15, Apr 2026
CFTI Forays into Women Empowerment & Livelihoods with the launch of Startup Sakhi
Apr 15: Marking a significant and strategic expansion into the livelihood and women empowerment space, the Centre for Transforming India (CFTI) has launched Startup Sakhi—a transformative initiative designed exclusively for women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to build sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship. By unlocking access to financial support, structured training, and continuous mentorship, the program is aimed at breaking barriers that often limit women’s economic participation, empowering SHG members to step out, take charge, and collectively drive change within their communities. The initiative will be executed in Raigad district, Maharashtra, as its first implementation hub, where it is expected to receive 8,000–10,000 applications and directly support around 1,000 women, laying the foundation for a scalable, nationwide model of women-led economic empowerment.
Startup Sakhi follows a simple, step-by-step format designed to be accessible even for first-time entrepreneurs. SHGs can apply by submitting their business ideas in simple or local languages within a one-month application window. From these entries, 100 SHGs will be selected in the first round and provided with ₹10,000 each, along with basic training. Recognising that even basic expenses like travel and participation can be beyond reach for many women, this support is designed to remove that barrier—ensuring they don’t miss out on the opportunity to step forward, access new avenues, and begin transforming their ideas into viable business ventures.
The final rounds of funding will include grants and funding at each level as ideas progress through all stages. In round two, 50 SHGs will receive ₹25,000 each and advanced mentorship to help them expand their businesses. In round three, the top 25 SHGs will enter an intensive incubation phase, during which they will learn how to create a business plan, manage finances, use digital tools, and develop a presentation. In round four, the top five SHGs will receive cash prizes as follows: ₹5 lakh for 1st place, ₹3 lakh for 2nd, ₹2 lakh for 3rd, and ₹50,000 each for 4th and 5th places. They will also continue receiving support to grow their businesses.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Amit Deshpande, Chief Operating Officer, Centre for Transforming India (CFTI), said, “Startup Sakhi is about giving rural women the right opportunity and support to succeed. Many women already have strong ideas and the drive to work hard, but they need guidance, confidence, and access to resources. Through this initiative, we are not just providing funding, but we are also helping women build skills, start businesses, and create better futures for themselves and their families. Our goal is to create a model that can be scaled across India to support many more women entrepreneurs.”
Startup Sakhi, which has both institutional support and CSR partnership funding, will combine financial resources with continuous mentorship, skills development, and on-the-job training to build women‘s long-term ability to establish and maintain their own businesses rather than just provide women with an immediate source of income. CFTI believes that this is a way to strengthen rural livelihoods and make a lasting grassroots impact.
- 0
- By Neel Achary
15, Apr 2026
India’s Housing Launches Concentrated in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune: Report
New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): A recent report shows that India’s residential real estate market continued to be concentrated in major urban centres during the first quarter of 2026, with Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune accounting for nearly 60% of new housing launches.
The data highlights strong activity in these key metropolitan markets, driven by steady demand, improved infrastructure, and continued interest from both end-users and investors.
Experts note that these cities remain attractive due to better job opportunities, urban development, and expanding housing options across multiple segments.
Overall, the report indicates that while housing supply is growing in several parts of the country, major metro cities continue to dominate new residential project launches.
15, Apr 2026
Sensex, Nifty Rally in Early Trade Amid Positive Global Sentiment
Apr 15 ( BNP): Indian stock markets started the trading session on a strong note on Wednesday, supported by positive global cues and easing crude oil prices.
The BSE Sensex rose sharply by 1,422.85 points to 78,270.42 in early trade, while the Nifty 50 advanced 438.25 points to 24,280.90.
The upward movement was driven by gains in global equities and a decline in oil prices, which slipped below the $100 per barrel level. Market sentiment also improved amid expectations of renewed diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran.
All Sensex constituents traded in positive territory during early deals, with strong buying seen in stocks such as InterGlobe Aviation, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Eternal, Larsen & Toubro, and Bajaj Finance.
Overall, investors showed strong buying interest, reflecting improved risk appetite in global and domestic markets.
15, Apr 2026
1Point1 Solutions lists on BSE, Strengthening Investor Reach and Market Visibility
Commenting on the development, Mr. Akshay Chhabra, Chairman and Managing Director, 1Point1 Solutions Limited, said: ‘Our listing on BSE is a strategic step towards strengthening our engagement with the capital markets and improving accessibility of our equity for a wider spectrum of investors. As we continue to scale our operations and invest in next-generation capabilities, including digital transformation and AI-led customer experience solutions, this milestone reinforces our commitment to sustainable growth and long-term value creation for all stakeholders.’Mr. Sunil Jha, Chief Financial Officer, 1Point1 Solutions Limited, further added: ‘The dual listing enhances accessibility and visibility for investors as we advance into our next phase of growth. With a strong operating foundation and a clear focus on technology enabled expansion, the BSE listing supports our objective of building a resilient, future-ready BPM organization.’
15, Apr 2026
NSE-Listed AAA Technologies Secures Home Ministry Cybersecurity Mandate, Wins NICSI Empanelment
NSE-listed AAA Technologies Secures Key Government Cybersecurity Mandates, Gains NICSI EmpanelmentORNSE-Listed AAA Technologies Secures Home Ministry Cybersecurity Mandate, Wins NICSI Empanelment
Mumbai, April 15: AAA Technologies Limited has secured three government cybersecurity mandates, including work orders for the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with a nationwide empanelment from National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) valid through 2029, marking a strong start to the financial year.
The company has filed regulatory disclosures with stock exchanges outlining these developments, signalling early momentum in its government-focused cybersecurity business and the conversion of strategic qualifications into active mandates.
The mandates include application security audit engagements awarded through NICSI, covering ICJS, a national platform integrating courts, police, prisons, and forensic labs, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Both are six-month projects involving senior audit teams.
In addition, the company has secured a multi-year empanelment from NICSI to conduct comprehensive security audits of critical applications across Central and State Government organisations, establishing it as an approved vendor for cybersecurity audits nationwide.
The empanelment spans a full audit spectrum, including vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, static code analysis, API security, and infrastructure reviews. With a defined pipeline of critical applications under this programme, it provides multi-year visibility into potential engagements. The early award of work orders alongside this empanelment indicates that execution has already commenced, strengthening the company’s foothold within a limited pool of CERT-In empanelled firms.
This development strengthens AAA Technologies’ standing within a tightly defined pool of CERT-In empanelled firms, at a time when regulatory frameworks such as the DPDP Act, expanded CERT-In compliance requirements, and global security standards are driving increased demand for cybersecurity audits across public infrastructure. With a multi-year qualification now in place and early execution underway, the company is positioned to scale its government-facing cybersecurity business in the coming years.
15, Apr 2026
IMF Sees Stable 6.5 pc Growth for India in FY27, Despite Global Headwinds
New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slightly upgraded India’s economic growth outlook, projecting the country’s GDP to expand by 6.5% in FY27. The revision marks a modest upward adjustment of 0.1 percentage point from its earlier forecast issued in January.
According to the IMF’s latest outlook, the improved projection reflects positive momentum carried over from a strong performance in 2025, along with the impact of reduced additional U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, which were lowered from 50% to 10%.
The fund noted that these supportive factors are expected to outweigh the negative effects arising from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, it cautioned that escalating conflicts in the region could still pose risks to global economic stability and contribute to inflationary pressures.
The IMF also maintained that India’s growth is expected to remain steady at 6.5% in 2027, indicating continued resilience in the country’s economic outlook despite external uncertainties.
15, Apr 2026
Web3 Summit Returns to Berlin to Champion Digital Freedom
The Web3 Foundation’s flagship event will bring builders, artists, researchers and founders to Berlin on 18 and 19 June 2026 for a programme focused on privacy, self-sovereignty and usable decentralised technology.
Apr 15: BERLIN: The Web3 Summit will return to Funkhaus Berlin on 18 and 19 June 2026, bringing together the people building a different kind of internet: one where users, not platforms, hold the power. Organised by the Web 3.0 Technologies Foundation, the Summit will convene builders, artists, researchers, founders and thinkers to explore how privacy, participation and real control can move from principle to practice.
At a moment when public concern over centralised digital infrastructure, platform power and the erosion of privacy continues to grow, the Web3 Summit 2026 will argue that alternatives are no longer theoretical. Across two days in Berlin, the event will spotlight practical technologies and ideas that give people greater control over their data, identity and digital lives.
This year’s edition has been designed as something more immersive than a conventional conference. Across two days in Berlin, participants will move between talks, workshops, unconference sessions, live activations and open collaboration spaces intended to push Web3 beyond slogans and into experience. As part of Berlin Blockchain Week, the Summit will reflect Web3 values in form as well as content: openness, experimentation, contribution and user agency.
Thomas Fecker Boxler, Managing Director of the Web3 Foundation said: “Web3, at its best, is about protecting individual freedom in digital life. The Summit brings together the people committed to building that – choosing privacy over surveillance, participation over extraction, and agency over dependency – turning those principles into practice.”
The Summit will be organised around three concepts: privacy as a basic condition of digital life; self-sovereignty as meaningful control over identity, assets and data; and usability as the bridge between decentralised ideals and everyday adoption. That reflects the Web3 Foundation’s mission to nurture cutting-edge applications for decentralised web software protocols and help build an internet where users control their own data, identity and destiny.
Held at Berlin’s iconic Funkhaus at a time when digital life is increasingly shaped by centralised infrastructure, opaque platforms and extractive business models, the Summit will make the case for another path: systems that give users meaningful control over identity, data and value, and that are built for agency rather than dependency. The event will not simply talk about alternatives, but let people test, challenge and experience them first hand.
15, Apr 2026
Sensex, Nifty Rally Strongly on Optimism Over West Asia Stability
New Delhi, April 15 (BNP): Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp upswing, with the BSE Sensex surging over 1,100 points and the Nifty 50 crossing the 24,150 mark. The rally was largely driven by growing optimism around easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which lifted investor confidence.
The upbeat sentiment was reflected across major sectors, particularly banking, information technology, and energy stocks, which led the gains. Improved prospects of stability in West Asia are seen as a positive sign for global oil prices and supply chains—key factors influencing India’s economic outlook.
Global market trends also supported the rally, as international equities moved higher on similar hopes of de-escalation. This encouraged domestic investors to increase their exposure to equities, resulting in broad-based buying across the market.
Despite the strong performance, market analysts urge investors to stay cautious. They highlight that geopolitical developments remain uncertain and could trigger volatility if conditions change unexpectedly.
In essence, the rally underscores the sensitivity of Indian markets to global events, with investor sentiment closely tied to international stability and economic signals.
15, Apr 2026
indē wild Becomes First Homegrown Indian Brand To Sell-Out A Sephora US Pop-Up In Record Time
India, Apr 15: indē wild, the global beauty brand rooted in Ayurvedistry, has set a new benchmark in retail engagement with the world’s largest prestige beauty retailer, Sephora, hosting its biggest pop–up of 2026 and drawing over 5,000 consumers to the iconic Sephora 5th Avenue store.
The excitement began long before doors opened, with fans starting to line up as early as 7:00 AM for the 2:00 PM event. By the time the pop–up began, over 5,000 people had gathered, with queues stretching across multiple city blocks for a chance to experience indē wild and meet founder Diipa Büller-Khosla. The event marked a major milestone in indē wild’s U.S. expansion, and the overwhelming response reinforced both the brand’s rapidly growing global community and Khosla’s influence as a cultural and entrepreneurial force.
Diipa Büller-Khosla, Co-Founder, indē wild states, “Seeing this launch come to life at Sephora’s iconic Fifth Avenue store, and experiencing the response we did in New York, felt like a defining moment for us as a brand. The scale of the turnout and the energy from our community reinforced what we’ve always believed, that Indian beauty has a place on the global stage, and people are ready to embrace it.”
The scale of the turnout transformed the launch into a standout moment on Fifth Avenue, with passersby and tourists stopping to take in the crowds and energy surrounding the store. Within just two hours of opening, the Sephora 5th Avenue store completely sold out of indē wild’s product line, highlighting strong consumer demand for modern, ritual-led haircare rooted in traditional Indian practices. Leading the demand was indē wild’s cult-favourite Champi Hair Oil, which sold out within the first hour. Due to the scale of the turnout, the New York Police Department was brought in to manage crowds and ensure safety, underscoring the magnitude of the event. The lines, described by attendees as unlike anything seen before in the city for a beauty launch, signaled a cultural moment that extended far beyond retail.
Oleg Büller-Khosla, Co-Founder, indē wild states, “This launch at Sephora Fifth Avenue marks an important step for indē wild, but also reflects a wider shift in the industry. Indian beauty has long influenced global categories, what’s new is seeing homegrown brands begin to take their place within international retail at scale. It’s an early signal that the direction of influence in beauty is shifting, and we’re proud to be part of that shift.”
As global interest in Ayurveda-backed beauty continues to accelerate, with the category projected to reach $2.09 billion by the end of 2026, indē wild’s record-breaking turnout underscores the growing global appetite for heritage-led, science-backed formulations from India whilst reinforcing the brand’s position at the forefront of this movement. indē wild’s curated portfolio of ritual-forward skincare and haircare is now available to consumers across the United States, including the Champi Pre-Wash Treatment Hair Oil, Champi Bond Repair Shampoo, Champi Bond Repair Conditioner, Moonlight Scalp Serum, Sunset Restore Bakuchiol Serum, Sunrise Glow 15% Vitamin C Complex Serum, Luminary Eye Concentrate and Dewy Lip Treatment.
While Sephora has previously introduced consumers to South Asian–inspired brands such as Kulfi Beauty, Ranavat, and Fable & Mane, indē wild’s partnership marks a significant milestone as the first homegrown Indian beauty brand to debut at Sephora U.S. The U.S. expansion builds on the brand’s successful entry into Sephora UK, where indē wild launched in September 2024, delivering 677% quarter-on-quarter growth. The pop–up builds on indē wild’s successful U.S. debut with Sephora, following its launch on Sephora.com in March and rollout across 178 stores nationwide, and further solidifying the brand’s transition from a digitally native disruptor to a high-impact global retail player. Since launching direct-to-consumer in 2021, indē wild has built a rapidly expanding global community, with the company’s growth being supported by a $5 million strategic investment led by Unilever Ventures, alongside SoGal Ventures and True Global Ventures. With the Sephora U.S. rollout, indē wild is reinforcing its ambition to build one of the first globally scaled beauty brands rooted in modern Ayurvedic science.
15, Apr 2026
Govt Assures Fuel Supply Stability Amid West Asia Crisis
New Delhi, April 15 (BNP) – The government on Tuesday said fuel supplies remain stable despite disruptions linked to the evolving West Asia situation, urging citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on official updates.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG, with 100% supply being maintained for domestic LPG, PNG and CNG. Measures have been taken to prioritise essential sectors, including hospitals and agriculture, while ensuring continued availability for households.
To ease pressure on LPG demand, the government is promoting alternative fuels such as PNG, kerosene and electric cooking options. Since March 2026, about 4.40 lakh PNG connections have been activated, with another 4.88 lakh consumers registering for new connections.
The government has also stepped up enforcement against hoarding and black marketing. Over 2,950 raids were conducted across the country on April 13, with penalties imposed on erring distributors and several licences suspended.
Officials said more than 14.3 lakh 5-kg LPG cylinders have been sold since March 23 to support migrant workers and vulnerable groups, while commercial LPG supply has been increased to around 70% of pre-crisis levels.
States and Union Territories have been asked to closely monitor supply and take action under the Essential Commodities Act to prevent shortages and misinformation. Control rooms and district-level monitoring systems have been activated nationwide.
Meanwhile, the government said all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude stocks, and retail fuel outlets are functioning normally. Port operations across India also remain unaffected, with no congestion reported.
The Centre added that it is closely monitoring developments in the region while coordinating with states and international partners to ensure energy security and the safety of Indian nationals abroad.
