UPL Limited Becomes First Indian Issuer To Complete Secondary Listing Of GDRs On NSE International Exchange

UPL Limited, a global leader in sustainable agriculture solutions, announced that it has become the first Indian issuer to complete the secondary listing of its existing Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) programme on NSE International Exchange (NSEIX), which is a permissible jurisdiction under applicable SEBI Regulations. The GDRs were listed and admitted to trading effective January 30, 2026.

To mark this milestone, NSEIX hosted an official bell‑ringing ceremony for UPL today at NSE Exchange Plaza in Mumbai. The ceremony celebrated the listing of GDRs on NSEIX at GIFT IFSC (Gujarat International Finance Tech City - International Financial Service Centre), marking a significant milestone in India’s evolving international financial services ecosystem.

The present GDR programme is primarily listed on Singapore Stock Exchange Ltd (SGX) and also admitted to trading on the International Order Book (IOB), London Stock Exchange's (LSE) electronic trading platform for GDRs. The addition of NSEIX as a secondary listing venue provides investors with enhanced trading flexibility and broader market access.

Mr. Jai Shroff, Chairman & Group CEO, UPL Limited, said, “The contribution of NSE IX in internationalising India’s capital markets and positioning the country as a global financial destination has been truly commendable. Listing on NSE IX reflects UPL’s commitment to offering diverse investment opportunities to our global investor base while upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance. This secondary listing enhances liquidity options for our GDR holders and reinforces UPL’s standing as a truly global agricultural solutions provider.”

Mr. Bikash Prasad, Group CFO, UPL Limited, added, “UPL’s GDR listing on NSEIX marks a significant milestone and underscores our disciplined financial management and thoughtful capital strategy. By becoming the first company to list GDRs on this platform, we are expanding market access and flexibility for our global investors, while remaining firmly focused on sustainable, long‑term value creation.”

Mr. V. Balasubramaniam, MD CEO NSEIX, said, “We welcome UPL as the first Global Depository Receipt (GDR) to list in GIFT IFSC and at NSEIX. This dual listing structure will be a trend setter as other companies could also adopt this path as it strengthens trading flexibility for investors of these GDR instruments and provide our global investor base with more efficient access to UPL GDRs. More importantly, it reflects the growing relevance of GIFT IFSC as an emerging international financial centre and a credible gateway to connect global clients to multiple instruments issued by Indian and foreign corporates.”

Ashok Leyland Partners With Rajasthan Gramin Bank For Providing Vehicle Finance Facilities

Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Rajasthan Gramin Bank, the largest bank in the state by number of branches, to enter into a strategic vehicle financing partnership for its customers. This MoU will enable both Ashok Leyland and Rajasthan Gramin Bank to offer customized financial solutions to the customers.

Mr. Viplav Shah, Head-LCV Business, Ashok Leyland, and Mr. Abhimanyu Charan, AGM, Rajasthan Gramin Bank signed the MoU in the presence of Mr. Mukesh Bhartiya, Chairman, Rajasthan Gramin Bank. Under this partnership, Rajasthan Gramin Bank will be able to provide end-to-end financial solutions to the customers of Ashok Leyland. The partnership aims to enhance customer convenience by offering vehicle loans with flexible, easy-to-manage repayment options, tailored to meet individual needs and preferences.

Mr. Viplav Shah, Head-LCV Business, Ashok Leyland said, “Ashok Leyland is delighted to partner with Rajasthan Gramin Bank to provide attractive financing solutions to our customers. This strategic partnership will strengthen Ashok Leyland's market position. Our products, featuring innovative technology, offer industry-leading total cost of ownership, ensuring maximum profitability for our customers. We remain committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences.”

Mr. Mukesh Bhartiya, Chairman, RGB, said, “Rajasthan Gramin Bank is pleased to partner with Ashok Leyland to offer seamless vehicle financing solutions. This association reflects our dedication to serving the diverse financial needs of commercial vehicle customers. We are confident that this collaboration will enable us to extend our reach and provide tailored financing options to support the growth of businesses in the commercial vehicle segment.”

Ashok Leyland today offers a comprehensive range of trucks and buses to meet the full spectrum of commercial vehicle needs, from intercity light commercial vehicles to long-haul trucks and a wide variety of buses. Ashok Leyland’s vehicles ensure safe transport and driver-friendly options. As a pioneer in technological innovations within the truck and bus segment, Ashok Leyland is fully equipped with a range of buses powered by alternative fuels, dedicated to reducing pollution and promoting an eco-friendly transport system in India.

Air India Upgrades Product And Customer Experience On More International Routes This Summer

· Increased frequency from Delhi to Toronto, Seoul (Incheon), and Shanghai

· Retrofitted B787-8 to operate Mumbai-London (Heathrow) flights

· Introducing First Class on Delhi-Melbourne flights

· New product deployment with Premium Economy on Delhi-Tokyo and Delhi-Toronto routes

Air India today announced it will deploy aircraft featuring new, retrofitted or upgraded cabin interiors on additional, key international routes as part of its Northern Summer Schedule 2026, thus adding capacity and boosting connectivity on select long-haul routes.

The changes to Air India’s schedule and product deployment on select international routes are as follow.

Between February and March 2026:

· Effective 14 February, Air India’s Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda) operates with B787-9 aircraft, featuring a three-class cabin configuration, thus introducing Premium Economy on the route. This deployment adds 2408 seats between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda) every month.

· Starting 01 March, Delhi-Toronto frequency increases from 7x weekly to 10x weekly.

· Starting 29 March, Delhi-Seoul (Incheon) frequency increases from 5x weekly to 6x weekly, and the newly launched Delhi-Shanghai flights increase from 4x weekly to 5x weekly, thus adding 2048 seats on each of the routes every month.

From 01 July 2026:

· Mumbai-London (Heathrow) flights will operate with a combination of Air India’s incoming new B787-9 and retrofitted legacy B787-8 aircraft, both featuring all-new cabin interiors. These flights will replace the currently deployed B777-300ER on the route, which already feature upgraded cabin interiors.

· Delhi-Melbourne daily flights will operate with Air India’s B777-300ER featuring upgraded cabin interiors, thus introducing First Class on the route. The aircraft features 8 suites in First Class, 40 fully flat beds in Business Class and 280 seats in Economy Class, adding nearly 4,000 seats every month between Delhi and Melbourne.

From 01 August 2026:

· Bengaluru-London (Heathrow) flights will operate with the airline’s retrofitted B787-8 aircraft, featuring new cabin interiors, thus introducing Premium Economy on the route. With this, all Air India flights to and from London (Heathrow) will be serviced by aircraft featuring new cabin interiors.

· 7x weekly flights on the Delhi-Toronto route will operate with Air India’s incoming, new B787-9 aircraft, featuring all-new cabin interiors in a three-class configuration and introducing Premium Economy on the route. The remainder 3x weekly flights will continue to operate with Air India’s legacy B777-300ER. With this, more than 50% of Air India’s North America flights will be operated with new or upgraded cabin interiors.

· Air India’s flights to Birmingham from Amritsar and Delhi, and to London (Gatwick) from Ahmedabad and Amritsar will be operated with Air India’s legacy B777-300ER, replacing the currently deployed legacy B787-8 and introducing First Class on these routes.

New and retrofitted B787s

Air India began retrofitting its legacy B787-8 last year in an exercise that will see 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft refitted with brand-new cabin interiors custom-styled for Air India as well as the repainting of these aircraft in the airline’s vibrant, new livery. The first two of these retrofitted aircraft are expected to return to service in the coming weeks, with several more to be retrofitted progressively throughout 2026.

Additionally, Air India expects deliveries of three new, line-fit (or made-for-Air India) B787-9 and two line-fit A350-1000 aircraft in 2026.

Together, the expanded deployment of new product, additional frequencies on key international routes and steady fleet induction reflect Air India’s continued progress in building a modern, globally competitive full-service carrier.

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 57 domestic and 49 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 570 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

Larsen & Toubro Vyoma Launches Sovereign Cloud Platform

Larsen & Toubro Vyoma (Vyoma), the next generation sovereign AI cloud and digital infrastructure platform by L&T, today announced the launch of its Sovereign Cloud Platform (SCP), an AI-first cloud infrastructure designed to meet the growing enterprise and public-sector demand for data sovereignty, regulatory compliance and secure AI adoption.

The platform will bring expertise in hyperscale cloud engineering, GPU computing and advanced AI workloads. As part of this rollout, Codincity Digital Technologies will act as the exclusive strategic partner for customer workload migration and modernisation, as well as for accelerating AI-native use cases built on Vyoma’s AI and data stack.

As organisations accelerate AI deployment, concerns such as exposure to foreign jurisdictions, loss of control over sensitive data and AI models, opaque control planes, vendor lock-in and rising infrastructure costs are prompting a shift towards genuinely sovereign cloud platforms. Vyoma’s SCP addresses these challenges through a jurisdiction-first architecture that ensures all data, workloads and AI systems remain governed within approved sovereign boundaries and under Indian regulatory frameworks, without reliance on foreign hyperscalers.

Designed from the ground up for AI, SCP supports modern, compute-intensive and data-sensitive workloads, including large language models, agentic AI systems, high-performance AI training and inference, and mission-critical government and enterprise deployments. Unlike traditional cloud platforms adapted for AI, SCP delivers predictable performance for GPU-intensive, latency-critical workloads, while providing transparent cost structures and enterprise-grade reliability.

The platform ensures complete sovereignty across the full cloud stack. This includes infrastructure and control plane, data storage and processing, identity and access management, audit controls and AI model governance. All workloads remain resident within sovereign boundaries, eliminating exposure to extraterritorial regulations, unilateral access risks and dependencies on opaque third-party control mechanisms.

For sensitive and regulated use cases, SCP also supports fully air-gapped deployments. These environments provide complete physical and logical isolation, zero external network dependency, controlled and auditable administrative access, and a security architecture aligned with stringent compliance requirements. This makes SCP ideally suited for government, defence, BFSI, telecom, healthcare and other critical sectors where absolute control and isolation are essential.

To support adoption, Vyoma is introducing a one-month free trial programme for eligible enterprises and institutions. The initiative enables organisations to assess SCP’s performance, compliance readiness and operational fit before transitioning workloads into production environments.

Commenting on the development, Prashant Jain, Head – Corporate Centre, L&T, said: “L&T always prioritises an ‘India First’ approach across all its businesses. Our Sovereign Cloud infrastructure forms the backbone of India’s most critical digital missions. As we usher in this new chapter, we are delivering intelligent, resilient and AI-cloud-ready data centres that will help turn the vision of a truly digital Aatmanirbhar Bharat into reality”.

About Larsen & Toubro Vyoma

Larsen & Toubro Vyoma is L&T’s sovereign, secure and integrated AI cloud and hyperscale data centre business, engineered to deliver AI-ready, high-density compute for India and global enterprises. Built on L&T’s legacy of trust, precision and engineering excellence, Vyoma offers sovereign cloud platforms, GPU-as-a-Service, hyperscale colocation and mission-critical digital infrastructure that powers government, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing and high-compute industries worldwide.

More here: https://larsentoubrovyoma.com

Titan Announces Gukesh D As Titan Of The Year 2026; Launches Limited Edition The Honouring Chess Champion

Over the past 40 years, Titan has shaped India’s relationship with time through thoughtful design, technical ingenuity and enduring trust. It reflects a belief that is intrinsically Indian in spirit and global in execution. In extension of this philosophy, Titan Watches today announced the launch of the second edition of ‘Titan of the Year’, its platform recognising distinguished Individuals whose journey challenges convention, mastery sets new benchmarks and impact contributes to India’s growing global stature. Following the inaugural tribute to Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the 2026 edition honours Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju, acknowledging a journey defined by fearless strategy, calm precision and sustained excellence at the highest level. The recognition is marked by the unveiling of a limited-edition timepiece that is inspired by these qualities, translating performance on the board into thoughtful design and meticulous craftsmanship.

The design interprets the idea of a ‘Master Move’ through balance and restraint drawing from the measured structure of the game itself. At its centre is an intricate marquetry dial in tiger eye and black agate, its geometry echoing the chessboard and the quiet intelligence behind Gukesh’s play. The custom indices mirror the game’s hierarchy and distinct movement of each chess piece, tracing his measured yet deliberate approach into the layout of the dial. The rotor bears the Grandmaster Knight motif and the inscription ‘Youngest World Chess Champion at 18’, marking Gukesh’s triumph on the world stage while the lume-filled hands glide with the same focus and composure that define his game. A Grandmaster Knight counterpoise adds signature detail highlighting strategic excellence.

A sapphire crystal protects the composition, housed within a rose-gold finished 316 stainless steel case and bezel that bring warmth and composure to the form. Powered by Titan’s In-House Automatic Movement, and limited to 500 numbered pieces, the timepiece finds its expression in the interplay between the soft glow of rose gold and a deep black Italian leather strap, a pairing that is understated yet intimate, contemporary yet enduring.

Rahul Shukla, Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Watches Division at Titan Company Limited, said, “Since its very inception, Titan has been a part of India’s zeitgeist reflecting our nation's evolving identity, shared aspirations and steadfast resolve. ‘Titan of the Year’ is a tangible extension of this legacy, celebrating individual excellence and collective national pride. With this platform, our vision is to create a permanent horological gallery, that chronicles Indian brilliance through time. We recognise individuals whose contributions extend beyond the horizon, strengthening the country’s presence on the world stage. Each creation aims to enable consumers to wear a living chapter from this archive expressed through premium watchmaking of global calibre. With extraordinary achievements and an inspiring journey in the world of chess, Gukesh was the natural choice for this honour. His exemplary accomplishments at such a young age capture the spirit, perseverance, ambition and confidence of a new India.”

Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju added, “Being recognised as the ‘Titan of the Year’ is a meaningful moment for me, echoing India’s growing presence on the global chess stage. My path has been shaped by constant preparation, discipline and the role of time, patience and precision, values embodied thoughtfully in this timepiece. I hope this recognition inspires youngsters across the country, showing them what is possible with commitment and belief. To be associated with Titan, a brand known for trust, craftsmanship and quiet excellence at this stage of my journey is something I value deeply and will always look back on with gratitude.”

The Gukesh x Grandmaster is a coveted collector’s item presented in a specially designed packaging featuring a personalised note from Gukesh himself. Priced at ₹69,995, this limited-edition masterpiece is available at select Titan World stores, large format retail destinations, premium watch retailers and online at www.titan.co.in

Bill Gates Along With CM Chandrababu Visits RTGS Centre In Secretariat Examines Tech Utilisation In Governance

The Chief Minister, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, on Monday explained in detail to the Gates Foundation Chairman, Mr. Bill Gates, who is on a visit to Amaravati, how faster civic services are being provided and the results being achieved through Real Time Governance.

Mr. Bill Gates asked how Data Lake, Aware 2.0, WhatsApp Governance, Sanjeevani project and the capital Amaravati projects are functioning. He also inspected the presentations on the display walls in the RTGS during which Mr. Chandrababu briefed Mr. Bill Gates that all the Government wings are interconnected with Data Lake.

Mr. Bill Gates appreciated the efforts being made to simplify the citizen services through Data Lake and WhatsApp governance. The Chief Minister also informed Mr. Bill Gates that Real Time information is being gathered through Aware 2.0 following which decisions are being taken faster.

Also, Mr. Bill Gates examined the way the State Government is gathering public opinion on the implementation of various schemes and policies. Mr. Chandrababu told Mr. Gates that the growth of the GSDP is being assessed regularly through Key Performance Indicators.

When Mr. Bill Gates asked about the steps being taken for the safety and security of the property records, the officials informed him that land records are being preserved with the help of Black Chain Technology and similarly steps are being taken to ensure transparency with policies such as QR Codes for land records.

While Mr. Gates termed the tax collection system as amazing, Mr. Chandrababu informed him that the tax collection in the country has increased significantly with the GST system. Mr. Bill Gates inquired about the implementation of the Sanjeevani project, which is being run in Chittoor district with the support of the Gates Foundation and also asked how the details of tests like blood pressure and diabetes are being recorded.

Expressing deep satisfaction over the functioning of the Sanjeevani project at Kuppam commenting that 'It is nice." The officials explained that they are providing advice to the patients on their lifestyle and diet based on their digital health records. Mr. Chandrababu said that they are planning to take further steps to improve public health services by using AI which Mr. Bill Gates praised as 'Great'. Mr. Gates felt that if diagnostic services are made available at a lower cost, it will further help the poor.

Mr. Bill Gates also inquired about the progress of the ongoing construction works in the people's capital of Amaravati and felt that 30 per cent green and blue plan is good in Amaravati. When Mr. Chandrababu explained in detail to Mr. Bill Gates the ongoing construction works in the capital, the Gates Foundation chairman responded terming it as 'Great Work."

Microsoft Founder Bill Gates Pats AP Government's RTGS services

Real Time Governance Society of Andhra Pradesh Government won the appreciation from Gates Foundation chairman Bill Gates. The Global Technology giant visited RTGS centre at Andhra Pradesh Secretariat here today.

During hour-long stay at RTGS center, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu gave a detailed presentation on functioning of RTGS in rendering civic services by using data lake, AWARE 2.0, Whatsapp governance, Sanjeevani health project and Amaravati capital development. Bill Gates evinced keen interest and asked the Chief Minister for details on some subjects.

When the Chief Minister explained on collecting public satisfaction levels on government services through RTGS, Bill Gates appreciated the system and asked for the steps being taken to protect the land records of people. The Chief Minister said that the government using blockchain technology and QR code to prevent tampering of land records.

Bill Gates also enquired about the implementation of Sanjeevani health project being implemented in Kuppam constituency with the support of Gates Foundation. When Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that the state government maintaining health record of all people using AI, Bill Gates appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister and opined that diagnostic services should be made available for poor at low price. Bill Gates also enquired about the Amaravati capital development, for which the Chief Minister said that Amaravati will be developed as green and blue city.

In a separate meeting with ministers and officials with Bill Gates, the Chief Minister said that the visit of Gates Foundation chairman Bill Gates to Andhra Pradesh will pave way for further digital revolution. Recollecting his (CM) first meeting with Bill Gates during 1997 as Chief Minister of combined Andhra Pradesh and convincing him (Bill Gates) to set up Microsoft in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister said that from that time IT sector witnessed rapid growth in Hyderabad. He said that Andhra Pradesh has abundant natural resources and the state government now focusing on wealth creation. He said the Swarnandhra vision 2047 will become a reality with the cooperation of Gates foundation.

During interaction with ministers and officials, Bill Gates appreciating vision of Chandrababu Naidu said that the Chief Minister is ahead in thinking amongst global leaders. He said Indian is ahead in digital revolution and both the Prime Minister and Chief Minister are playing key role in digital revolution. He said that Gates Foundation giving priority for health sector and taken up majority of health projects. He stressed the need for rendering health services to all. He appreciated the Sanjeevani health project being implemented with Gates Foundation in Kuppam. He said AI will be more useful in bringing reforms in education sector. He appreciated the efforts of AP government in introducing technology in agricultural sector for the benefit of farmers. He opined that even in developed countries technology is not being used for agricultural sector, whereas Andhra Pradesh is ahead in using technology in agriculture. He also praised the Disaster management services using technology to prevent loss of life and property during natural calamities.

Recollecting his association with Chandrababu Naidu, Bill Gates described Chandrababu Naidu as his good old friend. He said when he (Bill Gates) is trying to explain the world on digital governance, Chandrababu Naidu implemented it.

Replying to a question of ministers, Bill Gates said that as Chandrababu Naidu promoted IT, majority of IT experts came from Hyderabad and Microsoft has majority of experts from Telugu states.