Category Archives: Business

Philip Morris International’s India Affiliate Reiterates its Commitment to ‘Grow Talent, Grow Business’

New Delhi, June 17, 2025: Philip Morris International Inc.’s (PMI) India affiliate IPM India, reiterates its commitment to ‘Grow Talent, Grow Business’- fostering a growth-oriented culture, enabling people to lead and contribute to their highest potential. With talent at the centre, IPM India supports employees’ journey through structured career conversations, cross-functional, cross market mobility- and a wealth of learning resources, from on-the-job experiences to specialized programs designed to expand knowledge, skills, and business understanding. 

IPM India strives to be a catalyst of change – by onboarding the most talented industry professionals and mentoring them through varied experiences, across competitive roles, comprehensive learning programs & career coaching. With mobility as the corner stone of growth, the organization provides cross function-cross markets, global & regional exposure, to help employees’ gain diverse experience and multi-cultural perspectives, along with insights into the organisation’s long-term thinking, thereby aligning personal growth with organizational goal.

IPM India remains committed to the impact, growth, and wellbeing of employees by providing them with the right environment, support, and resources for their careers and professional development. These principles are codified in the cultural values, referred to as the PMI DNA – We Care– Self-aware, Inclusive, Empathetic; We are Better Together– Trust, Collaborate, Celebrate; We are Game Changers– Embrace challenge, Agile, Drive for impact.

Navaneel Kar, Managing Director, IPM India said, “At IPM India, a growth mindset is woven into the fabric of our culture enabling an environment where continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation drives business acceleration. Our employees are encouraged to take ownership of their growth by reflecting on where they are, where they want to be, and how to get there, thereby inducing a sense of shared ownership and responsibility. This working model underpins our commitment to nurturing an employee centric workplace that focuses on culture centered around purpose, ensuring we are well-equipped to drive both employee and business success.”

Kingshuk Das, Director – People & Culture, IPM India added, “We strongly believe that talent growth should outpace business growth by a considerable margin. Building talent is fundamental to business success and we are committed to providing the right tools and opportunities that empowers employees to cocreate their own path. By investing in people, we are able to build a workforce that is engaged, adaptable, and ready to meet the demands of an evolving business landscape. We are strengthening both our people and our business by fostering a culture that values curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning, The more we grow—individually and collectively—the more we can drive impact and shape the future.”

PMI was recently featured among top ten companies in the WSJ Management Top 250 Annual Company Ranking. In addition, IPM India has earned the Great Place to Work certification for four consecutive years and the Top Employer certification for five years in a row. 

Tata Power rolls out affordable Solar Rooftop Solutions

Chandigarh, June 17, 2025: Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), India’s leading rooftop solar company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power, today announced the launch of India’s most affordable rooftop solar solution at Bhubaneshwar in Odisha under its ‘Ghar Ghar Solar’ campaign. 

The Company’s accessible, consumer-centric financing model makes rooftop solar affordable for a broader segment of Odisha’s population. Residents can install systems with minimal upfront investment starting from ₹2,499 for 1 kW, ₹4,999 for 2 kW, and ₹7,999 for 3 kW. This initiative is impactful for households, turning solar adoption from an aspiration into an economically viable option. This first-of-its-kind initiative is set to accelerate residential rooftop solar adoption across the state by enabling customers to pay just one-third of the total amount, making solar power more accessible, affordable, and seamlessly integrated into households.  

Odisha consumers gain substantial financial benefits through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which offers subsidies up to ₹78,000 for solar systems up to 3 kW, covering nearly 40% of installation costs. The initiative is further strengthened through the State Government’s additional subsidy of ₹25,000 for a 1 kW system, ₹ 50,000 for a 2 kW system, and up to ₹ 60,000 for systems 3 kW and above. This financial support significantly accelerates rooftop solar adoption, making clean energy solutions accessible to households across the state.

To cater to evolving needs, Tata Power has also introduced two enhanced Lifestyle solutions for residential customers:

• MySine – a compact, intelligent solar + battery backup system for uninterrupted power

•  Solar Design Spaces – a curated range of 25 aesthetic rooftop installations blending sustainability with style

Odisha has already witnessed a remarkable surge in rooftop solar adoption, significantly driven by the growing awareness created through the ‘Ghar Ghar Solar’ initiative. The total consumer base has grown over four times, from 430 to 1,759, underscoring the deepening penetration of solar energy among both residential and commercial consumers. In FY25 alone, the Company onboarded 1,033 new solar rooftop customers, a tenfold increase from FY24 in the state. The Commercial & Industrial (C&I) segment also showed consistent growth in Odisha, with 76 consumers added in FY25, up from 56 consumers in FY24.

TPREL, the No 1 Rooftop Solar company for 10 years now, offers a comprehensive range of benefits to its solar rooftop consumers, including a 25-year warranty on modules, trusted quality assurance, exclusive sales and service in over 450+ districts, lifetime service and after-sales support across India, easy financing options, and insurance for solar rooftop systems.

With easy financing, pan-India presence, and wide-ranging innovations, Tata Power is making clean energy mainstream, empowering every Indian home to be solar-ready.

Bowl-O-Cheese by The Good Bowl Makes Noise with a Delicious Twist for Cheese Lovers

Mumbai, India – June 17, 2025: The Good Bowl—a brand from Rebel Foods—is flipping the script on food campaigns with an all-new interactive, voice-powered activation called Bowl-O-Cheese. Inspired by the playful Hindi pun “Bolo Cheese” (Say Cheese), the campaign invites fans to DM voice notes saying “CHEESE” in the cheesiest or most creative way possible on Instagram @thegoodbowlindia for a chance to win a free bowl of cheesy indulgence.

The idea is simple yet infectious: “You can sing it, shout it, or say it like your favourite actor—just say ‘Cheese!’” & DM your voice notes to The Good Bowl’s Instagram handle, and 5 lucky winners stand a chance to win a Mac & Cheese Bowl every day—on the house.

The entire Mac & Cheese collection now starts at ₹299 and goes up to ₹369. And here’s the ultimate cheesy deal—on June 20th, 21st, and 22nd, all Mac & Cheese bowls will be available @ flat ₹199 on Zomato, Swiggy & EatSure.

The campaign rides on meme-culture energy and musical virality with creators and influencers spreading the word using hooks like: “Sirf cheese bolke mujhe ye mac and cheese free mil gaya!” (All I did was say cheese and I got free mac & cheese!)

To top it off, The Good Bowl and Zaynul Jiwani will create India’s first-ever Cheese Anthem—a crowd-sourced tribute to everyone’s favorite comfort food.

“At Rebel Foods, we constantly look for ways to connect with young audiences in formats they love—interactive, trend-driven, and delightfully offbeat. Bowl-O-Cheese isn’t just about cheese, it’s about giving people a reason to shout with joy—literally. It brings food and fun together in a way that only The Good Bowl can,” said Nishant Kedia, CMO – India, Rebel Foods.

With Bowl-O-Cheese, The Good Bowl is doing what it does best—delivering warm, flavorful moments with a playful twist. and beyond, it’s not just about eating cheese, but celebrating it with your whole voice. So get ready to shout, share, and savour the cheesiest bowls in town.

69% of Employers in E-Commerce and Tech Startups Plan to Expand Workforce in HY1 FY25–26: TeamLease Report

Bengaluru, 17th June 2025:  India’s e-commerce and tech startup sectors are showing signs of steady recovery, with hiring picking up again after a prolonged funding slowdown. According to the Employment Outlook Report (EOR) for HY1 (April–September FY 26) by TeamLease Services, 69% of employers in these industries plan to increase their workforce in the first half of FY 25-26. This growth is being driven by a renewed momentum in AI-driven product scaling, growth marketing, and cloud-native engineering.

Kartik_Narayan

According to the report, the Net Employment Change (NEC) for the e-commerce and tech startup sector is projected at +6.9% for the first half of FY25–26. The sector continues to rank among the top three in job creation, alongside the electric vehicle (7.1%) and automotive industries (+6.9%). The expansion is being driven largely by platform-first, B2C, and D2C startups that are prioritising operational efficiency and sustainable unit economics.

In the e-commerce and tech startup space, hiring is centred around high-impact technology and product roles. The report shows a strong demand for DevOps engineers, Product managers, and Full-stack developers. These roles reflect a clear transition in the industry from scale-at-any-cost hiring to more value-driven workforce strategies. At the same time, companies are preparing to meet evolving digital consumption patterns by building agile teams that can deliver faster innovation and better customer experiences.

Despite a more cautious funding landscape, hiring intent in the sector remains the strongest across all industries surveyed. About 12% of companies plan to reduce headcount, mainly in post-Series A and B firms focused on cost control and runway management. On the other hand, only 19% expect no change, indicating a gradual return of business confidence and hiring momentum.

Geographically, Bengaluru leads with 30% of the planned hiring, followed by Mumbai at 25% and Chennai at 23%. These cities remain the key hubs for startups due to their talent base and established digital ecosystems.

Looking at job functions, 73% of the new roles are expected in sales and marketing, followed by 63% in information technology, and 50% in blue-collar jobs. The high share of tech and customer-facing roles reflects how companies are focusing on building better products and reaching users more effectively. Blue-collar jobs, especially in logistics and fulfilment, continue to support e-commerce growth at the ground level.

Kartik Narayan, CEO-Staffing, TeamLease Services, said, “Despite a cautious macro environment, we’re witnessing a clear shift in how India’s tech startups approach growth and talent. The focus is moving away from aggressive expansion to building sustainable, value-driven business models. This is reflected in the way companies are hiring leaner teams with sharper skill sets, especially in product and digital roles that directly impact business outcomes. It’s not just about filling positions; it’s about building capabilities. The resurgence in hiring signals that startups are regaining confidence, not just in funding cycles, but in the long-term promise of India’s digital economy.”

The report by TeamLease Services leverages extensive primary and secondary research, drawing insights from over 1,263 employers across 23 industries and 20 cities, and shows how India’s e-commerce and tech sectors are slowly moving past the funding freeze and returning to a growth mindset. With hiring focused on high-impact roles and steady demand in key cities, these sectors are playing an important role in India’s digital economy journey. As companies become more selective and strategic in hiring, the focus is shifting toward building stronger, more resilient teams for the future.

Hindustan Zinc board approves first phase of doubling production capacity; to invest RS 12,000 crores

Udaipur, 17^th June 2025: Hindustan Zinc Limited , India’s only and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, today announced that its Board has approved the first phase of investments for doubling production capacity. The company’s Board of Directors approved the initial plans for expanding its integrated refined metal capacity by 250 KTPA (kilotonnes per annum) along with matching mines & mills capacity across multiple locations with an investment of nearly ₹12,000 crores.

India’s demand for zinc is projected to double over the next 5-10 years, driven by significant investments in infrastructure, including steel production, according to the International Zinc Association. Hindustan Zinc’s expansion aligns with the strong growth expected in domestic and global steel demand. The company plans to double its metal and silver capacities over the next five years, taking the total metal production capacity to over 2,000 KTPA and silver production capacity to 1500 tonnes. The Board has approved the project for setting up a new 250 KTPA integrated smelter at Debari in Udaipur district (Rajasthan) along with associated mines & mills expansion across its operations. The company’s current metal production capacity stands at 1.1 million tonnes. The project is targeted to be completed in a period of 36 months with an overall cost of nearly ₹12,000 crores.

This development is significant as it comes at the time of continued global deficit in the zinc market. Since the government disinvested its stake in 2002 and subsequent acquisition by Vedanta Group, the company’s zinc production has grown 4 times while silver production has grown more than 20 times. The company is amongst the lowest cost zinc producers globally and holds the 2^nd highest zinc reserves & resources globally with over 25 years of mine life.

Commenting on the development, Arun Misra, CEO – Hindustan Zinc Limited, said: We are excited to announce this 2x growth project towards doubling our capacity across zinc, lead and silver, which is strategically aligned with the country’s expanding economic landscape, increasing demand opportunities and keeping country self-reliant for Zinc. By closely matching the pace of national growth, we are confident that this will create significant value for our stakeholders and drive long-term success.”

Timbertales Luxury Resort Hosts International Yoga Day with Lakeside Yoga and Wellness Delights

Bengaluru, India, 17th June 2025: Nestled within 100 acres of Coorg’s verdant wilderness, Timbertales Luxury Resort invites guests to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21, 2025, with a serene morning yoga session and a thoughtfully curated wellness menu. This special package encourages guests to experience a harmonious balance of yoga, wellness therapies, and nature-inspired activities in a tranquil setting—promoting mindfulness, connection, and calm amid the lush Coorg landscape.

During the International Yoga Day, the Timbertales team would host guests to its free sunrise yoga practices around the serene lake with specialized instructors leading the group through refreshing asanas and pranayama to awaken the body and the mind. During the day, a special wellness menu, created by our Chef, will be on offer to replenish and revitalize.

At the Viyoma Wellness Centre, guests can indulge in revitalizing therapies, including the region’s only Turkish Hammam. Families can connect through mindful nature walks, a Coorg coffee experience exploring the region’s bean-to-brew heritage, and interactive storytelling sessions. Evenings come alive with Raagas by the Lake, featuring soulful classical music under Coorg’s glowing hills. For younger guests, the Bamboo Buzz Outdoor Play Area near the main restaurant offers swings and slides, ensuring fun for all while parents relax nearby.

International Yoga Day Highlights

• Morning Yoga: Complimentary sunrise sessions by the lake with expert instructors.

• Wellness Menu: A curated selection of nourishing dishes.

• Guided Meditation: Lakeside mindfulness for inner peace and presence.

• Wellness Therapies: Rejuvenating treatments at Viyoma Wellness Centre, including Ayurvedic massages and Turkish Hammam.

• Nature Walks: Guided strolls through Coorg’s vibrant flora and fauna for family connection.

• Coorg Coffee Experience: Immersive, family-friendly session exploring coffee heritage.

• Raagas by the Lake: Classical music at sunset for serene family bonding.

• Interactive Storytelling: Heartwarming tales to foster connection across generations.

• Bamboo Buzz Play Area: Nature-themed fun for kids with swings and slides.

• 2+1 Offer: Book two nights and enjoy a third night free for a rejuvenating weekend retreat.

Wellness Menu for International Yoga Day

A special wellness menu designed by our Chef will also keep guests energized and refreshed all day long with no-sugar, low-carb, low-sodium, keto-friendly, vegetarian, low-calorie dishes. The standouts are a rejuvenating hi-tea that includes herbal teas such as chamomile and green, light cucumber and pesto sandwiches and sugar-free chocolate; a healthy lunch that consists of pumpkin and kaffir lime soup, spiced lentil salad, and quinoa pilaf; and a refreshing breakfast that comprises green detox juice, oat porridge with nuts, and acai bowls.

Viyoma Wellness Centre Menu

Viyoma has a wide variety of 60-minute yoga journeys, ranging from the Viyoma Signature Hatha Yoga to detox postures, Vinyasa Yoga with smooth breath-led movements, and Therapeutic Yoga that supports personal health requirements. Other services are Pranic Detox, a classical pranayama-based breathwork practice, and Avartana Dhyana, an accessible movement meditation that improves thinking and handles stress and migraines. In addition to these are special wellness experiences that include the decadent Royal Retreat Hammam and Thousand-and-One-Nights Ritual, Shirodhara Ayurvedic oil treatment to calm the mind, and rejuvenating Abhyanga and Pizhichil massage with warm herbal oils.

Raminfo bags RS 474 crore order for installing Rooftop Solar Projects

Hyderabad, June 17, 2025: Raminfo Limited, a tech solutions provider, has bagged an order worth ₹474 crore from Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited (RRECL) through a consortium led by the Company. Raminfo has ventured into smart energy solutions to build a future with green and sustainable energy.

L. Srinath Reddy, MD, Raminfo Limited

The scope of the order includes the Design, Supply, Erection, Testing, and Commissioning, along with Comprehensive Operation & Maintenance (O&M) for a period of 25 years, of Rooftop Solar (RTS) Photovoltaic Power Projects to be installed on buildings owned by the State Government and its undertakings across Rajasthan, under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) aggregating to a total capacity of 73 MW.

L.Srinath Reddy, Managing Director of Raminfo Limited said, “Raminfo Limited will hold a 51% stake in this project through its SPV Raminfo Green Energy Private Limited, which will execute the project with a total capacity of 73 MW.

We offer reliable, innovative and affordable solar energy solutions. Our expertise and our unmatched project execution capabilities helps us deliver word class solutions with highest standards.

Solar is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the world and, with our integrated rooftop solar solutions, we aim to lead the charge of India’s energy revolution to achieve rooftop solar targets on state government buildings at various locations in Rajasthan.”

Raminfo has ventured into energy industry by incorporating Raminfo Green Energy Private Limited, a subsidiary on May 5, 2025, which operates in the electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply sector. It aims to create a sustainable world with solar energy.

The rooftop solar industry in India is experiencing rapid growth, with the total installed capacity reaching 13.7 GW by the end of December 2024. The market is projected to continue expanding, with some estimates suggesting a market value of USD 4.46 billion by 2033. This growth is fuelled by government initiatives, decreasing both set up and overall storage costs, per unit cost savings and growing awareness of the benefits of rooftop solar.

Especially both Central Government, State Governments and private sectors investments in green energy is going to boost overall capacity addition in green energy which in turn is going to contribute for the rapid growth of the company.

India’s cumulative total exports grows by 5.75% during April-May 2025 despite persistent trade frictions and policy uncertainty: PHDCCI

India’s cumulative total exports (merchandise and services) registered a y-o-y growth of over 5%, increasing from USD 134.6 billion during April-May 2024 to USD 142.4 billion during April-May 2025. This resilient exports growth is driven by positive momentum of 3% in merchandise and 9.1% in services exports during the same period, said Shri Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI, in a press statement issued here today.

Hemant Jain

In May 2025, India’s overall exports (merchandise and services combined) accelerated to USD 71.12 billion, marking a 2.7% increase compared to the same month last year. This growth is driven by high merchandise exports of electronic goods (54.1%), marine products (26.8%), organic and inorganic chemicals (16%), drugs and pharmaceuticals (7.4%), and readymade garments of textiles (11.3%), among others. On the import side, declines were seen in categories such as pulses, transport equipment, fertilizers, crude oil, coal, gold, and vegetable oils , he said.

Amid USA trade policy uncertainty, India’s trade relations remained resilient as exports to the USA grew by over 20% during April-May 2025 vis-a-vis April-May 2024. Trade with other major partners also showed promising trends. Exports to Australia surged by over 50%, Oman by 40.9%. China by 18.7%, and the United Arab Emirates by 12.3%, he said.

Going ahead, we anticipate exports to grow robustly and resiliently supported by government continuous efforts to diversify the export market and boost India’s exports competitiveness with initiatives like the recent restoration of RoDTEP benefits, he said.

Qlik Named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms

Philadelphia, PA/Bengaluru, India, June 17, 2025 – Qlik^®, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics, and artificial intelligence, today announced it has been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner^® Magic Quadrant^™ for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms. Qlik believes its recent innovations reinforce its commitment to helping organizations drive trusted business value through intuitive, user-centric analytics.

Qlik views its upcoming agentic experience as a reflection of its long-standing leadership in making analytics feel natural, flexible, and intuitive—building on its analytics engine and decades of innovation in user interaction. By combining conversational analytics, guided authoring, and context-aware automation, the agentic experience will enable users to move from question to insight with speed and confidence—raising the standard for how analytics supports better decisions across the business.

“Every day, our customers show us what’s possible when analytics are built for clarity, speed, and trust,” said Mike Capone, CEO of Qlik. “We’re making advanced capabilities feel intuitive—so more people can move from data to confident decisions without friction. That’s what agentic analytics is really about, and we’re just getting started.”

Qlik’s recent Qlik Cloud Analytics™ differentiators:

• Gartner Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice Recognition: Peer Insights scores and “willingness to recommend” reflect consistent satisfaction across industries and use cases.
• Analytics engine advantage: Unique engine lets users explore all data relationships without predefined queries—surfacing insights other tools miss.
• Built-in AI: New AI experiences brings together natural-language interaction, guided authoring, and automation to speed up confident decision making.
• Cloud-agnostic by design: Native support for major clouds and apps lets customers deploy flexibly, scale efficiently, and avoid vendor lock-in.

“Our commitment to making analytics truly agentic—embedding intuitive insights directly into users’ everyday workflows—is what we believe is driving Qlik’s clear momentum in this year’s Magic Quadrant,” said Brendan Grady, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Qlik’s Analytics Business Unit. “To amplify this impact, we’re deeply integrating data integration and quality into the analytics experience, ensuring users are empowered with trusted, actionable data at every decision point.”

“Qlik sets itself apart by allowing us to explore the full depth of our data—not just surface-level factoids,” said Max Mosky, SVP, Strategy, Operations, & Analytics at TouchPoint Support Services. “We can identify what’s truly driving operational performance, respond quickly, and turn insights into action. It’s not about reporting what happened—it’s about influencing what happens next.

As data ecosystems grow more fragmented and fast-moving, Qlik continues to deliver clarity at scale—connecting analytics and integration in a unified, trusted platform. Its roadmap reflects a disciplined focus on simplifying complex workflows and accelerating time to insight. It’s part of Qlik’s commitment to making smarter decisions simple, intuitive, and enterprise-ready.

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms, Anirudh Ganeshan, Edgar Macari, Jamie O’Brien, Kurt Schlegel, Christopher Long, June 16, 2025.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

TTK Prestige Launches Tri-Ply Hexamagic Cookware, Blending Non-Stick Innovation with Triply Durability

Hyderabad, June 17, 2025 – India’s leading kitchen and home appliances brand, TTK Prestige, recently declared the launch of its newest innovation in cookware Tri-Ply Hexamagic. The recently launched range combines the unparalleled resilience of triply construction with a game-changing honeycomb-patterned non-stick finish, ushering in a new era in high-performance cooking.

 Developed to meet the changing needs of Indian families, Tri-Ply Hexamagic is offered in fry pans as well as kadais. The USP of this range is its high-tech honeycomb design, which reduces direct contact of metal ladles with the non-stick coating. This design not only increases the durability of the coating but also ensures long-lasting performance despite frequent usage.

Prestige Tri-Ply Hexamagic cookware is backed by a fifteen-year warranty on the product and a three-year warranty on the non-stick coating, reaffirming the brand’s assurance of quality and reliability. The new line is also priced competitively to be affordable without sacrifice.

With the launch of Tri-Ply Hexamagic, TTK Prestige solidifies its role as a pioneering force in the industry, committed to making the lives of crores of Indian families better by way of exceptional kitchen innovation. The brand has raised the bar for innovation and performance in cookware. It reflects Prestige’s ongoing commitment to developing thoughtful, technology-driven kitchen solutions that elevate the cooking experience while delivering long-term value to our customers.