technical/Operations); Shri Gunjan Kumar Sinha, Director (HR) and Shri Girish Gopinathan Nair, Director (Technical/Planning & Projects). The deliberations were further enriched by the presence of Shri Supriyo Chakraborty, Deputy Director General, representing the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Eastern Zone.

The proceedings were presided over by Shri Binod Singh, Corporate Safety Board Member and representative of CMSI (CITU). Corporate Safety Board Members representing major trade unions—CMS (AITUC), WBKMS (UTUC), CMC (HMS), and KSC (BMS)—also participated. Senior officials from ECL HQ, all Area General Managers, Area Safety Officers and officers from DGMS (Eastern and Central Zones) took part, reflecting the strong spirit of tripartite collaboration.

The Committee deliberated on a wide range of critical safety issues, including enhancement of safety awareness through structured safety talks; strengthening of safety monitoring mechanisms; integration of advanced safety features in mining equipment and winding installations; expeditious conversion of steam winders to electrical winders with fail-safe technology; provision of statutory manpower; improvement of mine ventilation systems; identification and fast-tracking of man-riding systems; slope stability monitoring; and stowing lag. Emphasis was laid on developing comprehensive short-term and long-term action plans to ensure effective implementation and continuous improvement in safety performance across ECL’s mining operations.

The meeting concluded with a collective resolve by all stakeholders to work in close coordination towards fostering a safer, healthier, and more secure working environment for both regular and contractual workmen, thereby reinforcing ECL’s steadfast commitment to Zero Harm and sustainable mining practices.

Herbalife India Flags Off All-Women E-Auto Fleet in Mysuru, Powering Green Mobility Revolution

 Herbalife India, a premier health and wellness company, community, and platform, in partnership with Shishu Mandir, today launched the Mysuru chapter of its flagship ECO Wheels Women’s Initiative. The event flagged off 75+ electric autos driven by women, kicking off the “Her Route, Our Future” movement and year-long “Green Mysuru, Clean Mysuru” campaign to promote green mobility and economic independence.

The launch took place in the presence of Uday Prakash, VP of Strategy and Implementation at Herbalife India; T.S. Srivathsa, MLA of Krishnaraja Constituency, Mysuru; Shri Anand C, Director, Shishu Mandir; Smt. Seema Latkar, I.P.S., Commissioner of Mysuru City Police and other distinguished dignitaries. The initiative empowers marginalized women with e-autos, driving training for local terrains, licensing, maintenance, digital tools, financial literacy, self-defense, and market linkages.

Uday Prakash, Vice President – Strategy and Implementation at Herbalife said, 

“At Herbalife, we’re deeply inspired by the ECO Wheels Women’s Initiative, which embodies our commitment to sustainable progress and shared prosperity. Following Bengaluru’s remarkable success, this expansion to Mysuru is transforming lives by equipping these women with vital skills and the confidence to thrive. They’re not just driving electric autos; they’re steering their families and communities towards a brighter, greener future.”

Building on the success of Bengaluru’s ECO-Wheels initiative, which enabled 115 women beneficiaries to increase their monthly incomes from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 and positively impacted over 750 individuals and the wider community through a zero-emission mobility model, Herbalife India in partnership with Shishu Mandir is now scaling the program to Mysuru as Phase 2.

The next phase will focus on high-demand transport routes, accelerating the adoption of clean mobility while creating sustainable livelihoods. The expansion is projected to deliver impact equivalent to planting around 1.4 lac trees over five years, aligning with the Government of India’s FAME-II objectives. Over a five-year period, the Mysuru rollout is expected to generate a cumulative income of ₹50 crore for all women beneficiaries, reinforcing Herbalife India’s commitment to inclusive growth, women’s empowerment, and environmental stewardship.

Addressing the gathering Shri. Seema Latkar, I.P.S., Commissioner, Mysuru City Police said

“As Commissioner of Mysuru City Police, I have seen firsthand how economic independence transforms the lives of women and makes our communities safer and more resilient. The Eco-Wheels Women’s Initiative is a commendable step toward enabling women to take charge of their futures while contributing to greener, cleaner urban mobility. Mysuru Police extends its full support to such initiatives that champion equality, inclusion, and social progress.”

Shri Anand C, Director, Shishu Mandir, added 

“For over three decades, Shishu Mandir has worked to create dignified, scalable livelihood opportunities for underserved communities. Eco-Wheels has grown from a mobility program into a movement of confidence and self-reliance. With the Mysuru launch, we are enabling more women and transgender individuals to claim their rightful place as independent earners and respected contributors to society.”

Bandhan AMC CEO Highlights FoF Route as Smarter Way to Invest in Gold and Silver

Tata AIA Life Makes Long-Term Savings Easier with Premium Offset and Guaranteed Income Options

Bangalore, Jan 20: Saving for the future is something most people want to do—but sticking to a long-term savings plan can often feel difficult. Rising household expenses, changing priorities, and the pressure of paying premiums year after year can make long-term commitments hard to sustain. To make saving simpler and more affordable, Tata AIA Life Insurance has enhanced its long-term savings plan, Fortune Guarantee Supreme*, with features that ease the financial burden while offering guaranteed returns.

Sharing the Responsibility of Saving with the ‘Premium Offset’ feature

At the heart of this enhancement is Tata AIA’s unique ‘Premium Offset’ proposition. Under this feature, customers pay premiums only for the first six years of a 12-year premium-paying term, and can choose to offset the remaining six premiums with the income benefit offered by Tata AIA. This offset structure allows customers to stay invested for the long term without the pressure of paying premiums throughout the entire term. By reducing the out-of-pocket commitment, the plan lowers the barrier to disciplined saving—especially in an environment where costs and taxes often make long-term financial commitments feel overwhelming.

Commenting on the enhancement, Sujeet Kothare, Chief of Products, Marketing, Corporate Communications & Business Mid Office, Tata AIA Life Insurance, said:

“Many consumers want to save for the long term but hesitate because the commitment often feels heavy and difficult to sustain—especially with rising costs and taxes. With the strengthened Fortune Guarantee Supreme, we are changing this experience by sharing the responsibility of saving with our customers. The premium offset proposition, combined with guaranteed income options, is designed to make disciplined saving simpler, more predictable, and easier to sustain over time.”

Clarity, Certainty, and Confidence with the ‘Power of 6’

Fortune Guarantee Supreme also offers customers the option to receive a guaranteed income and other guaranteed benefits with an attractive Internal Rate of Return (IRR) upwards of 6%, subject to policy terms and conditions. This feature, known as the ‘Power of 6’, is designed for individuals seeking certainty and regular income in the future—whether to support post-retirement needs, long-term family goals, or financial stability during later life stages.

The “Power of 6” variant strengthens the company’s focus on dependable long-term solutions by offering customers an attractive guaranteed of 6% IRR. Built for individuals planning for life goals such as children’s education, retirement, and income security, the variant combines assured returns with life insurance protection to deliver greater confidence in financial planning.

Designed for Long-Term Security

As an individual, non-linked, non-participating life insurance savings plan, Fortune Guarantee Supreme provides guaranteed benefits along with life cover throughout the policy term—ensuring continuity and financial protection even in unforeseen circumstances. Eligible premiums continue to qualify for tax benefits under Section 80C, while maturity and death benefits are exempt under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, subject to prevailing tax laws.

With these enhancements, Tata AIA Life Insurance aims to help consumers move beyond hesitation and cost-related concerns—empowering them to commit to long-term savings with greater ease, confidence, and clarity.