ABD Maestro Wins ‘Distiller Of The Year’ At The 15th Icons Of Whisky India Awards 2026

* The accolade marks ABD Maestro’s first anniversary; having established a portfolio of ten brands spanning distinct category and expressions.

* ARTHAUS Blended Malt Scotch wins ‘Campaign Innovator of the Year’

ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., the super-premium and luxury spirits subsidiary of Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD), has been named ‘Distiller of the Year’ at the Icons of Whisky India Awards 2026. The recognition arrives as the company marks its first anniversary, having established a portfolio of ten brands across distinct categories and expressions. Reflecting both the aspiration behind the venture and the growing appetite among Indian consumers for premium, globally benchmarked spirits.

The 15th edition of the Icons of Whisky Awards, held in Gurugram, celebrated excellence across the Indian whisky industry. Widely regarded as one of the most respected global accolades for innovation, craftsmanship, and leadership in alcobev production, the awards serve as an international benchmark for quality and vision. Each regional edition draws competition from across the world, making every win a truly global statement. For ABD Maestro, this is a landmark victory, standing as the only Indian company to receive this honour alongside 6 other international players on a global stage hosted on home soil. The ‘Distiller of the Year’ title is both a powerful affirmation of the work undertaken in its founding year and a testament to India’s growing stature on the global whisky map.

Adding to the honours, ARTHAUS Blended Malt Scotch Whisky was recognised as “Campaign Innovator of the Year”, an acknowledgement of the brand’s approach to engaging India’s premium Scotch consumer and its positioning within one of the category’s most competitive segments.

Speaking on the recognition, Bikram Basu, Managing Director, ABD Maestro, said, “India’s super premium whisky landscape is evolving fast with consumers showing a clear preference for globally benchmarked expressions. ABD Maestro, just 1 year old, being named ‘Distiller of the Year’ at Icons of Whisky and the only Indian company to be honoured in this category alongside international players is a defining milestone. It reflects the strength of our portfolio, commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and quality that has underpinned our thinking”.

The wins at the Icons of Whisky India Awards 2026 marks an important step for ABD Maestro’s, affirming its role in shaping India’s super-premium and luxury spirit’s landscape. With a sharp focus on innovation, global-quality benchmarks, and curated brand experiences, ABD Maestro continues to strengthen its position as a key player driving India’s emergence on the global whisky map.  

Playland Begins From 4th April: Play. Laugh. Repeat. The Only Place Kids Want To Be This Summer, At Bhartiya Mall Of Bengaluru

This summer, Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru transforms into a vibrant playground with the launch of Playland, starting 4th April 2026, bringing together creativity, play, and fun under one roof.

Playland offers a rich mix of activities that seamlessly blend entertainment with learning. Children can explore engaging toy exhibitions, interactive play zones, and hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity and imagination. The exciting line-up also includes meet-and-greet sessions with popular cartoon characters and all-day activities that ensure non-stop fun for children and families.

Families can complement the playful experience with a curated shopping journey, featuring leading kids’ brands such as Ameoba, Aretto, Biglilpeople, Crossword, Funtime, LuvLap, Miniso, and Tynimo. This makes Playland not just an entertainment destination, but a complete summer outing for the entire family.

Whether seeking an engaging day out for children, a lively summer retreat, or a place to create joyful memories together, Playland at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru promises an energetic, immersive, and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

Event Details

What: Playland
When: 4th April 2026 Onwards (12 PM onwards)
Where: Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru
How to Book: Entry Free For All. 

BLK Roots FC Marks Participation In Indian Women’s League 2, Strengthens Focus On Future Growth

BLK Roots FC marked its participation in the Indian Women’s League 2, leveraging the platform to gain competitive exposure and further its commitment to developing women’s football talent in India.

Featuring a diverse squad with players from across Karnataka, Manipur, Haryana, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Assam and Uttar Pradesh, the team reflected the growing depth of grassroots football talent in the country. The tournament provided an opportunity for players to compete at a national level and experience the intensity of structured league football.

Ms. Shruti Kashyap Choudhari, Director – Projects & Strategy, B L Kashyap & Sons Ltd., said, “Participation in the Indian Women’s League 2 has been a significant step in our journey to support and develop women’s football in India. The experience has provided our players with valuable exposure to competitive football, and we are confident it will contribute meaningfully to their growth. At BLK Roots FC, we remain committed to building a strong foundation for the future and creating opportunities for emerging talent.”

Throughout this, BLK Roots FC focused on building on-field cohesion, strengthening its defensive and midfield combinations, and enabling players to gain valuable match experience. The exposure is expected to play a key role in shaping the team’s future preparations.

BLK Roots FC continues to invest in grassroots development and structured training, with a long-term vision of creating sustainable opportunities for women in football. The club aims to build on the experience gained this season as it looks ahead to upcoming competitions.

A Record-Breaking Performance By SAIoneers In CBSE Class X Board Examination 2026

The SAI International Education Group proudly announces the exceptional performance of its students from SAI International School (SIS) and SAI International Residential School (SIRS) in the CBSE Class X Board Examinations 2026, with results declared on April 15, 2026. Upholding its legacy of academic distinction, the Group has once again achieved 100% first-division results since inception, reflecting a continued commitment to excellence.

At SIS, students delivered an outstanding performance, with Priyansu Pritis Dash emerging as the school topper with a phenomenal 99.6%, followed closely by Soham Mishra with 99.4%. The overall results underscore a culture of consistent academic rigour, with 100% of students scoring above 60%. An impressive 43.2% of students secured above 95%, while 69.4% scored above 90%, and 94.3% achieved more than 75%. The school average stood at an exceptional 90.6%.

SIRS students demonstrated equal perseverance and focus, achieving remarkable results. Priyal Gupta led the cohort with an outstanding 99.2%, followed by Ashvika Sarawogi with 98.8%. Maintaining strong academic standards, 100% of students scored above 60%, with 24.2% achieving above 95%, 46.1% scoring above 90%, and 89.7% securing more than 75%. The overall school average stood at a commendable 87.25%, reflecting the institution’s disciplined and holistic approach to education.

Further elevating this achievement, students recorded exceptional subject-wise accomplishments, with 32 students scoring a perfect 100 in Mathematics, 21 in Science, 23 in Social Studies, and 5 in English an affirmation of academic depth and conceptual clarity across disciplines.

Dr. Silpi Sahoo, Chairperson, SAI International Education Group, remarked, “This remarkable achievement reflects the spirit of excellence that defines every SAIoneer. At SIS, curiosity is nurtured through dynamic learning environments, while at SIRS, discipline and focus shape resilient learners. These results are not merely milestones of academic success but a testament to the perseverance of students, the dedication of mentors, and the unwavering support of parents. Together, we continue to nurture individuals who are not only high achievers but also confident, compassionate, and future-ready leaders.”

Expressing his joy, Priyansu Pritis Dash, Class X Topper (99.6%, SIS), shared, “I am extremely happy with my results and grateful for the constant support of my teachers and parents. The structured guidance, regular practice, and encouragement at SAI helped me stay focused throughout. This achievement motivates me to aim even higher in the future.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Priyal Gupta, Class X Topper (99.2%, SIRS), said, “The disciplined environment at SIRS and the continuous mentorship from teachers played a key role in my success. I am thankful to my parents and mentors for always believing in me. This result is truly a collective effort.”

The consistent achievements of SAIoneers reaffirm the Group’s vision of fostering academic excellence while nurturing character, resilience, and global outlook among its learners continuing their journey of shaping leaders for tomorrow.

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Profit After Tax grows By 34.6% To ₹ 1,600 Crore In FY2026

Highlights:

· Profit after tax registers a year-on-year growth of 34.6% to ₹ 1,600 crore in FY2026

· VNB registers a year-on-year growth of 10.9% to ₹ 2,629 crore in FY2026, with a margin of 24.7%

· In-force sum assured stood at ₹ 46.11 lakh crore as on March 31, 2026

· Retail new business sum assured grew by 35.3% year-on-year to ₹ 4.50 lakh crore in FY2026

· Retail Protection APE grew by 60.5% year-on-year in Q4-FY2026

· Final dividend proposed for FY2026 is ₹ 1.65 per share

The Board of Directors of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited approved and adopted the financial results for the year ended March 31, 2026.

MD & CEO’s statement:

Commenting on the results, Mr. Anup Bagchi, MD & CEO, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said, “FY2026 marks a landmark year as we celebrate 25 years of serving over 20 crore customers with trust and commitment. The total value of life cover stood at ₹ 46.11 lakh crore at March 31, 2026, highlighting the strong trust our customers have placed in us over the years.

Driven by our commitment to customer values and a resilient operating model, we successfully navigated the impacts of a challenging global macro environment this year. Our Company’s Profit After Tax (PAT) registered a robust growth of 34.6% year-on-year to ₹ 1,600 crore. Value of New Business (VNB) grew by 10.9% year-on-year to ₹ 2,629 crore with a margin of 24.7%. Our Company’s Embedded Value grew by 10.5% year-on- year to ₹ 52,989 crore in FY2026.

The recent '0% GST reform' in September 2025 has made insurance policies more affordable and our retail protection segment registered a strong 50.9% year-on-year growth in H2-FY2026. Consequently, the retail new business sum assured witnessed robust 49.5% year-on-year growth in H2-FY2026 to end at ₹ 4.5 lakh crore in FY2026.

Our focus on innovation in product structures has allowed us to meet diverse customer needs more effectively. We recently launched ‘ICICI Pru Global Wealth Multiplier’, a USD- denominated product under the GIFT City framework that enables investments in funds globally, along with a life cover and ‘ICICI Pru Smart Kid 360’, a guaranteed child savings plan that secures key milestones through flexible payouts, achievement rewards, and a premium waiver enabling customers to secure their child's future milestones, even in their absence.

We remain committed to delivering superior value to our customers. Our claim settlement ratio stood at 99.3%, achieved with an average turnaround time of 1.1 days in FY2026, demonstrating our commitment to stand by our customers and their families when it matters the most. We continue to leverage economies of scale, technology and digital solutions to improve efficiencies, resulting in a reduction of 40 basis points (bps) in our savings cost-to-premium ratio, which stood at 12.1% during FY2026.

Over the past 25 years, we have had the privilege of serving customers across generations. With the experience that we have gained, we remain focused on building a future-ready organisation that continues to adapt thoughtfully, act with agility and create meaningful impact by expanding access to insurance and deliver long-term sustainable value to all stakeholders.”

Key performance highlights:

* Premium: New business received premium grew by 30.6% year-on-year from ₹ 7,444 crore in Q4-FY2025 to ₹ 9,719 crore in Q4-FY2026. New business received premium grew by 9.9% year-on-year from ₹ 22,583 crore in FY2025 to ₹ 24,810 crore in FY2026. Annualised Premium Equivalent (APE) for FY2026 stood at ₹ 10,641 crore. The overall protection APE registered a growth of 16.4% year-on-year in FY2026.

Retail protection APE grew by 32.3% year-on-year from ₹ 598 crore in FY2025 to ₹ 791 crore in FY2026. Notably, in H2-FY2026, it registered a robust growth of 50.9% year-on-year, in part aided by the reduction in GST post September 2025.

* Sum assured: Retail new business sum assured grew strongly by 49.5% year-on-year in H2-FY2026 to ₹ 4.50 lakh crore in FY2026.

The total in-force sum assured, which is the quantum of life cover taken by customers of the Company, grew by 16.9% year-on-year from ₹ 39.43 lakh crore at March 31, 2025 to ₹ 46.11 lakh crore at March 31, 2026

* Cost: Cost-to-premium ratio for the savings line of business reduced by 40 basis points from 12.5% in FY2025 to 12.1% in FY2026. The reduction in cost ratios is a result of the various cost optimisation initiatives undertaken in the past two years to make the cost structure aligned to the prevailing product mix. The cost reduction is after accounting for unavailability of input tax credit, effective September 22, 2025. The total cost-to- premium ratio for FY2026 stood at 18.2% and remained stable at previous year’s levels.

* Profitability: The Company’s Profit after tax (PAT) grew by 57.8% year-on-year from

₹ 386 crore in Q4-FY2025 to ₹ 609 crore in Q4-FY2026. FY2026 PAT grew by 34.6% year-on-year from ₹ 1,189 crore in FY2025 to ₹ 1,600 crore in FY2026, primarily driven by higher investment income from Shareholders’ funds, which includes gain of ₹ 114 crore realised from the sale of 100% equity shareholding in ICICI Pension Fund Management Company Limited (erstwhile ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company Limited). Excluding the sale transaction, PAT grew by 25.0% year-on-year for FY2026.

The Value of New Business (VNB) stood at ₹ 965 crore in Q4-FY2026. The VNB grew by 10.9% year-on-year and stood at ₹ 2,629 crore with a margin of 24.7% in FY2026.

* Claim Settlement Ratio: Claim settlement ratio stood at 99.3% with an average turnaround time of 1.1 days for non-investigated individual death claims in FY2026.

* Persistency: 13th month and 49th month persistency stood at 84.5% and 71.8% respectively in FY2026.

* Solvency Ratio: Solvency ratio stood at 227.3% as on March 31, 2026, against the regulatory requirement of 150%.

* Dividend: The final dividend proposed for FY2026 is ₹ 1.65 per equity share.

* Assets under Management (AUM): AUM stood at ₹ 3.14 lakh crore as on March 31, 2026.

* Embedded Value (EV): EV grew by 10.5% to ₹ 52,989 crore as on March 31, 2026. The Return on Embedded Value (RoEV) was 11.9% in FY2026. EV operating profit stood at

₹ 5,702 crore in FY2026.

* ESG: The Company continues to retain the highest ranking in the Indian life insurance industry as per leading global and Indian ESG rating agencies.

Financial metrics:

 

₹ crore	FY2025	FY2026	Growth Y-o-Y
Profit After Tax (PAT)	1,189	1,600	34.6%
Value of New Business (VNB)	2,370	2,629	10.9%
VNB Margin	22.8%	24.7%	190 bps
Total Premium	48,951	53,125	8.5%
Annualised Premium Equivalent (APE)	10,407	10,641	2.2%
·       Savings including annuity	8,769	8,735	(0.4%)
·       Protection	1,638	1,906	16.4%
Product mix (% of APE): Linked/non- linked/annuity/protection/group funds	49/21/8/16/6	48/20/6/18/8	-
Channel mix (% of APE): Agency/direct/ banca/partnership distribution/group	30/14/29/11/16	25/14/30/13/18	-
Retail NB Sum Assured (₹ lakh crore)	3.32	4.50	35.3%
NB Sum Assured (₹ lakh

CheQ And AU Small Finance Bank Launch India’s First Co-Branded LED Credit Card

A first-of-its-kind credit card combining LED-powered payments with a single, powerful rewards ecosystem across everyday spends.

The card features an embedded LED that lights up during tap-to-pay, offering instant visual confirmation powered by the POS terminal’s NFC field

Designed for new age customers who expect a seamless onboarding and payments experience.

Applications begin on the CheQ app from 28th April, 2026

CheQ, India’s leading credit management platform announced the launch of the “CheQ AU Credit Card” in partnership with AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India’s largest Small Finance Bank. This first-of-its-kind co-branded credit card aims to simplify payments, maximise rewards, and bring together credit experiences aligned with the evolving spending habits of India. The launch marks CheQ’s entry into the credit card issuance ecosystem, expanding its evolution from a credit card bill payment platform to card issuance and rewards-driven commerce.

Built on insights from over 15 million credit cards and 4 million users, the CheQ AU Credit Card addresses key gaps in today’s credit experience, where rewards are fragmented, redemption is complex, and traditional cards have not evolved in step with changing consumer behaviour.

The CheQ AU Credit Card is India’s first co-branded credit card to feature an LED-powered tap interaction. With every tap, the card lights up through an embedded LED, offering instant visual confirmation powered by the POS terminal’s NFC field - without requiring any battery. This creates a simple yet intuitive feedback moment at checkout, making payments more visible, modern, and engaging.

“For something people use every day, credit cards have remained largely unchanged,” said Aditya Soni, Founder and CEO, CheQ. “That’s exactly what we set out to challenge at CheQ by staying deeply focused on real user problems and behaviours. This card is a natural extension of that thinking, built on years of insight and brought to life with AU Small Finance Bank. The LED is a small but deliberate shift to make the experience more visible and intuitive, but behind it is a system designed for how people actually spend today, with rewards that are simple and genuinely usable.”

Sanjay Agarwal, Founder, MD & CEO, AU Small Finance Bank, said, “AU SFB’s partnership with CheQ marks a significant step in advancing our customer-first banking philosophy through meaningful innovation. With this LED credit card, we are introducing a product that engages new-age, high credit-worthy customers with a differentiated value proposition - setting new benchmarks in innovation, smart rewards, and design. As AU continues to expand its nationwide footprint and serve customers across diverse geographies, our focus remains on building a bank of choice for a digitally confident India by delivering world-class financial solutions that are accessible, relevant, and future-ready.”

Real rewards, one ecosystem

Beyond innovation, the CheQ AU Credit Card is focused on delivering tangible customer value. All rewards are brought together into a single, unified system within the CheQ app, eliminating complexity and fragmentation. Customers earn:

12% rewards on Apple products powered by Unicorn (online & in-store), Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, BigBasket, CheQ Travel, and bill payments via CheQ

5% rewards on everyday spends such as food delivery, online shopping, quick commerce, and travel

2.5% rewards on CheQ UPI spends via the RuPay card

1% rewards on all other spends

All rewards accrue as CheQ Points - a single rewards currency that can be seamlessly redeemed across the CheQ ecosystem.

Cardholders can redeem points for gift cards across 40 leading Indian brands, or directly on CheQ Travel, an integrated travel platform available exclusively for CheQ AU Credit Card holders, enabling seamless flight and hotel bookings within the app. Rewards can also be used against credit card and utility bill payments. With instant redemption at checkout and a lowest price guarantee, CheQ Travel converts everyday spending into meaningful travel experiences.

One card, every experience

The CheQ AU Credit Card offers two variants of the card to all customers that work seamlessly across use cases by integrating:

Visa for global acceptance and online transactions

RuPay to power UPI and everyday spending needs

Whether it’s scanning a QR code, shopping online, or planning your next trip, one card powers every experience.

Applications for the CheQ AU Credit Card will open on the CheQ app from 28 April 2026. The card carries an annual fee of ₹499, which is reversible on annual spends of ₹3 lakh. Cardholders will also receive a welcome benefit worth ₹695 in the form of an EazyDiner membership.

An additional one-time fee of ₹999 applies for the LED version of the card, which is waived until 31 May 2026 for CheQ customers.   

Aditya Birla Capital Introduces ‘LeadHerShip’ To Nurture The Next Generation Of Women Entrepreneurs In Financial Services

Aditya Birla Capital Limited (“ABCL”), one of India’s leading diversified financial services companies, has introduced ‘LeadHerShip’, a women-to-women mentorship and incubation initiative under its flagship fintech engagement platform, InFiniTe. The program is aimed to support and empower early-stage women entrepreneurs within financial services and fintech ecosystem by enabling access, accelerating capability building, and creating sustainable opportunities to scale.

Over the past decade, India has witnessed steady growth in women entering leadership pipelines, alongside a notable rise in women-led start-ups. However, despite this progress, women’s representation in leadership, particularly within the BFSI sector remains limited. LeadHerShip aims to address this gap through a structured ecosystem that pairs women founders with senior women leaders across Aditya Birla Capital businesses for a focused three-month mentoring journey.

These one-on-one leadership engagements are designed to help participating start-ups refine strategic priorities, solve real-world business challenges, and build scalable, market-ready solutions. At the same time, the initiative provides Aditya Birla Capital with early visibility into emerging trends and innovation-led business models in financial services.

The initiative builds on ABCL’s InFiniTe programme, which follows a ‘problem-to-partner’ approach, connecting internal business challenges with external innovators. Anchored in the pillars of Innovate, Incubate, and Invest, InFiniTe has so far engaged over 200 fintech and implemented around 60 proof-of-concepts across digital lending, customer experience, data analytics, and risk management. LeadHerShip deepens the Incubate pillar, with a sharper focus on inclusive innovation and women‑led enterprises.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Vishakha Mulye, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Aditya Birla Capital Limited, said, “LeadHerShip reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive, future-ready and innovation-led ecosystem at Aditya Birla Capital. As we evolve our InFiniTe platform from innovating with start-ups to actively incubating them, this initiative creates a unique opportunity for our women leaders to mentor and partner with women entrepreneurs at an early stage of their journey. By bringing together leadership experience and entrepreneurial ambition, LeadHerShip aims to enable a powerful exchange of ideas, accelerate innovation, and help shape the next generation of women leaders in financial services.”

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with B‑Fair Labs, which will support the programme design, track progress, and measure outcomes to ensure a structured, impact‑led incubation journey.

Through LeadHerShip, Aditya Birla Capital continues to further its broader vision of fostering innovation, deepening start‑up partnerships, and enabling leadership support for women entrepreneurs to scale and succeed.

About Aditya Birla Capital Limited

Aditya Birla Capital Limited (“ABCL”) is a listed systemically important non-deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and the holding company of the financial services businesses. Through its subsidiaries/JVs, ABCL provides a comprehensive suite of financial solutions across Loans, Investments, Insurance, and Payments to serve the diverse needs of customers across their lifecycles. Powered by more than 66,340 employees, the businesses of ABCL have a nationwide reach with over 1,742 branches and more than 200,000 agents/channel partners along with several bank partners.

Aditya Birla Capital Limited is a part of the US$ 67 billion global conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, which is in the league of Fortune 500 and has a consolidated market cap of over US$117 billion, as of Jan 1, 2026. Anchored by an extraordinary force of over 227,500 employees, the Group is built on a strong foundation of stakeholder value creation. With over seven decades of responsible business practices, the Group’s businesses have grown into global powerhouses in a wide range of sectors - from metals to cement, fashion to financial services and textiles to trading. Today, over 40% of the Group revenues flow from overseas operations that span 41 countries across six continents with over 340 state-of-the-art manufacturing units.

For more information, visit www.adityabirlacapital.com