Category Archives: News

Rajiv, Prachenta Crowned Champions at East Zone Pickleball Meet

Apr 15 (BNP): The 4th East Zone Pickleball Championship 2025 wrapped up on a high note, with Rajiv Kumar and Prachenta Verma emerging as champions after impressive performances in their respective categories.

The tournament brought together talented players from across the region, creating an atmosphere filled with energy, competition, and sportsmanship. Matches were closely contested, with players showcasing skill, quick reflexes, and strong determination on the court.

Rajiv Kumar stood out with his consistent and confident gameplay, while Prachenta Verma impressed spectators with her calm approach and strategic play, securing her title with composure.

Organisers highlighted the growing popularity of pickleball in the region, noting that events like this are encouraging more players to take up the sport and compete at higher levels.

The championship not only celebrated top performers but also provided a valuable platform for emerging talent, reflecting the sport’s steady rise and increasing appeal among players and fans alike.

Esha Gogia Is On a Mission to Make Mumbai Fall in Love with Delhi’s Food Again

Esha Gogia is the founder of Pincode Delhi, a fast-growing North Indian food brand redefining how Mumbai experiences Delhi’s iconic flavours.

With a background in finance and a career rooted in the corporate world, Esha’s entrepreneurial journey began with a deeply personal insight — the noticeable absence of truly authentic North Indian food in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru. What started as a craving soon evolved into a clear opportunity.

Driven by this gap, Esha set out to build a brand that would go beyond surface-level replication and instead capture the depth, detailing, and emotional connect of North Indian cuisine. Her approach was hands-on and research-driven — travelling across Delhi and Amritsar, visiting over 30 restaurants, and meticulously curating flavours that define the region’s culinary identity.

In 2023, she launched Pincode Delhi as a modest 15-seater. Within a year, the brand scaled into a 60-seater and quickly built a loyal customer base — validating both the concept and the demand.

For Esha, however, the vision extends far beyond food.

She is focused on building what she calls a “premium comfort experience” where hospitality, familiarity, and emotional resonance are as important as taste. Her goal is to create a brand that people don’t just visit, but feel connected to.

Looking ahead, Esha plans to expand Pincode Delhi into larger, more experiential formats, including premium dining spaces and bar concepts — a relatively untapped opportunity within vegetarian-led brands.

Her philosophy is simple but uncompromising:

• “Authenticity is not optional — it’s the foundation.”

• “I want to build a brand that people don’t just know, but truly love.”

• “If I can bring even a small part of Delhi’s food culture to Mumbai, I’ve done my job.”

MS Dhoni Named Goodwill Ambassador for Cars24’s ‘Crashfree India’ Initiative

Indian Railways Announces Special Trains from Odisha for Summer Rush

Apr 15 (BNP): To manage the surge in passenger demand during the summer holiday season, Indian Railways has announced the operation of several special trains connecting Odisha with major cities across India.

The move is aimed at easing travel pressure on regular services and offering passengers more convenient and comfortable options during peak vacation time.

Officials said the additional trains will help reduce overcrowding and improve connectivity for long-distance travellers, making summer journeys smoother and more accessible.

The increased services are also expected to support tourism, as better rail connectivity will encourage more people to visit popular destinations during the holiday season while boosting travel activity across regions.

CNH Launches Pond Restoration Drive to Promote Water Conservation and Community Wellbeing

Greater Noida, April 15: CNH, a global leader in agriculture and construction equipment, launched its new CSR initiative, ‘Sarovar Sanrakshan’ (pond conservation), at Sunpura, Greater Noida, near its Tractor and Engine manufacturing plant. The project aims to rejuvenate the heritage Bhola Rawal Pond and transform it into an ecologically balanced and vibrant public space that promotes water conservation, biodiversity, and community wellbeing.

 The Bhola Rawal Pond Restoration Project will focus on the ecological restoration of the 6.77-hectare water body, including enhancements to aquatic ecosystem functions. The initiative will also improve community health and safety by mitigating environmental hazards such as foul odors and insect breeding. Through the adoption of green infrastructure, including plantation drives, wetland systems, and solar lighting, the project seeks to promote environmental sustainability. It will also support long-term community ownership through a village-led water body management committee.

Commenting on the initiative, Ravi Kundra, Director Manufacturing (Agriculture), CNH India said,

“Sarovar Sarankshan embodies our long-term commitment to responsible growth and sustainable community development in India. Water bodies are critical ecological assets that sustain biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and directly impact public health and livelihoods. Through the restoration of the Bhola Rawal Pond, we are not only revitalizing a historic water resource but also creating a scalable, community-driven model for integrated water management. Our focus is on building ecological balance while empowering local stakeholders to take collective ownership for its sustained preservation.”

Aligned with CNH’s CSR guidelines and broader sustainability commitments, the initiative contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6.6 on protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems and SDG 13 on Climate Action. The program was launched in the presence of members of the CNH Noida Plant leadership team – Sandeep Gupta, Director Sales (Ag), Sanjay Shridhar, Director Supply Chain, Rajender Chaudhry, Director Parts and Service, along with India CSR lead Kavita Sah &project implementation partner, ISAP India Foundation officials, Naveen Jha, Ashish Tiwari and Manish Paithankar.

FICCI Appoints Anant Swarup as Secretary General

Odisha to Roll Out Slot Booking System for Puri Jagannath Temple Darshan

Apr 15 (BNP): The Odisha government is set to introduce a slot-based booking system for darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, while retaining the existing queue (dhadi) system, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Wednesday.

He stated that both systems will operate simultaneously to improve crowd management and ensure a smoother darshan experience for devotees.

Under the new arrangement, devotees who book time slots will be guided to a designated holding area before proceeding for darshan of the Holy Trinity, helping reduce waiting time and streamline visitor flow.

The government is also planning infrastructure upgrades inside the temple complex, including the proposed air-conditioning of the Nata Mandap. The tender process for the project is currently underway.

The initiative aims to make darshan more organised and hassle-free while preserving traditional worship practices at the shrine.

R Ashwin Backs Ruturaj Gaikwad to Bounce Back as CSK Hit Winning Form

New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has expressed confidence in Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, saying the team’s recent victories will help him settle into the season after a difficult start.

CSK began their campaign with three consecutive losses but have since recovered with back-to-back wins against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, lifting team morale and easing early pressure.

Ashwin believes the improved results will allow Gaikwad to play with greater freedom as captain and focus on regaining his batting rhythm. He also suggested that a minor adjustment in approach at the top of the order could benefit the opener in the T20 format.

With momentum shifting in their favour, the five-time IPL champions will aim to maintain their winning run in the upcoming fixtures.

Indian Tanker ‘Jag Vikram’ Completes Hormuz Passage, Reaches Kandla

Gujarat, Apr 15 (BNP): An Indian-flagged LPG tanker, Jag Vikram, has safely arrived at Kandla Port in Gujarat after carrying out a successful voyage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route.

The vessel, owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, was carrying around 20,400 metric tonnes of LPG and had 24 crew members on board. It crossed the strategic waterway on April 11 before reaching Kandla on Tuesday morning, according to maritime tracking sources.

The safe transit is being seen as a reassuring development for India’s energy supply chain, given the importance of the Strait of Hormuz for global oil and gas movement.

The voyage also comes amid easing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, following reports of a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which has raised hopes of smoother maritime trade operations in the coming days.

St. Kitts & Nevis Opens High Commission in India to Boost Diplomatic Relations

New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): St. Kitts and Nevis has inaugurated its High Commission in India, marking a significant step forward in diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The establishment of the mission is expected to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges. It will also facilitate closer coordination between the two governments and improve engagement on bilateral issues.

Officials said the move reflects the growing partnership between India and St. Kitts and Nevis, with both sides looking to expand collaboration in multiple sectors.

The High Commission will also provide improved consular services, making support more accessible for citizens and strengthening people-to-people connections.