Tata Capital Launches Nationwide Public Initiative ‘Sawaal Karo, Phir Loan Lo’ To Promote Informed Borrowing

Tata Capital, the flagship financial services company of the Tata Group, has launched ‘Sawaal Karo, Phir Loan Lo’, a nationwide public awareness initiative designed to encourage informed borrowing as access to credit continues to expand across India.

As loans increasingly influence key life milestones and lifestyle choices, technology has made credit more accessible than ever through simplified processes and minimal documentation. Against this backdrop, the initiative urges consumers to pause, ask the right questions, and fully understand their financial obligations before committing to a loan.

Speaking on the launch, Rajiv Sabharwal, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Capital, said, “Rising aspirations and wider access to formal credit are among the key pillars of India’s growth story. At Tata Capital, we remain deeply committed to the Tata Group’s values of transparency, responsibility, and ethical conduct. ‘Sawaal Karo, Phir Loan Lo’ is a people-first call to action that empowers individuals to make well-informed borrowing decisions. Through this initiative, we aim to foster greater financial awareness and contribute to a more resilient and responsible credit ecosystem in India.”

The initiative will reach borrowers across demographics and geographies through a mix of digital platforms, social media, microsites, blogs, films, and easy-to-understand informational and interactive content, ensuring broad and meaningful engagement.

HDFC Flexi Cap Fund Crosses ₹1 Lakh Crore AUM Milestone

HDFC Asset Management Company Limited (HDFC AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF) and one of India’s leading mutual fund houses, today announced that HDFC Flexi Cap Fund has crossed the ₹1 lakh crore mark in assets under management (AUM). The fund’s achievement marks a significant milestone in its growth journey. It reflects our investors’ trust, performance across market cycles, and a disciplined investment approach.

Launched in January 1995, HDFC Flexi Cap Fund follows a flexible, research-driven investment strategy, enabling it to dynamically allocate across market capitalisations and sectors while aiming on long-term wealth creation. Over the years, the fund has remained a core equity holding for investors seeking participation in India’s long-term growth story.

Commenting on the milestone, Navneet Munot, MD & CEO, HDFC Asset Management Company, said, “The true milestone for us is the fund’s three-decade-long journey of performance across market cycles. Through periods of expansion, correction and structural change, the fund has remained anchored to a robust research-led investment process, with a clear aim of long-term wealth creation. The ₹1 lakh crore AUM milestone is, in many ways, an outcome of this structured process. It is the trust that millions of investors have placed in HDFC Flexi Cap Fund and truly belongs to all our investors and partners who have stayed the course over the years.”

The milestone comes at a time when investor participation in equity mutual funds continues to deepen, with flexi cap funds playing a critical role due to their ability to adapt to changing market conditions. HDFC Asset Management Company remains committed to maintaining high standards of governance, research excellence, and investor-centricity, as it continues to support investors in their long-term financial journeys.

About HDFC AMC:

HDFC Asset Management Company Limited (HDFC AMC) is an Investment Manager to HDFC Mutual Fund, one of the largest mutual funds in the country. It was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, on 10th December 1999 and was approved to act as an Asset Management Company for HDFC Mutual Fund by SEBI on 3rd July 2000. It has other SEBI licenses viz. PMS and AIF. HDFC AMC manages a diversified asset class mix across Equity and Fixed Income/Others. It also has a countrywide network of branches along with a diversified distribution network comprising Banks, Independent Financial Advisors and National Distributors.

Aveeno Baby Strengthens Its Sensitive Skin Portfolio; Launches Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar In India With The Power of Oat

Link to campaign: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTezaukAJmx/?igsh=MTdxdWd6Z29kaHFjMw

Aveeno Baby, a paediatrician recommended brand for a baby’s sensitive skin expands its science backed product portfolio with the launch of Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar, a premium soap-free cleansing bar with the power of oats that cleanses gently without drying. An innovation designed for the Indian market, Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar provides Indian parents a superior cleansing solution with the power of colloidal oatmeal to address their baby’s sensitive skin conditions.

Developed with pedriatricians & dermatologists, the all new Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar offers gentle and mild cleansing (pH 5.5) without stripping the skin’s natural moisture, helping preserve, soothe and strengthen the skin barrier making it suitable for newborns from birth. Aveeno Baby’s cleansing bar is crafted using a sulfate-free, coconut-derived surfactants which creates a mild, rich, creamy, and stable foam without irritating the skin.

Backed by an robust safety and efficacy study conducted among newborns, babies and toddlers with sensitive skin, the premium non-soap bar has been clinically tested to provide gentle cleansing, reduced dryness and enhanced barrier function. Unlike conventional soaps, which are often alkaline and may disrupt the skin’s acid mantle, Aveeno’s Baby’s soap-free cleansing bars are formulated to be milder and are commonly used to provide gentle care for a baby’s sensitive skin.

Sharing the rationale behind the launch, Manoj Gadgil, Business Unit Head – Essential Health & Skin Health and VP Marketing, Kenvue said, “Over the last decade, there has been significant increase in babies and children suffering from sensitive skin conditions like Atopic Dermatitis (AD), eczema and diaper dermatitis largely due to extreme weather and environmental conditions. As per the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), the incidence of AD in Indian children has increased by approximately 20-39%[1]. Given the growing incidents, parents are increasingly seeking diverse solutions to prevent and effectively manage these conditions.

We are excited to introduce the Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar, bringing the same goodness of colloidal oat to a new bar format and further strengthen our clinically proven sensitive‑skin portfolio in India. This innovation reflects our deep understanding of baby skin science and physiology, developed in collaboration with pediatricians & & dermatologists, to create a superior product that offers relief and hydration creating a strong foundation for a baby’s healthy skin.”

Aveeno Baby’s latest innovation was launched at 63rd Annual conference of IAP-Pedicon 2026 by Dr. Alok Bhandari (Treasurer, IAP) along with eminent dignitaries from IAP with 2000+ HCPs from across India experiencing the brand’s science backed portfolio, commitment to innovation backed by industry-first clinical and scientific literature around sensitive skin in babies.

Dr. Dilip Tripathi, Regional Head of Baby & Women’s Health Research & Development at Kenvue, emphasized the clinical advantages of non-soap-based bars, stating “Sensitive skin requires specialized care, particularly in infants. Not all cleansers are equal and effective, especially for sensitive skin conditions. Today, premium soap-free cleansing bars are becoming the preferred choice in pediatric practice due to their effective cleansing properties while being gentle on the skin and preserving the natural barrier. Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar is clinically tested to provide gentle cleansing, reduce dryness with a balanced pH to protect the barrier function making it an ideal cleansing solution for babies with sensitive and compromised skin.”

Priced at INR 200/- Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Cleansing Bar is available across key ecommerce platforms as well as modern trade outlets. To amplify the launch, Aveeno Baby will be launching a digital campaign on Meta and YouTube, supporting by influencer activities with mommy influencers to educate mums about sensitive skin conditions and need for science backed solution to better manage it.

About Aveeno Baby®: Aveeno® Baby is a paediatrician recommended brand made with the power of oat for baby’s sensitive skin’. The history of Aveeno® Baby is built upon the brand’s commitment to combine scientific research with the ingredients found in nature. Its scientists unlock the power of a selection of natural ingredients – science and nature, working together, in harmony. The brand brings nourishing solutions to skincare so even the most sensitive skin feels soothed and moisturized.

At Aveeno® the brand partners with healthcare professionals and leading experts – dermatologists, pediatricians, pharmacists and scientists making it a natural choice for a baby’s sensitive skin. For further information, visit Aveeno® India.

Johnson Controls Launches Series Of Thermal Management Reference Design Guides For Gigawatt-Scale AI Data Centers

Comprehensive guides address water-cooled, air-cooled and absorption chiller use cases, integrated with advanced building controls, for next-generation AI factories

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced the launch of its Reference Design Guide Series for 1 Gigawatt AI data centers. Each guide in the series maps the full thermal chain, offering cooling architectures tailored to diverse compute densities, geographies and elevations. The series begins with a detailed blueprint for water-cooled chiller plants with future guides to address air-cooled and absorption chiller solutions.

As AI transforms industries, the scale and complexity of data center infrastructure is rapidly evolving. The ability to efficiently manage thermal loads at gigawatt scale is now a critical enabler for AI innovation, and the industry faces mounting pressure to deliver facilities that are not only high-performing, but also sustainable and future-ready. Johnson Controls' Reference Design Guide Series responds to this challenge by outlining how to achieve industry-leading energy and water efficiency (PUE and WUE) while maintaining flexibility to scale across diverse climates and operational requirements.

The guide outlines a complete thermal architecture supporting both liquid and air- cooled- IT loads through integrated computer room air handlers (CRAHs), fan coil walls, coolant distribution units (CDUs) and high efficiency YORK centrifugal chillers. It provides- detailed sizing guidance for 220MW compute quadrants and defines temperature and operating conditions across all major facility loops, including Technology Cooling System (TCS) loops supporting next- generation GPUs.

Key outcomes enabled by the updated design include:

Zero Water Consumption: A fully water free heat rejection process using dry coolers, reducing operational costs and advancing sustainability objectives.

Future Ready- Thermal Flexibility: High -temperature TCS loop readiness ensures compatibility with forthcoming GPU architectures.

Optimized High Density- AI Performance: Alignment with NVIDIA DSX reference architecture enables scalable deployment of 1-GW-class AI Factories.

Energy Efficient- Operation: Elevated condenser water temperatures, bifurcated loops and YORK high-lift chillers deliver industry-leading PUE and improved annualized efficiency.

"AI Factories are production facilities — the places where intelligence is manufactured at an industrial scale," said Austin Domenici, vice president & general manager, Johnson Controls Global Data Center Solutions. "By supporting the NVIDIA DSX reference architecture and improving water and energy efficiency in the cooling process while maintaining high temperature- loop compatibility, our Reference Design Guide equips customers to deploy gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure that is scalable, repeatable, resilient and sustainable."

About Johnson Controls:

At Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn, and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places, and the planet.

Building on a proud history of 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing, and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering.

Today, Johnson Controls offers the world’s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry.

Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms.

Sunny Side Up Conceptualises And Executes “Play For Life” Digital Initiative For Aster DM Healthcare On World Cancer Day

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, Sunny Side Up, an integrated communications agency, conceptualised and executed Play for Life, a digital awareness initiative to address a critical public health challenge through an accessible and engaging digital experience. The campaign was initiated for Aster DM Healthcare, an integrated healthcare organisation aimed at encouraging early cancer detection and timely screening.

Cancer continues to be a significant health concern in India. According to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, approximately 25 lakh people are currently living with cancer in the country, with over 7 lakh new cases registered annually. Despite these figures, early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and survival rates. However, delayed screening and low perceived personal risk continue to be major barriers.

Play for Life addresses this gap by reframing awareness through participation rather than fear. Inspired by the iconic Snake game from early Nokia mobile phones, the digital experience uses nostalgia as an entry point to prompt users to reflect on their own health choices and screening habits.

Commenting on the initiative, Vineesh Ghei, Country Head - Sales and Marketing, Aster DM Healthcare, India, said, “Early detection has the power to significantly improve cancer outcomes, yet many people postpone screenings because the risk feels distant. Play for Life is intended to be a simple reminder that encourages people to take timely action and prioritise their health.”

Shyam Nair, Creative Director, Sunny Side Up, added, “We wanted to avoid alarmist communication and instead create something people would willingly engage with. By using a familiar and nostalgic format, Play for Life creates a moment of reflection that can nudge someone towards getting screened. That small decision can have a lasting impact.”

The Play for Life experience is live and accessible to everyone at https://asterplayforlife.com.

About Sunny Side Up

Sunny Side Up is a communications agency specializing in brand strategy, advertising, and integrated creative solutions. For more information, please reach out to tashina@sunnysideup.in

Fossil Strengthens Its Presence In Mumbai With A New Store At Phoenix Marketcity

* Strengthening its presence in Maharashtra, Fossil unveils its newest store at one of India’s premier lifestyle destinations~

Fossil, the globally celebrated lifestyle brand known for its timeless craftsmanship and innovation, today announced the opening of its newest store at Phoenix Marketcity. This launch marks Fossil’s 7th store in Mumbai and 29th retail location in India, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to strengthening its footprint in one of the country’s most dynamic retail markets. The launch was made even more special with the presence of Franco Fogliato, Chief Executive Officer, Fossil Group, underscoring India’s growing strategic importance within the brand’s global expansion roadmap.

Commenting on the launch, Johnson Verghese, Managing Director, Fossil India, said, “Mumbai continues to be one amongst our most important and vibrant markets, and the opening of our new store marks another key milestone in our India growth journey. Phoenix Marketcity offers the perfect platform for us to connect with consumers through an immersive retail experience that reflects Fossil’s design-led ethos. We’re excited to bring our latest collections closer to our Mumbai customers.”

The new store showcases Fossil’s distinctive blend of modern design and heritage craftsmanship, offering customers access to the brand’s latest collections of watches, handbags, jewellery, and lifestyle accessories, curated to suit evolving style sensibilities.

This opening represents another key milestone in Fossil’s growth journey in India, reinforcing its commitment to delivering design-led products and elevated retail experiences. With its presence at Phoenix Marketcity, Fossil aims to connect with audiences in Maharashtra through a thoughtfully curated store environment that reflects the brand’s focus on innovation and craftsmanship.

About Fossil:

Fossil is a leading global lifestyle accessories brand inspired by creativity and ingenuity, dedicated to connecting people to what matters most: time. Fossil takes pride in creating timeless and exceptionally crafted watches, leather goods and jewelry—designed to accompany you on every journey life presents. As a trailblazer in the industry, Fossil brings innovation and style to its accessories, while also working diligently to Make Time For Good™, a platform created to enact positive change for the brand’s people and communities.

Urban Co-operative Banks Expand Credit Role As Outstanding Balances Almost Double In Five Years

83% of credit concentrated across eight products with commercial loans accounting for the largest share at 30%.

Portfolio growth reflects increasing retail and small-business activity, with asset-quality metrics showing improvement.

Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) are strengthening their position in India’s credit ecosystem, supported by steady balance growth, improving asset quality, and rising demand across both retail and small business segments.

Outstanding credit balances of UCBs stood at ₹3.4 lakh crore as of September 2025, representing a 1.9x increase over the last five years, according to Sahakaar Trends, a joint publication by the National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) and TransUnion CIBIL, India’s pioneer information and insights company.

While UCBs continue to hold a modest share of overall industry credit at around 1.8%, the data shows a system that is expanding in scale while adapting to changing borrower profiles, competitive dynamics, and regulatory expectations.

“UCBs are expanding more widely into Bharat, extending formal credit beyond large urban centres to households and small businesses in semi-urban and emerging regions. Their proximity to local communities allows them to serve borrowers where local context and relationships matter, helping bring more of Bharat into the formal credit system. As these banks expand their reach across retail and small-business lending, sustaining credit quality while broadening access will remain central to their role in supporting more balanced and inclusive economic participation,” said Bhavesh Jain, MD and CEO, TransUnion CIBIL.

“The expanding credit footprint of UCBs reflects strong borrower trust, particularly in semi-urban and emerging regions where access to formal credit remains critical. As these banks scale up, the focus must remain on strengthening institutional capacity, improving operational efficiency, and building resilient governance frameworks. Supporting UCBs through this transition is essential to ensuring that their growth continues to translate into meaningful financial participation and long-term economic stability,” said Shri Prabhat Chaturvedi, CEO, NUCFDC.

UCB Lending Remains Concentrated in Eight Core Products

Commercial loans, housing loans, retail business loans, loan against property, gold loans, personal loans, auto loans and loans against bank deposits dominate UCB balance sheets. As of September 2025, these products together accounted for nearly 83% of UCBs’ total outstanding balances, reflecting a continued emphasis on collateral-backed retail lending and credit to small enterprises.

The average housing loan ticket sizes for UCBs stood at around ₹23 lakh, compared to ₹26 lakh for housing finance companies. For gold loans, the average ticket size is ₹1.3 lakh for UCBs, compared to ₹2.3 lakh for PSU banks. In contrast, average commercial loan ticket sizes for UCBs were approximately ₹50 lakh, higher than ₹37 lakh for Public Sector Banks (PSUs), while personal loan ticket sizes averaged about ₹4.7 lakh, compared to ₹2 lakh for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

Gold Loans Present Growth Opportunity for UCBs

Gold loans account for about 5% of UCBs’ overall credit portfolio. Although they cater to a relatively higher share of below-prime borrowers in this segment compared with PSU banks, credit performance indicators have improved, with the balance-level delinquencies, measured as balances 90 days past due or more, declining steadily in recent periods.

Commercial Loans Account for Largest Share of UCBs’ Portfolio

Commercial loans account for the largest share of the total outstanding balances for UCBs, as of September 2025. Indexed to September 2020 as 100, enquiry-level data shows a sharper rise in commercial loan demand for UCBs by September 2025.

While UCBs recorded a higher conversion rate from enquiry to origination compared with PSU banks during the three months ended June 2025, the pace of disbursement remains slower, with 45% of originations disbursed within 15 days, compared with 61% for PSU banks. UCBs also cater to a higher share of entities with credit exposure exceeding ₹1 crore and also have a higher share of low-risk borrowers at 49% compared to 45% medium-risk borrowers and 6% high-risk borrowers1.

Chart 1: Commercial Loan Demand Index: UCBs vs PSU Banks

Housing Loan Demand Higher in Metro and Semi-Urban Regions

Housing loans constitute the second largest share of total outstanding balances for UCBs. Demand for housing loans has remained stable with UCBs recording 2x growth in the last five years attracting younger consumers, women, and New-to-Credit borrowers. Additionally, the growth has also been greater in urban and semi-urban regions.

The credit performance for housing loans has improved, with 90+ DPD balance-level delinquencies falling to 2.8% as of September 2025, from 3.2% in September 2024.

Customer Profile of Personal Loan Borrowers Has Improved for UCBs

Personal loan demand at UCBs has strengthened in recent periods. UCBs recorded higher conversion rates for personal loan enquiries at 39%, compared to 22% for NBFCs during the three months ended August 2025, although only 42% of these loans were disbursed within five days, compared with 68% for NBFCs. Additionally, the balance-level delinquencies for personal loans have steadily improved for UCBs and have been consistent for recent periods. The personal loan delinquencies (90+ DPD) declined from about 4.5% in September 2020 to approximately 2.1% by September 2025.

Opportunity Exists for UCBs to Expand Credit Reach

The data also points to a gap in portfolio deepening. As of March 2025, UCBs had approximately 30 lakh live retail borrowers, of which around 1.7 lakh, or about 6%, also had a commercial credit footprint. During April to September 2025, nearly 3,000 such borrowers sourced new commercial loans from PSU banks, with total sanctioned amounts of about ₹724 crore, including approximately ₹442 crore extended to low- and medium-risk borrowers.

Chart 2: Retail Borrowers with Commercial Loans Taken from PSU Banks

Overall, the sustained growth of UCBs reflects a sector that is strengthening its balance sheets while accelerating efforts to modernise its operations and risk frameworks. Backed by improving asset quality, disciplined credit expansion, and rising adoption of technology‑enabled processes, UCBs are increasingly well positioned to serve their core constituencies with greater efficiency and resilience.

“As UCBs continue to balance their community-rooted strengths with data‑led decisioning and regulatory alignment, they are set to play an increasingly meaningful role in supporting inclusive economic growth and deepening formal credit penetration across India’s urban and semi‑urban landscape,” Mr. Jain said.