Axis Bank Rolls Out Aadhaar Face Authentication For Mobile‑Number Updates

An innovative, secure authentication experience that redefines how customers update their registered mobile numbers

First among India’s leading banks to offer this service as a DIY journey

Customer can update mobile number digitally

Simple, secure three‑step digital update

Aadhaar Face Authentication is the most secure way of customer validation

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, today announced the launch of the Registered Mobile Number update journey via Aadhaar Face Authentication on its Mobile Banking app. With this introduction, Axis Bank becomes the first among India’s leading banks to implement UIDAI’s Aadhaar Face Authentication service as a Do‑It‑Yourself (DIY) digital journey for updating registered mobile numbers.

This newly launched solution allows customers to update their registered mobile numbers digitally, anytime and anywhere, through a secure three‑step Aadhaar Face Authentication journey. It offers a convenient self‑service option that complements branch support, bringing added ease and security to the mobile‑number update process, now available digitally.

Customers can seamlessly update their mobile numbers by following this secure, three‑step digital journey.

Step 1: Enter the new mobile number to be updated

Step 2: Authenticate using Aadhaar Face Authentication

• Download the AadhaarFaceRD app from the Play Store. If already installed, the camera will open automatically

• Capture a live photo using the front camera

Step 3: Validate the OTP sent to the new mobile number

The Aadhaar Face Authentication mechanism validates the customer’s identity by capturing a live facial image and matching it with the photograph available in the Aadhaar database, ensuring the most secure method of customer authentication. To further strengthen safety, the Bank has introduced an additional layer of protection, whereby Mobile Banking transaction limits are automatically reset to default for the first 24 hours once the registered mobile number is updated and the customer re-registers on Axis Mobile App 'open'.

This launch marks an important step in Axis Bank’s ongoing digital‑first, future-ready strategy, reinforcing its commitment to building secure, seamless, and customer‑centric self‑service journeys that leverage the latest advancements in authentication technology.

Commenting on the launch, Sameer Shetty, Group Executive – Digital Business, Transformation & Strategic Programs, Axis Bank, said, “At Axis Bank, our digital‑first approach is centred on creating secure, intuitive, and reliable experiences for customers. The introduction of Aadhaar Face Authentication for mobile‑number updates is an important milestone under our Safe Banking initiative, enhancing customer validation while offering a convenient self‑service alternative alongside our branch network. By leveraging UIDAI’s robust biometric authentication, we are strengthening a critical customer journey and enabling them to manage essential account details safely, confidently, and with greater ease.”

This initiative further reinforces Axis Bank’s Safe Banking ecosystem, supported by innovations such as Safety Centre, Lock FD, and In‑App Mobile OTP, which empower customers with greater control and protection against growing digital fraud risks.

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. It has 6,110 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 12,838 ATMs and cash recyclers spread across the country as on 31st December 2025. The Bank’s Axis Virtual Centre is present across eight centres with 1,582 Virtual Relationship Managers as on 31st December 2025. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.

For more information, visit the website: https://www.axis.bank.in/

The Runway Is Yours: Style Social 3.0 Turns Bengaluru Into A Fashion Stage At The Bhartiya Mall Of Bengaluru

Fashion in Bengaluru is set to get more inclusive, expressive, and exciting with the third edition of Style Social 3.0 at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru, curated by Sheetal Sharma. Positioned as the mall’s flagship fashion campaign, the event moves beyond the idea of a traditional runway to celebrate individuality and personal style in its truest sense. Designed as an open and inclusive platform, it invites participation from aspiring models as well as individuals, couples, families, and kids, making it a rare showcase where fashion meets real, diverse stories.

Scheduled for April 11th and 12th, 2026, the auditions will offer participants a chance to step into the spotlight, with registrations now live on BookMyShow. The journey will culminate in a high-energy grand finale on April 25th, 2026, featuring a fashion show styled by leading global and national brands. The showcase will highlight spring-summer collections, bringing together trend-forward looks and curated styling for a vibrant runway experience.

The event is being curated by Sheetal Sharma, a former model and fashion show director, ensuring a professional yet accessible format that balances high fashion with individuality. Adding to the excitement, participants also stand to gain beyond the ramp, four winners will be featured in social media campaigns by the mall, while 25 winners will receive shopping and dining vouchers.

Backing the showcase is a strong lineup of leading fashion retailers including Lifestyle, Max, Pantaloons, Reliance Trends, and Zudio, each bringing their unique style sensibilities to the platform. With its blend of accessibility, scale, and fashion-forward appeal, Style Social 3.0 is set to redefine how the city engages with style, making it more personal, participative, and truly inclusive.

Event Details

What: Style Social 3.0

When: Audition Dates: 11th & 12th April 2026

Grand Finale: 25th April 2026- a fashion show

Where: Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru

How to Book: Link

BIMTECH, Swiss Re India Signs MoU To Launch Specialised Reinsurance Courses And Executive Mentoring Programmes

Global reinsurance company Swiss Re has signed MoU with Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) for its Post Graduate Diploma in Insurance Business Management (PGDM-IBM), with the aim of building future-ready insurance talent through industry-aligned education and research. The collaboration includes the co-development of specialised reinsurance courses and executive mentoring programmes.

Under the MoU, Swiss Re will act as a strategic partner by offering students opportunities such as final and summer placements, as well as short-term industry projects. It will also engage with BIMTECH through training sessions, webinars, live projects, and workshops focused on key market trends and industry issues in reinsurance.

Additionally, both institutions will jointly develop specialised modules across areas such as Reinsurance, Risk Analytics & Data Science, Insurance Penetration & Protection Gap, Leadership & Professional Development, Sustainability & Climate Risk, and Technology & InsurTech.

Amit Kalra, MD & Head, Swiss Re India, opened his address by acknowledging the long-standing and successful collaboration between Swiss Re and Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), highlighting how the partnership has evolved over the years.

Addressing the students, he said, “Learn, unlearn, and relearn—and don’t wait for something to happen.” He further shared a refreshing and motivating perspective on his career journey, describing it as one defined by flexibility and constant reinvention.

Speaking in the Indian context, he noted that AI holds immense potential to bridge the country’s significant protection gap. He added that this gap is further widened by the prevailing cultural mindset, where insurance is often viewed as a tax-saving tool rather than a risk management instrument. He also emphasised the importance of continuous self-renewal in an ever-evolving world.

Dr. Prabina Rajib, Director, BIMTECH, shared, “India’s insurance sector presents both a significant challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. The partnership aims to create a structured academic-industry interface to enhance learning outcomes. It will focus on strengthening curriculum design through industry inputs, enabling access to mentorship, internships, live projects, and workshops led by Swiss Re experts.”

A key focus of the MoU is to promote research, awareness, and outreach initiatives. The collaboration will also extend to leadership development through executive mentoring and industry-led training, preparing students to become well-rounded, “T-shaped” professionals with both depth and breadth of knowledge. The MoU was formalized during an industry interaction session held on campus in the presence of senior leadership, faculty members, and students.

Inspired by its founders Late Basant Kumar Birla and Sarala Birla, BIMTECH offers programs like PGDM, PGDM (International Business), PGDM (Insurance Business Management), and PGDM (Retail Management), PGDM-Online and Fellow programs (FPM/E-FPM) nurturing individuals into global leaders. BIMTECH is amongst the Ivy League of top globally recognized B-Schools that excels in management education, supported by its globally placed robust alumni network of over 8000 individuals.  

Inox Clean Energy Completes Acquisition Of Vibrant Energy, A Macquarie-Owned IPP Platform

* Inox Clean Energy Limited completes acquisition of Vibrant Energy – a ~1337 MW diversified C&I platform at an enterprise value of ~Rs 5,000 crore

* Strengthens Inox Clean’s renewable portfolio with long-term PPAs across leading global C&I customers

* Vibrant has long-term PPAs with leading global blue-chip commercial and industrial (C&I) customers including Amazon, Sify, Coca-Cola, Ultratech Cement, Laurus Labs amongst others

Inox Clean Energy Limited (“Inox Clean”) today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Vibrant Energy (“Vibrant”) from Macquarie Corporate Holdings Pty Limited (“Macquarie”) and other shareholders. Vibrant is a diversified renewable energy independent power producer (RE IPP) with a total portfolio of 1,337 MW.

The acquisition has been completed at an enterprise value of ~Rs 5,000 crore, in a record time of four months, despite turbulent conditions in the global M&A ecosystem.

Vibrant’s portfolio comprises renewable energy assets spread across multiple Indian states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The platform has long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with leading global blue-chip commercial and industrial (C&I) customers including Amazon, Sify, Coca-Cola, Ultratech Cement, Laurus Labs amongst others, with a weighted average tenure of ~20 years.

With this acquisition, Inox Clean further strengthens its integrated renewable energy platform, combining utility-scale renewable power generation with solar manufacturing capabilities, enabling it to deliver comprehensive and scalable clean energy solutions to a wide spectrum of customers.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Devansh Jain, Executive Director, INOXGFL Group, said, “The successful completion of the Vibrant Energy acquisition marks a pivotal step in scaling up Inox Clean’s renewable energy portfolio. This addition not only enhances our operational capacity but also strengthens our presence in the high-growth C&I segment, backed by long-term, high-quality counterparties. As we accelerate towards our near-term capacity targets, we remain focused on building a deeply integrated and future-ready clean energy platform. With this milestone, Inox Clean is on course to achieve its target of 10 GW of installed IPP capacity by FY28.”

Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Akhil Jindal, Group CFO, INOXGFL Group, said, “We are pleased to have successfully completed the acquisition of Vibrant Energy from Macquarie. Over the years, Vibrant has evolved into a high-quality renewable platform with a strong portfolio of contracted assets. We believe Inox Clean is well-positioned to take the business forward and drive its next phase of growth, and we welcome the entire Vibrant team to the INOXGFL family.”

Air India Announces Key Enhancements To Maharaja Club Across India and Overseas

· Revisions to Maharaja Points requirement for Award Flights and Cabin Upgrades

· ~30% fewer points requirement in Economy Class on 80% of domestic routes and 75% of international routes

· Faster tier progression with reduced flight count- thresholds

· Tier-based free cancellation/rescheduling windows

Air India has announced significant enhancements to its Maharaja Club loyalty programme, delivering substantially greater value, flexibility, and recognition to members.

Rolling out progressively from 1 April 2026, the enhancements are shaped by insights gathered from over a year of active listening of member feedback.
Key enhancements at a glance:

· Reduced Maharaja Points requirement for Award Flights and Cabin Upgrades across at least 90% of routes served by Air India.

· A new simplified, tier-based structure for rescheduling and cancellation of Award Flights to provide greater booking flexibility to members.

· Reductions to the flight count thresholds to accelerate tier progression for members.

· Extension of travel privileges to companions travelling along with members.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Our Maharaja Club members are at the heart of Air India’s ongoing transformation. These enhancements are designed to ensure that every Maharaja Point they earn carries more meaning, more flexibility, and more possibility. They reflect months of listening to our most frequent flyers, who were candid about what worked well and where the programme needed to evolve. We’ve taken that feedback seriously and made changes that matter most to them, ensuring that Maharaja Club remains relevant, rewarding, and future-ready.”
More value than ever on Award Flights

· Maharaja Club members will now enjoy lower redemption levels across domestic and international routes, making both quick getaways and long-haul travels more rewarding. Award Flights on domestic routes now start from 1,500 Maharaja Points, while Cabin Upgrades begin at 4,000 Maharaja Points.

· Redemption levels for international travel have been standardised across regions, making Award Flights more accessible. For example, one-way Award Flights to anywhere in Europe (including the UK) start from 35,000 Maharaja Points, U.S. and Australia from 40,000 Maharaja Points, and Canada from 50,000 Maharaja Points.

· Economy Class redemption fares have reduced by ~30% on average across 80% of domestic routes and 75% of international routes.

· Business Class redemption fares have reduced by ~15% on average across 70% of domestic routes and by ~25% on average across 35% of international routes.

· Premium Economy redemption fares have reduced by ~13% on average across 30% of domestic routes and by ~12% on average across 17% of international routes.

“By lowering and standardising redemption levels across the network, we’re ensuring that Maharaja Points deliver far greater value than before”, said Aggarwal.

While most routes see meaningful reductions in points required, a small number of routes see no change or a marginal increase. Overall, more than 90% of the network now offers better value than before. These reductions mean members can access Award Flights more often, redeem points more confidently, and enjoy greater value from every trip.
Greater flexibility on managing Award Flights

Cancellations and rescheduling fees for Award Flights (both domestic and international) will follow a simplified tier-based structure, offering the maximum flexibility to members. The new structure is designed to provide greater comfort to frequent travellers when travel plans change.

· Platinum members can cancel or reschedule free of charge up to 2 hours before departure

· Gold members can do so up to 7 days before departure

· Silver members can do so up to 30 days before departure

Within these windows, no fees apply and Maharaja Points will be fully redeposited. Outside the specified windows, a flat 25% fee will apply (charged in cash for rescheduling or deducted in Maharaja Points for cancellations). No-show bookings will continue to follow the existing policy with no refunds permitted.

Additionally, cancellations of upgrades made using Maharaja Points will now see those points refunded to the member, no questions asked. This change gives members the confidence to upgrade more freely, knowing their points remain protected if plans change.
Faster progression through membership tiers

Air India has now made it easier and quicker to earn and retain status by reducing flight-count thresholds for tier qualification, though the spend-based requirement for tier qualification remains unchanged:

· Platinum Tier: Now requires 60 flights (previously 90) including a minimum of 12 Air India Flights

· Gold Tier: Now requires 45 flights (previously 60) including a minimum of 8 Air India Flights

· Silver Tier: Now requires 20 flights (previously 30) including a minimum of 4 Air India Flights

The Tier Points qualification criteria remain unchanged. Flights taken over the past 365 days will be retrospectively assessed under the new thresholds, with eligible members automatically upgraded to their qualifying tier.

Aggarwal added: “We recognise that many of our loyal customers may have found progressing through tiers to be harder than it should be, especially those flying frequently on domestic or short-haul international routes. By easing the flight count thresholds, our valued members now have a more achievable path to the privileges they’ve earned.”

Extending travel privileges to companions of members

Air India will now accord the same travel privileges to companions of Maharaja Club Platinum and Gold members as they receive as valued members. One co-passenger, if travelling on a single PNR along with a Platinum or Gold member, will receive priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling, in addition to lounge access.

Crediting Maharaja Points within 2 hours of flight or sooner

Air India will credit Maharaja Points earned on Air India flights or those with Star Alliance partner carriers within 2 hours of flight or sooner. Mahara Club members now see their Maharaja Points reflected almost instantly, making it easier to track progress and plan future redemptions.
Continuing the transformation of Maharaja Club

These latest improvements build on the transformation Maharaja Club has undergone since its redesign in 2024. Moving from a legacy miles-based system to a fairer, spend-based earning structure, Maharaja Club today counts over 10 million members across the world, offering a simplified and globally benchmarked programme structure, a slew of member-friendly features, and a rapidly expanding portfolio of partnerships with world-leading brands across the banking, retail, hospitality, travel and lifestyle ecosystem, providing members with even more opportunities to earn and redeem Maharaja Points.

POINTS REQUIREMENT REVISION TO ECONOMY CLASS REDEMPTIONS

PARTIAL LISTING ONLY

 

Sector	Existing Points Requirement (Lowest Fare)	Revised Points Requirement (Lowest Fare)	% Reduction
Domestic Routes
Goa (Mopa) - Hyderabad	7,000	2,500	64% ↓
Delhi-Chandigarh	5,000	3,000	40% ↓
Delhi-Chennai	7,500	6,000	20% ↓
Delhi-Ahmedabad	4,000	3,500	13% ↓
Bengaluru-Chennai	2,000	1,500	25% ↓
Mumbai-Amritsar	9,500	5,500	42% ↓
Delhi-Bhopal	5,000	3,000	40% ↓
Delhi-Goa (Dabolim)	9,000	5,000	44% ↓
Delhi-Guwahati	8,500	6,000	29% ↓
Delhi-Patna	6,500	5,000	23% ↓
Delhi-Mumbai	5,000	5,000	0%
Delhi-Bangalore	8,000	7,000	13% ↓
Delhi-Kolkata	5,000	5,000	0% ↓
Bangalore-Mumbai	4,000	4,000	0% ↓
International Routes
Delhi-San Francisco	77,000	40,000	48% ↓
Mumbai-Newark	67,000	40,000	40% ↓
Delhi-Vancouver	87,000	50,000	43% ↓
Delhi-Melbourne	61,000	40,000	34% ↓
Delhi-Chicago	65,000	40,000	39% ↓
Delhi-New York (JFK)	62,000	40,000	36% ↓
Amritsar-Birmingham	53,000	35,000	34% ↓
Mumbai-Mauritius	25,000	12,000	52% ↓
Mumbai-Doha	23,000	12,000	48% ↓
Delhi-Jeddah	26,000	12,000	54% ↓
Delhi-Tokyo	35,000	30,000	14% ↓
Delhi-Dubai	16,000	12,000	25% ↓
Delhi-Bangkok	16,000	12,000	25% ↓
Delhi-London	30,000	35,000	17%