Tata Power Collaborates With Salesforce To Accelerate India’s Clean Energy Transition

- Strategic collaboration to digitally power nationwide rooftop solar, EV charging, and intelligent energy management businesses

- Enabling seamless partner and customer journeys while empowering teams to scale green energy capacity with speed and precision

Tata Power, one of India’s largest vertically integrated power companies, today announced its collaboration with Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM*, to digitally transform its rapidly expanding rooftop solar (RTS), EV charging, and smart home solutions businesses. The collaboration reinforces Tata Power’s long-term clean energy roadmap aligned with India’s net-zero ambitions by establishing a secure, intelligent, and fully integrated clean energy ecosystem powered by AI, automation, and data-driven insights. The platform will enable scalable growth, deeper partner and customer engagement, and operational excellence across the renewable energy value chain.

As part of this transformation, Tata Power has deployed Agentforce Sales, Agentforce Service, and Agentforce Marketing across its renewable energy subsidiary, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL). The Salesforce platform powers intelligent, AI-enabled workflows that enhance visibility, accelerate decision-making, and create seamless omnichannel experiences—driving efficiency, agility, and service leadership at scale.

Agentforce Sales and Agentforce Service form the foundation of Tata Power’s best-in-class omnichannel engagement model. Salesforce serves as a strategic digital backbone for Tata Power’s high-growth renewable energy businesses. The platform enables end-to-end digitisation of partners and customer journeys, delivering streamlined lead management, inventory visibility, process automation, and real-time performance tracking. This ensures enhanced transparency, operational efficiency, and a superior customer experience across touchpoints.

Additionally, Tata Power has developed a proprietary deep learning and agentic intelligence layer built on top of Salesforce to enable a zero-touch quality and safety validation process. This digital capability facilitates instant on-site verification and automated warranty generation, reinforcing Tata Power’s commitment to quality assurance and delivery excellence under its Solaroof offerings.

Driven by strong policy momentum under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, Tata Power’s residential rooftop solar segment has delivered over 200% growth across the past two financial years. Overall, the Company’s solar portfolio has achieved a fivefold increase in revenues between FY2020 and FY2025, reflecting accelerated market adoption, digital-led execution excellence, and expanding customer trust across segments.

Looking ahead, Tata Power and Salesforce will collaborate to co-innovate high-impact, agentic AI-led workflows designed to transform omnichannel customer and partner contact centre operations - driving faster resolution, proactive service, and predictive engagement.

Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO and MD Tata Power said, “Tata Power is leading India’s green energy transition by scaling rooftop solar nationwide, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and advancing intelligent energy management solutions. As we accelerate this growth, digital capability is a critical enabler of scale, speed, and customer trust. Leveraging Salesforce’s AI-powered platform, we are transforming customer and partner journeys with greater transparency and agility, while strengthening operational excellence. Together, we are building a future-ready clean energy ecosystem that advances India’s net-zero ambitions.”

Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO at Salesforce - South Asia, said, "The path to a sustainable future is being paved by visionary enterprises that are embedding intelligence, agility, and customer-centricity into the core of their operations. Tata Power’s digital-first approach to accelerating India’s green energy mission exemplifies how technology can be a powerful catalyst for national transformation. At Salesforce, we are proud to partner with Tata Power in building a future-ready energy ecosystem—one that harnesses the power of data, AI, and automation to drive scalable impact, inclusive growth, and long-term climate resilience.”

About Tata Power:

The Tata Power Company Limited, a leading integrated power company and a part of the Tata Group, India's largest multinational business conglomerate, owns a diversified portfolio of 16.3 GW. This portfolio spans the entire power value chain, from renewable and conventional energy generation to transmission, distribution, trading, storage solutions, and solar cell and module manufacturing. As a pioneer in India's clean energy transition, Tata Power has 7.5 GW of clean energy generation, constituting 46% of its total capacity. Committed to achieving Net Zero by 2045, Tata Power has successfully partnered with public and private entities across India's generation, transmission, and distribution sectors, serving ~13 million customers nationwide.

Photo Caption: (LtoR) Dr. Praveer Sinha , CEO & MD , Tata Power and Arundhati Bhattacharya , President & CEO Salesforce South Asia announce a strategic collaboration to fast‑track India’s clean energy transition in Mumbai.

MIA By Tanishq Marks 275-Store Milestone With Grand Launch In Bengaluru

Mia by Tanishq, one of India’s leading fine jewellery brands, has officially launched its 275th store in Kamanahalli, Bengaluru. The event was inaugurated by Ms. Shyamala Ramanan, Business Head, Mia By Tanishq and Mr. Ajay Dwivedi, Regional Business Head- South, Titan Company Ltd.

The new, flagship store celebrated this incredible milestone with irresistible offers and an exciting launch. The curtain raiser was followed by a cultural performance and the Pink Drive where women rode fifteen pink scooters through the streets of Kammanahalli in a vibrant 3.5 km-long convoy, finally meeting at the Mia by Tanishq store. The all-women ride featured influencers and models, who came together for a spirited journey filled with music, energy, and celebration as they made their way to the store.

Conveniently located at 509, 4th main, HRBR layout, 3rd Block, Kammanahalli Main Road, Bengaluru, the store spans across 1200 sq. ft. further solidifying the brand’s presence across the city. This expansion reflects the brand's commitment to being a go-to destination for stylish, contemporary jewellery.

Customers can explore a wide range of elegant pieces, including rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, neckwear, and mangalsutras, crafted in gold, diamonds, silver, and vibrant gemstones. Customers can also invest in the Golden Harvest Scheme with instalments starting at just Rs.2000/- and avail exclusive discounts of up to 75%* of their monthly investment value on stunning jewellery purchases at any Mia store across the country.

To mark the grand store launch, Mia announced its special Joy of Gifting offer where customers can get up to 20% off* on select diamond jewellery - and on purchases of ₹10,000 and above, receive a complimentary 5-gram silver coin*.

In celebration of the 275th store milestone, the brand also gave away 275 exclusive gifts, available for customers to claim at the flagship store. These offers are valid from 6th March 2026 to 8th March 2026, making it the perfect time for customers to add vibrant and stylish pieces to their collection.

The new store features ‘Bee my Valentine’, the latest Valentine’s collection, inspired by nature’s sweetest symbols of love – turning bees and honeycomb geometry into delicate, modern designs made for everyday romance. The store also houses ‘Manifest’, a collection that reimagines classic motifs like palace arches, paisley and the lotus in gold and natural diamonds, accented with pearls, multi-coloured sapphires and aventurine quartz.

The store brings together a diverse mix of classic Mia pieces, from the ‘Fiora’ collection’s floral, filigree-inspired designs reflecting spring and personal growth, to the ‘Cupid Edit 3.0’ collection’s chic gifting pieces. It also features the bold ’70s-inspired ‘Disco’ range and the symbolic ‘Evil Eye’ collection, offering something for every style and sentiment.

Speaking at the launch, Shyamala Ramanan, Business Head, Mia By Tanishq, said, “The launch of our 275th store in Kammanahalli marks a significant milestone in Mia’s growth journey. Bengaluru has been Mia’s hometown, and has always embraced contemporary design and self-expression, which makes it the perfect city for this landmark expansion. At Mia, we are committed to making fine jewellery approachable, versatile, and deeply personal for the modern woman. With thoughtfully curated collections, clutter breaking activations like the Pink Ride and engaging, fun in-store experiences made even sweeter with the Joy of Gifting launch offer, we aim to create more than just a retail space – we’re aiming to build a vibrant community around style, confidence, and everyday elegance.”

Harley-Davidson, Hero MotoCorp Accelerate Premium Network Expansion In India Launch Full-Line Dealerships In Kochi, Bengaluru

Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp, under their partnership, today announced the opening of their new full-line Harley-Davidson dealerships in Kochi, Kerala and Bengaluru, Karnataka. This milestone marks a significant step in Harley-Davidson’s expansion in India, bringing its network to 22 full-line dealerships nationwide. The expansion emphasizes the brand’s long-term commitment to the premium motorcycle segment in the country.

The new dealerships will retail the complete Harley-Davidson portfolio in India, spanning globally sourced CBU (Completely Built Unit) models as well as the Hero MotoCorp manufactured Harley-Davidson X440, X440 T and the variants. These outlets will ensure customers have seamless access to entire Harley-Davidson range under one roof and will represent the latest visual identity of Harley-Davidson brand. In addition, the dealership stores will also operate as fully 3S i.e. Sales, Service and Spares facilities along with Harley-Davidson Genuine Merchandise and Accessories; and manage the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G) community program via local chapters.

As part of the dealership inauguration, Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp are co-hosting Inaugural Rides- symbolic, community-led rides that bring together existing Harley-Davidson owners in each city to celebrate the brand’s legacy, values and spirit of freedom. Bengaluru hosted the Inaugural Ride on 1st March 2026, while Kochi will host its ride on 31st March 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, Ravi Avalur, Head - Harley-Davidson Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp said “The collaboration between Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp has enabled us to strengthen our presence in India with the introduction of new full-line dealerships that offer the complete Harley-Davidson segment. The announcement of these dealerships, along with the Inaugural Ride, reflects our continued shared commitment to building a strong and engaged rider community. This is especially meaningful in Kochi and Bengaluru, as both cities have a long history of riding culture. It also reflects our vision to build a strong, future-ready premium motorcycling ecosystem backed by world-class product, retail experience and aftersales infrastructure.”

The premium network expansion is gaining strong momentum, driven by the exceptional market response to the H-D X440, which has played a pivotal role in building consumer trust and expanding the Harley-Davidson community across India. The introduction of the H-D X440 T, with enhanced rider capabilities further strengthens the platform’s success thereby inviting a new generation of riders into the brand and ensuring the Harley-Davidson’s legacy remains relevant, aspirational and accessible. Further, the introduction of Cruiser Softail 117 lineup and return of CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) models towards the end of last year have further enhanced the customer experience of Harley-Davidson across India.

Harley-Davidson X440 range is available at 115 Hero Premia dealerships and 22 Harley-Davidson dealerships across the country. In addition, Harley Owners Group (H.O.G) – the world’s largest factory sponsored motorcycle club will be running 33 chapters in India with the addition of these new dealer chapters.

About Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarleyDavidsonindia/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harleydavidson_india/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/harleydavidsonindia

About Hero MotoCorp

Hero MotoCorp, headquartered in New Delhi, India, is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters for 25 consecutive years with ~$5 billion revenue. The Company’s global footprint spans 52 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and Latin America with a customer base of over 125 million. The Company operates eight manufacturing facilities - six in India and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh - along with two Research and Development centers: Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in India and Tech Centre Germany (TCG).

Hero MotoCorp is driving the transition to electric mobility through VIDA, powered by Hero. Strategic alliances with Harley-Davidson and Zero Motorcycles support the design and development of premium and electric motorcycles, respectively. Further demonstrating its commitment to the EV future, the Company has made strategic investments in two- and three-wheeler EV manufacturers, Ather Energy and Euler Motors. Hero MotoCorp is the only Indian two-wheeler manufacturer listed on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).

Hero MotoCorp’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Pawan Munjal, was named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate List of the 100 most influential leaders driving business climate action.

Beyond mobility, Hero MotoCorp is a major global promoter of sports, including golf, football, field hockey, and cricket. Hero MotoSports Team Rally is India's flag bearer in global rally racing.

Amazon India Signs MoU With Army Women’s Welfare Association To Expand Entrepreneurship Opportunities

* This was done to for women from military families

* MoU announced at Amazon’s annual event -- ElevateHER, that celebrates and supports women entrepreneurs and professionals

* As part of the MoU, Amazon to onboard hundreds of women entrepreneurs registered with Army Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) onto Amazon.in by 2029

* Amazon Saheli supports women-led businesses with access to Amazon’s nationwide customer base, along with dedicated account management support and onboarding assistance.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, Amazon India today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for women from Army families. The MoU, announced at Amazon's annual ElevateHER event, will enable hundreds of registered AWWA women entrepreneurs — including Spouses of Army Personnel, Spouses of Veterans, Veer Naris and Widows — to launch and scale their businesses on Amazon.in by 2029. As part of the MoU, Amazon will provide structured onboarding and training on e-commerce and marketplace best practices. AWWA entrepreneurs will also gain access to Amazon's fulfilment and logistics network, along with visibility of their products through the Amazon Saheli storefront. Together, this support will enable women from military families to build sustainable income opportunities by reaching customers across India.

Every entrepreneur who joins the Amazon Saheli program receives structured onboarding and ongoing support to help them build their business on Amazon.in. Training sessions cover key aspects of selling online, including inventory management and delivering a strong customer experience. In addition, the program offers assistance with product photography and cataloguing, along with access to analytics tools and business reports that support informed decision-making. Together, these capabilities enable women entrepreneurs to focus on product innovation and strengthening their brands.

According to Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, President AWWA, ““We are excited to work with Amazon and help our members turn their entrepreneurial aspirations into sustainable, scalable businesses. Through this MoU, we aim to create new opportunities for women from Army families. We hope this collaboration will enable them to pursue entrepreneurship with greater confidence and connect with customers across the country.”

According to Deepti Varma, Vice President, PXT, Amazon Stores India, Japan and Emerging Markets, “We are honoured to partner with AWWA to support women from military families in pursuing entrepreneurship opportunities. At Amazon, we are committed to providing access to markets and the support needed to build sustainable businesses online. Through this collaboration, women entrepreneurs will be able to access Amazon.in along with structured onboarding and guidance to help them establish and grow their business on Amazon.in.”

More about ElevateHer 2026: ElevateHER 2026 brought together women professionals and leaders for focused conversations on career growth. Amazon leaders engaged with over 150 participants in small-group mentoring sessions on AI, FinTech and emerging technologies, sharing practical insights into skills needed for high-growth sectors. The event also included a fireside chat on “Navigating Career Resilience” featuring prominent actress and screenwriter Kalki Koechlin and Deepti Varma, along with a workshop on financial independence led by fintech entrepreneur Aly Hajiani (ThatCreditCardGuy).

About AWWA

Established in 1966, the Army Women's Welfare Association (AWWA) is an NGO and welfare organisation supporting the families of Indian Army personnel, Veer Naris, Widows, Next of Kin (NOK), and Veterans. Operating across the nation through 7 Regional and 35 Zonal AWWA Centers, AWWA works to enhance the welfare and well-being of Army families through initiatives spanning vocational training, skill development, education support, health and wellness, rehabilitation programmes for children with special needs through 32 ASHA Schools nationwide, and support for Veer Naris, Widows, and dependents, as well as entrepreneurship promotion. Through structured livelihood and capacity-building initiatives, AWWA plays a pivotal role in strengthening financial resilience and social support systems for Army families across India.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.aboutamazon.in

Photo Caption: Left-Right :- Deepti Varma,VP, PxT, Amazon Stores India, Japan and Emerging Markets, kalki Koechlin, Actor and Author, Aruna Daryanani, Director, MX Player.   

AIG Hospitals Launches South India’s First ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Neuro-Radiosurgery Platform

*  Transforming Brain Tumor Treatment into a Non-Invasive Day-Care Procedure

AIG Hospitals announced the launch of the ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Neuro-Radiosurgery® Platform, the first installation of its kind in South India and only the second in the country, marking a major advancement in the treatment of brain tumors and complex neurological disorders. Designed exclusively for intracranial radiosurgery, ZAP-X enables doctors to treat brain lesions with extreme precision that too without open surgery, without incisions, and as a day-care procedure.

The system delivers highly focused radiation beams with sub-millimeter accuracy, targeting tumors and abnormal tissues while sparing healthy brain structures. For patients, this means a completely non-invasive treatment that is painless, requires no hospital stay, and allows them to return to normal life quickly.

Brain tumors and related neurological disorders represent a growing health burden in India. Traditionally, many of these conditions have required complex neurosurgery involving craniotomy, prolonged hospitalization, and significant recovery time. Stereotactic radiosurgery has emerged globally as a safer alternative for carefully selected cases, and the introduction of ZAP-X at AIG Hospitals brings one of the world’s most advanced neuro-radiosurgical technologies to patients across South India.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, said “At AIG Hospitals, our vision has always been to bring the most advanced medical technologies to patients in a manner that makes high-quality care both accessible and patient-centric. The introduction of the ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery Platform represents a major step in that direction. Conditions that once required complex brain surgery can now be treated with extraordinary precision, as a day-care procedure and without a single incision. For patients and families, this means less trauma, faster recovery, and renewed hope. We believe this technology will significantly benefit patients across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and neighboring regions, while further strengthening Hyderabad’s position as a center of excellence for advanced neurological care.”

The ZAP-X platform is designed to treat a wide range of intracranial conditions, including benign and malignant brain tumors, brain metastases, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), trigeminal neuralgia, and other complex neurological disorders. Highlighting the clinical scope of the technology, Dr. Subodh Raju, Director & Head – Neurosurgery, AIG Hospitals, said “Modern neurosurgery increasingly focuses on precision and minimal invasiveness. With ZAP-X, we are able to treat several brain conditions that previously required open surgery or complex radiotherapy protocols. This includes benign tumors such as meningiomas and acoustic neuromas, malignant tumors, vascular malformations, and severe facial pain conditions like trigeminal neuralgia. AIG Hospitals has built a strong multidisciplinary ecosystem involving neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuroradiologists, and medical physicists, ensuring that each patient receives a carefully coordinated treatment plan. Our goal is to deliver the best possible outcomes while preserving neurological function and quality of life.”

One of the areas where ZAP-X is expected to make a particularly significant impact is in the treatment of brain metastases, tumors that spread to the brain from cancers elsewhere in the body, most commonly from the lung, breast, or melanoma.

Brain metastases are among the most common brain tumors worldwide. Traditionally, treatment options have included open surgery or whole-brain radiation therapy, which can expose large areas of the brain to radiation and may lead to side effects affecting cognition and quality of life. In contrast, ZAP-X allows doctors to target only the tumor deposits with extreme precision, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy brain tissue.

Studies have shown that this focused approach can significantly improve outcomes, especially for patients who may have multiple small metastases, allowing them to receive effective treatment without the need for invasive surgery or prolonged hospital stays.

Prof. John R. Adler, renowned neurosurgeon, inventor of CyberKnife® and ZAP-X®, and one of the world’s foremost pioneers in radiosurgery, emphasized the broader potential of the technology adding “Radiosurgery has evolved tremendously over the past three decades, and ZAP-X represents the next generation of this field. While brain tumors remain a primary indication, the precision of this technology also opens up exciting possibilities in the treatment of functional neurological conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, movement disorders, and now we are seeing trials to treat depression as well. The goal has always been to treat disease with surgical accuracy but without the invasiveness of traditional surgery. It is gratifying to see institutions like AIG Hospitals bringing this level of innovation to patients in India.”

The installation of ZAP-X at AIG Hospitals also reinforces Hyderabad’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced healthcare technology and medical innovation, offering patients access to world-class treatment closer to home.

With its ability to treat complex brain conditions through precise, non-invasive, outpatient radiosurgery, the ZAP-X platform is expected to benefit thousands of patients across India and neighboring regions, transforming the landscape of brain tumor care and neurological treatment.

Japanese LifeWear Brand - UNIQLO Opens Second Store At The Phoenix Mall Of Asia In Bengaluru

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO today opened its second store in Bengaluru at Phoenix Mall of Asia, bringing LifeWear to even more customers in South India. The new store welcomed enthusiastic shoppers with special launch offers and in-store experiences designed to introduce customers to LifeWear - high-quality, thoughtfully designed, and functional everyday clothing. This marks another milestone in the brand’s steady expansion across India.

“We are delighted to open our second store in Bengaluru and deepen our connection with customers in the city,” said Kenji Inoue, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, UNIQLO India. “We were very grateful to see such a strong response to our first store in Bengaluru showing us that our LifeWear - simple, high-quality everyday clothing - connects strongly with people here. Through our new store at Phoenix Mall of Asia, we look forward to providing another high-quality shopping experience for the people of Bengaluru, making LifeWear accessible to more locals.”

Spanning approximately 17,000 square feet, the new store, nearly double the size of the brand’s first location in the city offers the full range of UNIQLO LifeWear for men, women, and children. Customers can explore signature innovations such as AIRism, along with globally loved essentials including Bratops, premium denim, and everyday wardrobe staples designed for comfort and versatility.

To celebrate the launch, UNIQLO introduced special opening offers and exclusive giveaways for early shoppers, creating a vibrant and engaging retail experience. The first 100 customers receive a Round Mini Shoulder Bag and a 1,000/- voucher redeemable on spends of 6,000/- and above, along with coffee and cookie from Blue Tokai. The brand also brought elements of local culture into the celebrations, giving shoppers an exclusive tote bag designed by Bengaluru artist, Neethi on spends above 6,000/- between 6 – 8th March, there by reinforcing its commitment to becoming part of Bengaluru’s dynamic community.

Photo Caption: (L-R: Chintala Venketesh - First customer, Anushka Biswas - Store manager, Kenji san - CFO and COO, UNIQLO India, Rashmi Neha - Mall CEO, Neha Kapoor - Retail Director & President Leasing).

Overview of the Store

Store Name: UNIQLO Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru
Address: Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru – 560092
Sales Floor Area: Approx. 17,000 sq. ft.
Opening Date: March 6, 2026

For more information about UNIQLO and its collections, please visit the website or download the UNIQLO India Official App.

About UNIQLO LifeWear

LifeWear is clothing that is made for all, designed to make everyone's life better. It is simple, high quality, everyday clothing with a practical sense of beauty - ingenious in detail, thought through with life's needs in mind, timeless in style, and always evolving.

About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 3.4 trillion yen for the 2025 fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 (US $23.16 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2025 rate of $1 = 146.8 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has a total of more than 2,500 UNIQLO stores across the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. The total number of stores across Fast Retailing's brands is now over 3,500.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere.  For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com. 

Aye Finance Announces Strong Q3 FY26 Results: FY26 Outperforms FY25 PAT Grows By 87% And AUM Surges By 23.5% YoY

Aye Finance, India’s leading NBFC specialising in micro-enterprise lending, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2025-26. Building on the momentum of its recent successful IPO, Aye reported robust year-on-year (YoY) growth across its key performance indicators, driven by deep penetration into India’s "missing middle" MSME segment.

Business Highlights Q3FY26

35% YoY Growth in Disbursement from INR 973 Crores to INR 1310 Crores

23.5% YoY Growth in AUM from INR 5145 Crores to INR 6356 Crores

41,015 new borrowers added in Q3FY26

Branch network growth by 9% YoY from 523 to 571 branches

Financial Highlights Q3FY26

Profit After Tax (PAT) grew 87.1% YoY from INR 23 crore to INR 43 Crore, resulting in RoA of 2.4% and RoE of 9.74%

GNPA was 4.94%, and NNPA was 1.98%

Four quarters of continuous reduction in Credit Cost, which stood at 4.67% in Q3FY26.

Credit Rating: A (Stable) by ICRA & India Ratings

Financial Highlights: 9M FY26

• Total income increased by 18.54% YoY to INR 1282 crore

• Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at INR 108 crore

Commenting on the performance, Mr Sanjay Sharma, Managing Director, Aye Finance Ltd, said, “Our Q3 results demonstrate the resilience of the micro-enterprise sector and our ability to bridge the credit gap for underserved businesses. Disbursals are accelerating, and we remain firmly on track to deliver the 29-30% AUM growth in FY26 and beyond. With asset quality improved to normalised levels, we have cleared the runway for a sharp, sustained uptick in profitability over the coming quarters. Our focus remains on sustaining this trajectory through disciplined underwriting and a customer-centric approach enabled by technology & data science”

About Aye Finance Ltd.

Aye Finance is a non-banking financial company – middle layer (“NBFC-ML”) focused on providing loans to micro-scale MSMEs across India. Aye offers a range of business loans for working capital and business expansion needs, against hypothecation of working assets or against security of property to customers across manufacturing, trading, service and allied agriculture sectors. Aye is among the leading nonbanking financial companies providing business loans to the largely underserved micro-scale enterprises in India, across 18 states and 3 union territories, with assets under management (“AUM”) of ₹ 6356 Crores as of December 2025. Aye offers small-ticket business loans with an average ticket size (“ATS”) on disbursement of ₹ 0.18 million to micro enterprises. The Company’s expertise in underwriting business cash flows of a variety of business clusters has enabled it to maintain stable credit costs and to profitably scale up its operations.

International Women’s Day Is A Reminder To Empower Women With Right Skills And Opportunities Who Can Help Transform Economies

This article highlights views of some leading Indian woman from all walks of life, who have risen to top management and entrepreneurs over the years.

Manisha Dubey, Head of IDEMIA India Foundation and VP – Marketing Communications & Brand at IDEMIA

“International Women’s Day is a reminder that empowering women with the right skills and opportunities can transform communities and economies. At IDEMIA India Foundation, we are committed to advancing digital inclusion by equipping women with future-ready skills in technology and innovation. Our initiatives focus on access to learning, mentorship, and meaningful career pathways, especially for those from underserved backgrounds. When women are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy, they not only build stronger futures for themselves but also drive sustainable progress for society. Investing in women’s potential is investing in a more inclusive and resilient tomorrow.”

Vasudha Madhavan, Founder & CEO, Ostara Advisors

“International Women’s Day is a moment to spotlight the growing role of women entrepreneurs and investors who are redefining the future of climate finance and clean energy. Across markets, more women are building ventures, mobilizing capital, and driving solutions that support a low-carbon and more resilient economy. The climate transition needs diverse leadership, and there is immense scope for women to shape how capital, technology, and policy come together to build the next generation of sustainable businesses. I strongly encourage more women to explore opportunities in climate tech and climate-focused sectors, where their ideas and leadership can make a real difference. Creating stronger support systems, access to funding, and leadership opportunities will help more women step forward and scale impactful climate solutions worldwide.”

Simmi Dhamija, Chief Operating Officer, AIONOS,

“AI today is at an inflection point when it comes to gender inclusion. On one hand, we’ve made visible progress: there is far greater awareness of bias and more deliberate efforts to audit datasets and models. But the reality is, much of AI still reflects the structural inequalities it learns from. Nearly half of AI systems studied globally continue to exhibit gender bias and women remain underrepresented in the very teams building these technologies. This creates a deeper challenge: we are not just inheriting bias; we are at risk of scaling it. From hiring algorithms to healthcare models and even everyday interfaces, AI can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or overlook gender-specific needs. The shift we now need is from ‘bias correction’ to ‘inclusive design by default.’ That means diverse development teams, context-aware datasets and AI systems that are tested not just for accuracy, but for equity. Because the true measure of AI maturity will not be how intelligent these systems are, but how fairly they serve everyone.”

Kavitha Ramachandragowda, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Routematic

“Gender equality is no longer an emblematic dialogue; it is a strategic industry priority. Genuine progress is reflected in who gets hired, who advances into leadership, and who feels supported enough to build long-term careers. Inclusion cannot rely on intent alone; it must be embedded into systems, infrastructure, and everyday decision-making.

At Routematic, we recognise that safe and reliable mobility is a critical enabler of workforce participation, particularly for women. When organisations invest in equitable hiring, leadership pathways, and safety-first, technology-driven transport solutions, they remove structural barriers that often go unnoticed. Equality must be experienced in daily operations — not discussed once a year. The goal is simple: create workplaces where opportunity is determined by capability, and growth is accessible to all.”

Jermina Menon, Brand & Marketing Strategiest, Bhartiya Urban

Marketing centric option: “Women today are not just consumers of brands; they are architects of culture and community. The most impactful marketing strategies emerge when diverse perspectives shape storytelling, experience design, and brand purpose. Women bring empathy, intuition, and data-backed insight together, enabling brands to move beyond transactions toward meaningful engagement. This Women’s Day, the focus must shift from representation in campaigns to representation in decision-making rooms where brand narratives are truly shaped.”

Generic option: “Women’s Day is a reminder that resilience, clarity, and innovation are powerful forces women bring to every table. True leadership is not about securing a seat; it is about building new tables where more women can lead, influence, and thrive. Empowerment cannot remain a theme for a day, it must become a growth strategy embedded in how we measure success, allocate opportunity, and amplify voices. When women stop underestimating their worth and start claiming space with confidence and purpose, industries don’t just diversify, they transform.”

Motorola Launched “motorola edge 70 fusion”, Bringing Breakthrough Camera Innovation, Immersive Visual Experience

* Other features includes on-device AI to mid-premium smartphone segment

* Motorola edge 70 fusion” launched; early bird sale starts today, 12 pm – featuring the world’s 1st 50MP Sony Lytia 710 sensor, luxurious fabric finish and a power-packed 7000mAh battery

Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology and innovation and India’s leading~ AI smartphone brand launched the “motorola edge 70 fusion”, bringing breakthrough camera innovation, immersive visuals, and next-gen on-device AI to the mid-premium smartphone segment. The device features the World’s 1st 50MP Sony-LYT 710 Camera with motoAI, delivering superior low-light clarity, blur-free shots, 100% True Colours and skin tones validated by Pantone™, and 4K video recording across all lenses. It sports an All-New Design with luxurious fabric finishes in Pantone™ curated colours, paired with India’s Only 144Hz 1.5K True Colour^ Quad-Curved Pantone™ Validated Display. Backed by a 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 68W TurboPower™ charging, powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4, and reinforced with IP68 + IP69 and MIL-STD-810H durability, the motorola edge 70 fusion delivers a true segment leading smartphone experience.

The motorola edge 70 fusion sets a new benchmark in imaging with the World’s 1st 50MP Sony LYTIA™ 710 Camera powered by motoAI. Featuring OIS and an advanced f/1.8 aperture, the new LYTIA™ 710 sensor delivers exceptional clarity, superior signal-to-noise performance, and outstanding low-light results with brighter highlights and deeper shadows. motoAI enhances textures, dynamic range, and motion detection in real time, ensuring crisp, blur-free captures even in fast-moving scenes. With Pantone™ Validated Colours and Pantone™ SkinTone™ Validation, the camera reproduces authentic, true-to-life colours and natural skin tones exactly as creators intended.

Complementing the main sensor is a 13MP Ultra-Wide + Macro Vision camera with 120° field of view for expansive landscapes and intricate close-ups, along with a 32MP front camera optimized for sharp selfies and crystal-clear video calls. The device supports Ultra-Sharp 4K video recording with Video HDR across all cameras, enabling seamless lens switching while filming. Advanced features such as AI Photo Enhancement, Adaptive Stabilization, Portrait Mode with multiple focal lengths, Auto Night Vision, Horizon Lock, and Hyperlapse, combined with powerful Google Photos AI tools, deliver a truly pro-grade AI camera system designed for effortless, cinematic creativity.

Blending craftsmanship with modern sophistication, the motorola edge 70 fusion introduces an All-New Design paired with luxurious linen-inspired fabric finishes, delivering a soft, warm texture that feels as premium as it looks. Despite housing powerful hardware, the device remains ultra-slim at just 7.99mm and lightweight at only 193g, ensuring exceptional comfort and balance in everyday use. The flawlessly curved front glass seamlessly merges into the back, eliminating sharp edges and creating a natural, ergonomic grip for extended usage. Available in three distinctive Pantone™ Curated Colours — Pantone™ Blue Surf, Pantone™ Country Air, and Pantone™ Silhouette — and complemented by first-ever accent colour detailing around the camera housing, the motorola edge 70 fusion makes a bold yet refined design statement with standout visual appeal and durability.

The motorola edge 70 fusion elevates visual excellence with India’s Only 144Hz 1.5K True Colour^ Quad-Curved Display, validated by Pantone™ for accurate colours and skin tones exactly as creators intended. The stunning 6.78” Super HD+ (1.5K) Extreme AMOLED panel delivers cinematic brilliance with HDR10+ certification, 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut, and 10-bit colour depth, producing lifelike contrast, richer gradients, and ultra-vibrant visuals. With a segment-leading 5200 nits peak brightness, the display ensures exceptional clarity even under harsh sunlight, while the 144Hz refresh rate enables ultra-smooth gaming. Enhanced with Smart Water Touch, SGS Eye Care Certification, and protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i, the device offers an immersive yet durable viewing experience. Elevating everyday entertainment further are dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos® and Hi-Res Audio, offering immersive, multidimensional sound with remarkable clarity and depth.

Despite its ultra-slim form factor, the motorola edge 70 fusion houses a Massive 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery, engineered to deliver up to 52 hours of battery life without compromising performance. Designed for uninterrupted streaming, gaming, 4K recording, video calls, and social media usage, the advanced silicon-carbon technology ensures long-lasting endurance in a sleek profile. Complementing this is 68W TurboPower™ charging, which provides a full day’s power in just 10 minutes, enabling users to refuel quickly and stay productive and entertained without pause.

Powering the motorola edge 70 fusion is the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering major upgrades across AI, CPU, and GPU performance for faster, more immersive experiences. Built on the new Qualcomm® Oryon CPU architecture, it offers a 27% performance boost and an impressive 1Mn+ AnTuTu score, making multitasking, gaming, and heavy tasks seamless. A redesigned GPU enables 30% better graphics performance, while a 65% faster NPU powers smarter on-device AI experiences with co-pilot and Perplexity built in. Backed by a 4473mm² vapor chamber for improved cooling, up to 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 16 5G bands with Wi-Fi 6E, it ensures ultra-smooth performance and blazing-fast connectivity.

The motorola edge 70 fusion also comes with moto ai 2.0, delivering next-level intelligence. It brings Next Move contextual suggestions that understand what’s on your screen and offer the right actions in real time, along with creative tools like AI Image Studio, Sketch to Image, Style Sync, Text to Sticker, and avatar creation. Productivity is elevated with Catch Me Up 2.0, Pay Attention live transcriptions, AI Playlist Studio, Global Search, Auto Screenshot Blur, and seamless cross-device task flow via This On That. Features such as Remember This and Recall act as a smart memory vault, while Perplexity integration enables instant exploration, planning, and contextual recommendations. With the freedom to choose between motoAI, Copilot, Perplexity, and Google Gemini, users experience truly versatile, intelligent assistance.

The motorola edge 70 fusion meets ultimate military standards for durability, passing 16 tests of MIL-810H Military Grade Certified Protection. All while maintaining a sophisticated, elegant look and feel. It’s protected against extreme temperatures, including harsh winters as cold as -20°C or scorching summer days as high as 60°C, even the blazing temperatures inside a parked car. It also withstands up to 95% humidity. With the Highest level of water protection IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering superior protection against dust, dirt, sand, and high-pressure water, it’s designed to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. T.M. Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola India, said, “At Motorola, we continue to challenge conventional boundaries by combining purposeful innovation with a deep understanding of how consumers live, create, and connect today. With the motorola edge 70 fusion, we have focused on delivering an exceptional camera performance, design excellence, intelligent experiences, and dependable power and performance in an ultra-refined form factor. This launch reflects our commitment to moving beyond specifications and creating technology that feels personal, expressive, and effortlessly powerful. It marks another important milestone in our journey to deliver premium, design-led and AI-driven experiences that elevate everyday life in a meaningful way.”

Running on Hello UI based on the latest Android 16, the motorola edge 70 fusion comes with a promise of 3 OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates. with the device also comes with NFC support and enhanced software experiences like Moto Secure 5.0 with ThinkShield, Family Spaces, Moto Unplugged, and intelligent system optimization, the device ensures robust privacy, security, and long-term reliability.

Bringing together pro-grade imaging, refined fabric-inspired design, powerful performance, immersive audio, and intelligent software, the motorola edge 70 fusion redefines what users can expect from a mid-premium smartphone—delivering a seamless blend of style, substance, and innovation in one thoughtfully crafted device.

Availability:

The motorola edge 70 fusion will be available in three storage variants 8GB RAM + 128GB, 8GB RAM + 256GB and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant and will come in three luxurious Pantone™ curated colour options — Pantone™ Blue Surf, Pantone™ Country Air and Pantone™ Silhouette. All variants feature a refined, fabric-inspired premium finish designed to deliver a soft, tactile in-hand feel while enhancing everyday grip and sophistication, seamlessly blending luxury aesthetics with durable craftsmanship.

Consumers can be the first to own the Motorola edge 70 fusion on 6th March between 12pm-4pm as part of an exclusive, limited stock, early bird sale on Flipkart.

The device will formally go on sale from 12th March 2026, 12pm onwards on Flipkart, Motorola.in, and at leading retail stores across India, at an effective launch price starting just INR 24,999*.

LAUNCH PRICE

Edge 70 Fusion 8/128 GB : Rs 26,999

Edge 70 Fusion 8/256 GB : Rs 29,999

Edge 70 Fusion 12/256 GB : Rs 32,999

Affordability Offer details:

Bank Offer: ₹2,000 Instant Discount on HDFC & Axis Credit Cards along with No Cost EMI for 3 & 6 months on Axis & SBI Credit Cards.

Exchange Offer: Flat ₹2,000 Exchange Bonus on all brands.

NET EFFECTIVE PRICING (including offers)

Edge 70 Fusion 8/128 GB : Rs 24,999*

Edge 70 Fusion 8/256 GB : Rs 27,999*

Edge 70 Fusion 12/256 GB : Rs 30,999*

Operator Offer:

Free access to Google Gemini Pro Plan for 18 months, worth Rs. 35,100

To know more about the product visit:

Flipkart - https://www.flipkart.com/motorola-edge-70-fusion/p/itm0119095a14fb0?pid=MOBHJ7TXGWKERGJG

Motorola website - https://www.motorola.in/smartphones-motorola-edge-70-fusion/p?skuId=633

With US Exit, Questions Rise Over WHO’s Global Relevance — Will India Reconsider Its Stance?

· America’s exit raises concerns over WHO’s financial stability and global health leadership, exposes structural weaknesses.

· US exit threatens WHO’s funding base, raising questions over reforms, efficiency and accountability.

· India as a leading force in the Global South might need to recalibrate WHO’s alignment with local public health policies and approach.

Recently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & the U.S. Department of State announced the United States’ completion of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the organization's inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. This prompted countries worldwide to reassess how international health frameworks influence domestic public‑health decision‑making.

The global health system often overlooks national contexts, struggles with flexible policymaking, and prioritizes ideology over results. This moment of recalibration provides an important opportunity for India to reflect on its long‑standing tradition of public‑health self‑reliance. India has historically demonstrated strong public‑health leadership when it has taken decisions rooted in local evidence. From scaling HIV/AIDS treatment with locally produced, affordable generics, to deploying digital platforms like CoWIN for one of the world’s largest vaccination drives, India succeeded in creating blueprints for health sovereignty.

Tobacco control is a prime example of how global policy can be shaped by donor priorities. President Trump on January 20, 2025, announced the U.S. plan to leave the WHO. During this yearlong process, WHO stopped receiving funding from its largest donor creating an opportunity for philanthropic entities like Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to step in and support specific health agendas. The concentration of influence has reignited discussions on whether global frameworks sufficiently represent the diverse needs of the Global South.

India’s tobacco policy landscape reflects how these global imbalances are playing out in real time. With over 267 million users—many of whom rely on smokeless or informal products—India has one of the world’s largest and most diverse tobacco-using populations. Over the past decade, India has adopted policies on tobacco control within WHO’s framework which one can debate to be more externally aligned than local evidence based.

As a part of this WHO compliance, India banned alternatives to smoking under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) in 2019 without any independent domestic research to assess comparative risks, and without reviewing the growing body of international scientific evidence differentiating these products. As a result, adult smokers in India have no access to regulated, scientifically evaluated alternatives—depriving them of genuine products with harm reduction benefits and restricting their freedom of choice. This vacuum also fuels illicit markets and holds back the public‑health gains.

Dr. Lancelot Mark Pinto, Pulmonologist and Epidemiologist Consultant at P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre stated, “Health policy needs to be data-driven, with local preferences, cost-effectiveness and social norms taken into account. Something as simple as ORS, with no pharma-lobbying or vested stakeholders possibly saved more lives than many drugs combined and is a great example of how local solutions need to be prioritized. A blanket ban deprived current smokers of safer harm reducing alternatives and was not science driven. While the loss of funds and know-how from the WHO will be missed, this is an opportunity for us to ramp up local research and have the results of the research drive policy.”

Prof Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos, Cardiologist and most-cited harm reduction researcher in Greece stated, “Today we still have 1.2 billion smokers in the world and that big countries like India and Brazil are deprived of the opportunity to engage in a risk reduction strategy and deprive smokers of their right to less harmful alternatives is a serious issue. It has nothing to do with science, because science is quite clear. And that raises a lot of ethical questions about why smokers are not given what they need and what they deserve.”

As the broader international environment evolves, India has an opportunity to reaffirm a model of health sovereignty that is shaped by scientific evaluation, population‑specific local realities, and the right of adults to access less harmful choices. Strengthening domestic research, modernising regulation, and enabling structured stakeholder engagement will be key to building a public‑health pathway that reflects India’s needs. 

NABARD In Partnership With Gates Foundation And Dalberg, Launches “National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge”

* This is being done to build Climate Intelligence for Rural India

* Applications open from 6 March 2026 for innovators to develop near-term climate hazard forecasting models and practical dashboards

* Top three teams receive awards of ₹15 lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹5 lakh

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), in collaboration with The Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors has announced the launch of the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge, a national initiative to strengthen India’s climate resilience architecture by building the foundational layers of a National Climate Stack for rural India.

The Challenge is open for applications and details are available at https://www.climatestackinnovationchallenge.com/

India’s climate risks are intensifying, with heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones placing increasing pressure on agriculture and rural livelihoods. While climate data availability has improved, near-term hazard forecasting remains fragmented across datasets and siloed models. Existing risk management systems remain largely reactive, underscoring the need for forward-looking, interoperable, and decision-ready climate intelligence.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shaji, Chairman, NABARD stated that, “At a national level, we have indeed covered a vast distance in climate data collation and analysis. The challenge is that these datasets sit in isolated websites. The National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge is an effort to bring the best minds to come forward and help us develop a solution which brings all these data streams together in a seamless manner. The larger objective is to develop a tech solution which truly democratizes climate data in a way which has not been done till now. In that way this challenge is in complete sync with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of leveraging technology to build a more resilient rural India”

Objective

The Challenge seeks to mobilize India’s scientific and innovation ecosystem to contribute to the development of a National Climate Stack. Specifically, the Challenge seeks proposals that:

Credible near-term (10–15 year) climate hazard forecasting frameworks that can serve as the foundational forecasting layer of the Climate Stack

Practical use-case dashboards built on top of the hazard layer to demonstrate operational applications and system integration

Together, these efforts aim to move from climate data aggregation toward operational climate intelligence for agriculture, rural finance, and public planning.

Challenge Structure and Timelines

The Innovation Challenge will follow a structured, multi-stage process:

Open Call (6th March 2026): A national call inviting proposals from research institutions, universities, startups, and private-sector innovators.

Screening and Shortlisting (March–April 2026): Structured review of submissions to shortlist high-potential teams based on eligibility, problem understanding, and proposed methodology.

Guided Model Development (April–May 2026): Shortlisted teams will participate in a 6–8 week development sprint to refine and document their climate hazard models, with expert inputs.

Technical Validation and Jury Selection (May–June 2026): Independent technical assessment followed by jury-led selection of final awardees.

Submissions will be assessed on scientific rigor, explainability, practical relevance, interoperability, and scalability.

DiCRA and Governance

The Challenge is anchored in DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture - https://dicra.nabard.org/), NABARD’s climate data platform. Through this initiative, NABARD seeks to strengthen DiCRA’s evolution from a digital public good into a digital public infrastructure capable of supporting interoperable, forecasting-enabled climate intelligence.

NABARD will serve as the anchor institution for the Challenge with The Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors acting as strategic partners.

Awards and Way Forward

The top three solutions will receive awards of ₹15 lakh, ₹10 lakh, and ₹5 lakh, respectively. Selected solutions may also be considered for post-Challenge pilots and adoption pathways through NABARD and partner programmes.

Freshworks Unifies Global Sales Organization To Accelerate Growth In India

* Promotes Chief of Global Field Operations Ian Tickle to Chief Revenue Officer

Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ: FRSH), the leading provider of uncomplicated AI-powered software, today announced leadership changes under its CEO and President Dennis Woodside.

With employee experience at the forefront of our strategy and revenue growth plans, the Company has decided to unify its global sales organization under its current Chief of Global Field Operations, Ian Tickle.

“By unifying our sales organization under a single leader, we believe we can accelerate growth and deliver exceptional value to our global customer base,” said CEO Dennis Woodside. “Ian has a proven track record and played a significant role in Freshworks outperforming for the last five consecutive quarters, underscoring his ability to consistently drive high-impact results.”

Tickle will serve as the Company’s Chief Revenue Officer effectively immediately. He will be responsible for overseeing all sales, customer success and customer experience functions. Tickle has been Freshworks’ Chief of Global Field Operations for the past year and prior to that, he led the field sales group for Europe. During his tenure with Freshworks, Ian has built a true field and enterprise selling machine.

Prior to Freshworks, he was President and Chief Revenue Officer at Domo and Vice President EMEA, SaaS Solutions, at Oracle. Throughout his career, Tickle has demonstrated expertise in scaling global sales operations, driving revenue growth in competitive markets, and leading organizations through critical transformation initiatives.

As a result of this decision, Chief Integrated Customer Growth Officer Mika Yamamoto will depart Freshworks.

Freshworks recently announced in their Q4 and full year 2025 financial results that the company achieved profitability and record free cash flow generation, and raised revenue estimates for fiscal year 2026. The Company today is reaffirming its financial estimates for both the first quarter ending March 31, 2026, and the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, as previously communicated on February 10, 2026.

About Freshworks

Freshworks Inc. builds uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional employee and customer experiences. Its enterprise-grade solutions are powerful yet intuitive, and quick to deliver value. With a people-first approach to AI, Freshworks helps teams be more effective and organizations more productive. Nearly 75,000 companies — including Bridgestone, New Balance, S&P Global, and Sony Music — trust Freshworks to improve service efficiency and fuel long-term loyalty. For the latest updates, visit freshworks.com and follow Freshworks on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

Entrepreneurship Education Plays A Lead Role In Shaping India’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Entrepreneurship has assumed a vital prominence in the Indian economy and society. Strong public policies and good governance structures nurture the developments and direct them in a non-disruptive and constructive manner. The discipline has assumed the potential of a development strategy, efficiently targeting harnessing of resources, amalgamating the power of human resources, capital, skills and other important supplies to create an enterprise which in turn helps combats poverty, creates employment and enhances the country’s GDP.

Efficient entrepreneurial skills, good market awareness, sustainable financial management, clear business models can help a business scale up effortlessly. Structured classroom training combined with hands-on mentorship and real-world exposure can significantly improve a startup’s chances of success.

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad is playing a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. EDII possesses more than 40 years of experience in entrepreneurship education, training, skill building, MSME growth, startups, innovations and institution building. It is a Centre of Excellence in the skilling ecosystem, as recognised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, GoI.

At EDII, postgraduate education was never designed to produce only managers; it was designed to produce owner managers, family-business successors, intrapreneurs and community change-makers.

Flagship Programmes

Post Graduate Diploma Management-Entrepreneurship (PGDM-E) Two-year, full-time, AICTE approved

The course, launched in 1998, encompasses the entire New Enterprise Creation process from idea generation to preparation of a detailed project report. The students receive comprehensive knowledge of the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Course Highlights

New Enterprise Creation specialization to develop first generation entrepreneur.

Family Business Management specialization to ensure sustenance and growth of family business by ensuring a 5-year growth cum diversification plan.

Technology Entrepreneurship specialization to promote tech led enterprises.

Post Graduate Diploma Management- Innovation Entrepreneurship & Venture Development (PGMD-IEV) Two-year, full-time, AICTE approved

In keeping with the Government of India’s Start Up Initiative the course fosters technology-based innovation in business. The curriculum is outcome-oriented and enables students to validate ideas, innovate, test markets and build a successful technology driven start up.

Course Highlights

Experiential learning through Technology based Incubator at EDII, the Centre for Advancing and Launching Enterprises (CrAdLE)

Exposure to innovation and technology commercialization.

PGDM (Online): AICTE-approved online PGDM and executive programmes extend EDII’s pedagogy to mid-career professionals with flexible delivery, industry panels and project assessments. Recognising that entrepreneurial competencies are equally critical within corporate environments, EDII’s Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) offers ‘Corporate Entrepreneurship’ as a distinctive specialisation.

What separates EDII’s PGDM courses from a typical management degree is how the curriculum is wired to enterprise outcomes:

Milestone-based enterprise building (students are expected to launch pilots during the programme duration itself).

Live rural and urban immersion projects that expose students to customer realities and supply-chain constraints.

Modules on family business succession, social enterprise, and tech-for-tradition that reflect EDII’s inclusive mandate.

Strong emphasis on IP, legal aspects and go-to-market in the IEV programme.

EDII’s in-house incubator - CrAdLE- that closes the loop from idea to market:

In this era driven by technology, innovative tech-based business ideas are revolutionizing the business landscape. Initiated in 2016, the Centre for Advancing and Launching Enterprises (CrAdLE) is a technology business incubator hosted by EDII, Ahmedabad and catalysed & supported by National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), DST, Govt. of India. CrAdLE extends technical expertise, advice on intellectual property, mentoring and assistance in business plan, networking, sources of financing and working space to pioneering ideas in the segments of manufacturing, food processing, renewable energy, healthcare and many other emerging areas.

The results have been quite remarkable. So far, 145 Startups have been incubated, over Rs.10 crore of funds have been raised through Government Schemes and seed funding through Investors has been received to the tune of Rs. 100 crore +.

As India’s entrepreneurial landscape evolves, institutions a major step in the direction of assimilating technology more closely, in the curriculum, includes the addition of a new specialization of Technology Entrepreneurship, in EDII’s PG Diploma in Management- Entrepreneurship course. With deep tech gaining momentum and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) also placing significant accent on promoting such tech led enterprises, this learning will open new gates for students targeting enterprises in groundbreaking, tech-driven sectors. Before taking the plunge, every potential entrepreneur must understand the significance of extensively researching the business opportunity that he/she opts for. Generally, budget is a constraint for most young enthusiasts; which is where counselling, entrepreneurship education and guidance become important so that they learn about various funding sources, policies, schemes and avenues that they can tap. EDII PG alumni gain on this front in the market. Another aspect that I would like to add here is the importance of entrepreneurial competencies among working professionals. Abilities of innovation, creativity, problem solving and entrepreneurial rationality could be assets for working executives, imparting them the wisdom to plan strategically and drive growth. Every employer prefers such employees with an entrepreneurial mindset. EDII’s Post Graduate Diploma in Management (online) offers ‘Corporate Entrepreneurship’ as a unique specialization. The module stems from EDII’s years of experience in conducting short duration ‘Intrapreneurship Development Programmes’ for noted corporates. These programmes aimed at enhancing managerial skills, leadership excellence and entrepreneurial thinking & mindset among the officials.

As India’s entrepreneurial landscape evolves, institutions that combine academic rigor with real-world enterprise creation will define the next generation of founders. At EDII, postgraduate education is not confined to classrooms, it is lived through incubation, market immersion, policy integration, and sustained mentorship. The Institute is committed to shaping entrepreneurs who build viable ventures, strengthen communities, and contribute meaningfully to India’s inclusive economic growth story.

Quest Global Reports 90% Women In Technical Roles, Women In Leadership Roles Strengthens

● 9 out of 10 women at Quest Global are in engineering roles, helping to solve its client’s most complex challenges

● Women’s managerial promotions rise to 25% in 2025

● Women in leadership roles grow by 5 percentage points year-on-year

● Female attrition drops to 6% in FY26 YTD from 18% in FY24

Quest Global, the world’s largest independent pure-play engineering services company, today highlighted the growing impact of women engineers across its global workforce ahead of International Women’s Day 2026, underscoring measurable progress in technical representation, leadership inclusion, and employee retention.

Women represent 25% of Quest Global’s global workforce, with several locations demonstrating near-balanced gender representation. At the company’s Trivandrum center, one of the largest delivery centers for Quest Global, the workforce composition stands at 46% women and 54% men, reflecting a balanced and inclusive environment and its belief that diversity is a critical component to help solve its clients’ most complex engineering problems.

Notably, 90% of women employees at Quest Global are in technical roles meaning nine in ten women are directly engaged in engineering and technology functions. While women globally account for approximately 28% of the STEM workforce, Quest Global’s differentiator lies in the nature of participation, with women overwhelmingly embedded in core engineering roles rather than non-technical functions, reinforcing the company’s engineering-led talent model.

The company has also recorded measurable progress in leadership inclusion. Women’s share of promotions into managerial roles rose to 25% in 2025, up from 20% in 2024 marking a 5 percentage-point year-on-year increase between 2024 and 2025.

Quest Global has also seen significant improvement in employee retention across the organization. Overall voluntary attrition has declined sharply between FY24 and FY26 YTD, with women consistently recording lower attrition levels than men.

Female attrition has reduced substantially to 6% in FY26 YTD, compared to 18% in FY24, indicating stronger engagement, career continuity, and workplace stability for women.
Highlighting Quest Global’s focus on building inclusive engineering careers, Sonia Kutty, Senior Vice President – People & Culture, Quest Global, said “At Quest Global, our focus has been to ensure that women engineers are not just represented, but meaningfully engaged in core technical roles and leadership pathways. Seeing over 90% of our women employees contributing directly to engineering reflects our commitment to creating an environment where technical talent can thrive. The steady increase in women moving into managerial roles and the significant improvement in retention reinforce that inclusive growth is not a one-time initiative, but a sustained organizational priority.”

Ajit Prabhu, Co-founder & CEO, Quest Global, added, “Engineering innovation thrives on diverse perspectives, and increasing participation of women in technical roles is essential to solving the complex challenges industries face today. Our progress reflects a deliberate effort to build long-term careers for women engineers — from early talent development to leadership opportunities. As we look ahead, enabling more women to shape the future of engineering will remain central to how we build resilient teams and deliver impact for our customers and communities

Yumi Clevenger-Lee, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Sponsor of the “together” Employee Resource Group (ERG), Quest Global, said: “At Quest Global, building engineering excellence goes hand in hand with building inclusive career pathways. Enabling more women to participate and lead in core technical roles is essential to driving innovation and long-term impact. Our continued progress reflects a focused effort to create opportunities where women engineers can grow, contribute meaningfully, and advance into leadership. As we look ahead, strengthening diverse representation across engineering will remain central to how we shape the future. My own progression within the organization reflects the strength of a performance-driven culture that prioritizes capability, leadership development, and long-term career growth.”

As industries globally navigate talent shortages and rapid technological transformation, strengthening participation of women in engineering roles is emerging as a critical growth driver. Quest Global’s workforce trends demonstrate how sustained focus on technical opportunity, leadership pathways, and retention can contribute to building a more inclusive engineering ecosystem.

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, Quest Global has also released a special three-minute video featuring two of its women leaders, reinforcing its commitment to advancing women in engineering, leadership pathways, and inclusive career growth. The video can be viewed here

About Quest Global

At Quest Global, it's not just what we do but how and why we do it that makes us different. We're in the business of engineering, but what we're really creating is a brighter future. For over 25 years, we've been solving the world's most complex engineering problems. Operating in over 18 countries, with over 93 global delivery centers, our 21,500+ curious minds embrace the power of doing things differently to make the impossible possible. Using a multi-dimensional approach, combining technology, industry expertise, and diverse talents, we tackle critical challenges faster and more effectively. And we do it across the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Hi-Tech, MedTech & Healthcare, Rail and Semiconductor industries. For world-class end-to-end engineering solutions, we are your trusted partner.

Air India Expands Asia Footprint With New Routes To Vietnam And Japan

· Delhi-Hanoi services starting 01 May; Hanoi becomes second destination in Vietnam

· Mumbai-Tokyo (Haneda) services to begin 15 June, complementing daily flights to Tokyo from Delhi

Air India announced the launch of two new international routes as part of it continued expansion across Asia.

Beginning 01 May 2026, Air India will operate non-stop flights between Delhi and Hanoi, thus making Hanoi the airline’s second gateway in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City.

Air India will also operate non-stop flights between Mumbai and Tokyo (Haneda) from 15 June 2026, in addition to its Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda) services.

Enabling flexible Open Jaw itineraries to and from Vietnam

The new services to Hanoi will operate five times a week, complementing daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City. This provides greater flexibility to travellers who intend to visit Vietnam with open jaw itineraries, i.e. entering from Hanoi and exiting Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa.

Air India will deploy its A320neo aircraft on the Delhi-Hanoi route, featuring world-class cabin interiors across Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The opening of this new route adds 6,560 seats to and from Vietnam each month.

Air India flights to and from Vietnam enable convenient connections to several destinations across the airline’s domestic and international route networks, including the United Kingdom and rest of Europe.

Boosting connectivity to Japan

The new services between Mumbai and Tokyo (Haneda) will operate four times a week with Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

Recently, Air India increased frequency between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda), going from 4x weekly to 7x weekly. The airline has also upgraded its product offering on the route, effective 14 February 2026, deploying its B787-9 aircraft, featuring world-class cabin interiors and introducing Premium Economy on the route for the first time.

With this, Air India guests flying to Japan now experience a transformed onboard flying experience with new cabin interiors, modern inflight entertainment systems, WiFi internet connectivity, and refreshed inflight meal menus and beverage collection.

Air India has an active codeshare agreement with fellow Star Alliance member airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), to provide its guests convenient onward connections from Tokyo Haneda to 6 other major cities in Japan, namely Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Since Air India’s privatisation, we have significantly grown our network across Southeast Asia and the Far East, having added several new routes, optimised flight schedules to enable convenient cross-continent connections, forged new partnerships with other carriers, and deploying upgraded cabin products progressively.”

He added: “Japan and Vietnam have both emerged as fast-growing destinations for Indian travellers, while India’s economic and commercial ties with both nations continue to deepen and present more opportunities for business and trade on both sides. The launch of these new routes supports this growth and strengthens our presence in the region.”

Japan has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing outbound destinations for Indian travellers. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, over 3,15,000 Indians visited Japan in 2025, representing a 35% increase over 2024 and nearly 80% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Vietnam continues to gain popularity among leisure travellers and corporate groups alike for its soaring tourism and MICE movements. The country now ranks as the third-most-visited country in Southeast Asia, having recorded over 20 million visitors in 2025.

SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS BETWEEN DELHI (DEL) AND HANOI (HAN) Effective 01 May 2026
FLIGHT #	CITY PAIR	DEPARTURE	ARRIVAL	DAYS OF OPERATION
AI2390	Delhi-Hanoi	0120 hrs	0720 hrs	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun
AI2391	Hanoi-Delhi	0820 hrs	1130 hrs	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun
SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS BETWEEN MUMBAI (BOM) AND TOKYO HANEDA (HND) Effective 15 June 2026
FLIGHT #	CITY PAIR	DEPARTURE	ARRIVAL	DAYS OF OPERATION
AI356	Mumbai – Tokyo (Haneda)	1650 hrs	0455 hrs +1	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
AI355	Tokyo (Haneda) - Mumbai	0850 hrs	1420 hrs	Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat
*All times are indicated in local time zones.

Flights will progressively be available for booking through all channels, including Air India's official website (www.airindia.com), mobile app and through travel agents.

About Air India group

The Air India group – comprising of full-service global airline, Air India, and value carrier, Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 58 domestic and 51 international destinations across five continents.

Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 600 new aircraft. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2026, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.

With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.

For more stories on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom