Airtel Secure Workforce ̶ A Fully-Managed And ZTA Security Solution For Enterprises With A Hybrid Workforce

* Compliance-ready solutions will ensure robust security for users, data and devices ​at all times, everywhere

* Enterprises will benefit by up to 30% cost optimisation in their security spends

* Airtel’s 24X7 managed services expertise will enable enterprises to bolster their security needs

In today’s AI-driven era, cyberattacks are growing in scale, speed and sophistication with a rapidity that defeats most defences and makes every organisation a potential target ̶ as borne out by the over two million cybersecurity incidents reported in 2025 alone. In order to combat this barrage, Airtel Business, the B2B arm of Bharti Airtel ("Airtel"), one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, has built Airtel Secure Workforce ̶ the country’s first-ever, fully-managed and unified Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) security platform with an end-to-end, compliance-ready security stack for enterprises.

Powered by Airtel’s pan-India network and 24X7 expert vigilance and with a proven history of national-scale security, Airtel Secure Workforce will offer enterprises the protection they need at optimised costs while also removing from organisations the operational burden of building and running their security safeguards themselves. Built to support compliance with India’s DPDP Act, it will secure endpoints across users, devices, networks, applications and data.

Sharat Sinha, CEO – Airtel Business, said, “Enterprises today are under mounting pressure to protect end users and devices in the constantly-evolving, targeted, AI-powered attacks. Building on our leadership in secure connectivity and cybersecurity, we have designed Airtel Secure Workforce to protect users, data and devices ​anytime, anywhere. The solution offers end-to-end protection that combines connectivity and managed security backed by 24x7 expert vigilance. Its unified approach will help us to deliver maximum value to our enterprise customers enabling them to unlock up to 30% optimisation in their security spends and stay focused on their business growth, confident that they are protected.”

Designed for a hybrid workforce and built on a resilient ZTA framework, this solution will address today’s security challenges of tools overload, alert fatigue and talent shortage. By replacing fragmented, multi-vendor deployments with a unified platform along with integrated security that is 24x7, the Airtel Secure Workforce will strengthen endpoint detection and response and secure remote access at every touchpoint, delivering stronger protection as well as better cost efficiency.

Complying with India’s DPDP Act, Airtel Secure Workforce will offer audit-grade logs, data movement controls and structured incident workflows for stronger monitoring, response and governance. The unified dashboard will offer enterprises a single view across networks, endpoints, users and data, helping secure employees across email, web, applications and devices. It also provides visibility into unsanctioned cloud and AI applications.

As part of the launch, Airtel Business has also unveiled the Airtel Secure Workforce Centre of Excellence (CoE) ̶ a live environment hosted on Airtel Cloud where enterprises can experience the platform before scaling. For more details, log on to www.airtel.in/b2b/secure-workforce

About Bharti Airtel

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 650 million customers in 15 countries across India and Africa. The company also has its presence in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka through its associate entities. The company is ranked second amongst mobile operators globally, and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high-speed 4G/5G mobile, Wi-Fi (FTTH+ FWA) that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, video streaming services, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data center services, cyber security, IoT, and cloud-based communication. Airtel’s digital arm – Xtelify, empowers telcos globally to leverage the power of AI, data and technology to accelerate their digital transformation and drive growth. Xtelify also offers Airtel Cloud in India enabling enterprises with a sovereign, telco-grade cloud platform that guarantees secure migration, effortless scaling, lower costs and no vendor lock- ins. Within its diversified portfolio, Airtel also offers passive infrastructure services through its subsidiary Indus Tower Ltd. For more details visit www.airtel.com   

L'Oréal Paris Marks 29 Years At The Festival De Cannes With A Powerful India Line-Up

* Featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt And Aditi Rao Hydari

* L’ORÉAL PARIS, FESTIVAL DE CANNES PARTNER FOR THE PAST 29 YEARS REAFFIRMS ITS LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING WOMEN IN CINEMA

L'Oréal Paris, the world’s No. 1 beauty brand, proudly returns as the Official Beauty Partner of the Festival de Cannes for the 29th consecutive year, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to celebrating women’s empowerment, inclusivity and self-worth on one of the world’s most iconic global stages. Held from 12th May to 23rd May 2026, this year’s Festival once again brings together cinema, culture and beauty in a powerful tribute to female voices and representation worldwide. The world’s leading beauty brand also presents the sixth edition of the L’Oréal Paris Lights on Women’s Worth Award, with actress and L’Oréal Paris ambassador Gillian Anderson as the Juror.

Representing India at this year’s Festival de Cannes are L'Oréal Paris ambassadors - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt and Aditi Rao Hydari each embodying a distinct expression of confidence, ambition and individuality. Together, they reflect the rising prominence of Indian talent on the international stage while reinforcing L'Oréal Paris’ vision of championing women who inspire through both achievement and authenticity.

Indian actor, producer, and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt is returning to Cannes in her role as Global Ambassador for L’Oréal Paris for the second consecutive year. Speaking about her return to the Festival, Alia said, "It feels incredibly special to return to Cannes with L’Oréal Paris for the second time. Last year was such an unforgettable experience and I am truly excited to be back for what feels like an even bigger celebration this year. There is a beautiful energy here, one of sisterhood and the celebration of female voices, and it is a privilege to be part of this journey with a brand that so strongly champions women’s worth and empowerment."

This year, Aditi Rao Hydari’s Cannes presence adds a fresh layer to India’s global story, reflecting a blend of aspiration, elegance, and confident self-expression that goes beyond cinema.

Speaking about her Cannes journey, Aditi Rao Hydari said, "I am honoured to represent L'Oréal Paris at the Festival de Cannes. For me, true beauty lies in embracing who you are unapologetically and owning your individuality with confidence. Cannes is such an iconic global platform, and being part of this journey with a brand that has consistently championed women’s empowerment makes it incredibly meaningful. I believe every woman deserves to feel seen, valued and worthy and that message resonates deeply with me."

Further commenting on this year’s participation, Dario Zizzi, General Manager, L'Oréal Paris India, said: "Twenty-nine years at Cannes has shown us how profoundly this stage can amplify voices that deserve to be heard globally. This year feels particularly meaningful with Indian creativity and beauty reflected on the world's most iconic red carpet is a testament to how far we've come together. For L'Oréal Paris, Cannes has never just been about glamour; it's about championing the women who are rewriting the rules of culture, cinema and beauty on their own terms”

As part of a strategic collaboration, L’Oréal Paris has partnered with the Indian beauty e-commerce platform Nykaa as its “Beauty Partner” in India this year. Through this partnership, Nykaa is bringing the glamour of Cannes to the Indian consumers by offering exclusive access to iconic Cannes red carpet looks.

For L'Oréal Paris, the Cannes Film Festival is an iconic moment to bring together its global family of ambassadors and celebrate beauty and women’s empowerment on one of the world’s most prestigious stages; this year, the brand will be represented by newly announced global ambassador Charles Leclerc alongside a star-studded lineup including Gillian Anderson, Simone Ashley, Jane Fonda, Ariana Greenblatt, Aja Naomi King, Eva Longoria, Andie MacDowell, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Bebe Vio.

Throughout the Festival, L’Oréal Paris Global Make-Up Artist Harold James will continue to bring his vision for modern Cannes glamour, reinterpreting iconic beauty with his French touch on L’Oréal Paris makeup.

As L'Oréal Paris continues to champion its iconic belief that ‘Because You’re Worth It’, this year’s Cannes presence goes beyond beauty to celebrate individuality, ambition and the transformative power of women’s stories on a global stage.

About L'Oréal Paris:

L’Oréal Paris, the world’s #1 beauty brand, has more than 40 years of pioneering scientific research heritage, and offers a stringent selection of the most advanced beauty care with proven efficacy and safety to its consumers.

Beyond cosmetics, L’Oréal Paris creates a world of Parisian beauty to inspire every woman everywhere. In dialogue from the streets to its runways, myriad interpretations of Parisian beauty and femininity are reinvented every day.

“Because you’re worth it.” With this world-recognized slogan, and from the beginning, L’Oréal Paris has encouraged women to embrace their individuality and champion their self-worth. The brand has a rich legacy of empowering women and working with them to build a more inclusive world of tomorrow. This commitment is expressed through a host of local and international cause initiatives, another such initiative being the Stand Up - Against Street Harassment program. 

Small Businesses In India Can Now Use ‘Business AI’ On WhatsApp To Better Serve Customers

* Available in all native languages in India — Business AI on WhatsApp will help businesses respond to customers around the clock, recommend products, and drive sales

WhatsApp today announced the launch of Business AI on WhatsApp in India, bringing AI-powered customer support directly to the WhatsApp Business app. Available in all native languages in India, this feature enables eligible businesses to respond to customer queries 24/7, capture leads, book appointments, and drive sales — without needing any additional tools or platforms.

Business AI on WhatsApp can be customized based on the business's own information, allowing them to automate responses to frequently asked questions and assist customers with queries related to products and services, pricing, discounts, shipping and more. Starting soon, it will also be able to facilitate payments directly within a WhatsApp chat using UPI. When there is a more complex query or a specific need that needs to be addressed, a business owner can take over the conversation from the AI agent. Over the coming weeks, Business AI will be available for all eligible businesses to use on the WhatsApp Business app.

According to a Kantar study (2025), 91% of online adults in India chat with a business on a weekly basis, making messaging the preferred way for Indians to interact with businesses, and WhatsApp is central to that connection between businesses and their customers. Business AI on WhatsApp gives small business owners the tools to be available, responsive, and competitive — at any hour of the day.

Speaking on the launch of Business AI, Ravi Garg, Director Business Messaging, Meta India said, “Small businesses are the backbone of India's economy, and we deeply understand the value of every customer conversation for them. Over the years, we've consistently heard that managing high volumes of customer queries with limited resources remains one of the biggest challenges for small businesses. This is where we believe that AI can be a game-changer for them. With the introduction of Business AI on WhatsApp, we're now putting that power directly into the hands of small businesses — ensuring they never miss a customer query outside business hours or struggle to keep up during peak demand."

Small businesses across India who have integrated Business AI on WhatsApp Business app are already seeing the impact of Business AI in transforming how they connect with customers and drive growth.

Soil Concept, a 100% plant-based personal care brand, was losing potential customers when queries came in outside business hours. Whereas, The Purple Sunset, a customized gifting business specializing in personalized hampers, was struggling to manage 60-70 daily customer queries alongside other business operations. Both these businesses were part of the selected business.

Tuba Siddiqui, Co-founder, Soil Concept said, "We were losing leads that came in late at night, and now with 24/7 support, our conversion rate has skyrocketed to 80-90%. Setting up Business AI on WhatsApp was incredibly simple — no coding, no complex third-party software. I just uploaded our product catalog and documents, and the AI learned the details and tone of my business. It's been a game-changer in helping us manage and grow our customer base to over 15,000 customers."

Gunveen Kaur, Founder, The Purple Sunset said, "To my surprise, it was an easy process — within a few hours, Business AI learned everything about my business and was able to reply to customers on my behalf, exactly how I would. It's helped me close 6-7 orders daily directly through queries handled by the AI, and I've seen a 40% increase in sales with the potential to grow even further."

At this time, Indian small and medium-sized businesses must meet certain criteria to be eligible for Business AI and use the WhatsApp Business app. To learn more about business AI on WhatsApp and get started, businesses can visit https://www.facebook.com/business/ai/business-ai/whatsapp.

How to use and set up Business AI

Eligible businesses using the WhatsApp Business app can get started by going to the Tools tab and selecting ‘Your Business AI’, where they can follow a few guided steps to set up the feature.

Once enabled, Business AI on WhatsApp can immediately begin assisting with customer conversations by answering questions, recommending products, sharing key business information based on what the business has already added to their profile and catalog, and help close the sale.

Businesses remain in control at all times — they can step in to respond to customers directly whenever needed, adjust how Business AI on WhatsApp works, or turn the feature off entirely. For more information on how to set up your Business AI, visit the Help Center.

About Meta

Meta is building the future of human connection, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward experiences that foster deeper connections and unlock new possibilities. 

Nippon Paint India Launches 4th NEO Homes Experiential Store in Bangalore

* Strengthens Decorative Retail Expansion with New-Age, High-Tech Format

* NEO Homes to Elevate Home Transformation with Curated, Tech-Enabled Retail Experience; Expands Footprint Across Key South Markets

Nippon Paint India, part of NIPSEA Group - a subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings of Japan and Asia Pacific’s No. 1 paint and coatings manufacturer, today announced the launch of its 4th NEO Homes experiential retail store in Bangalore, following successful openings in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Hosur. This expansion marks a strategic step in strengthening the company’s decorative retail footprint in South India through its exclusive, experience-driven NEO Homes format.

Located at NHVC Enterprises, the store was inaugurated by Mr. Sharad Malhotra, Managing Director – Nippon Paint (India) Group, along with Mr. Mark Titus, President – Nippon Paint India, Decorative Coatings Business

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Sharad Malhotra, Managing Director – Nippon Paint (India) Group, said: “With NEO Homes, we are reimagining how consumers approach home transformation by moving from a product-led purchase to a design-led experience. The launch of our 4th NEO Homes store reflects our focus on scaling this format across key urban markets. By combining premium products, expert guidance, and intuitive technology, we are enabling a more seamless and personalized home transformation journey.”

Adding to this, Mr. Mark Titus, President – Nippon Paint India, Decorative Coatings Business, said, “NEO Homes is a strategic step towards elevating the in-store experience by integrating design, innovation, and service under one roof. With formats like these, we are not only enhancing visibility but also enabling consumers to interact with our offerings in a more immersive and meaningful way, ultimately simplifying their decision-making journey.”

A Curated, Design-Led Retail Experience

NEO Homes is built on the philosophy of “Beyond Beautiful”- an approach that transforms spaces into expressions of personal stories, emotions, and evolving lifestyle aspirations. Every element within the store is meticulously curated to guide customers through a seamless journey from inspiration to execution. More than a retail destination, it is an immersive design atelier where customers can engage with rich textures, refined finishes, and advanced visualization tools - empowering them to craft spaces with confidence, clarity, and sophistication.

The launch at NHVC Enterprises introduces an experiential retail model that blends convenience with expert-led consultation. Located in a prominent area, the store transforms paint selection into an immersive design experience.

World of Instawalls

The popular Instawalls – A ‘One-Wall Makeover’ service allows customers to experiment with designer finishes and explore statement wall concepts. Supported by real-time visualization technology and expert colour consultation, it simplifies personalized design decisions.

Premium Offerings Under One Roof

Specialty Textures & Designer Finishes – Artistic, handcrafted finishes from Momento Dzines that add depth, dimension and individuality to walls

Premium Wallpapers – A curated mix of contemporary and classic designs to complement evolving décor preferences

Integrated Waterproofing Solutions –Combining structural protection with aesthetics

Each collection is backed by design expertise and global trend insights, ensuring customers make informed and confident choices.

The Bangalore launch marks a key milestone in Nippon Paint India’s strategy to scale experiential retail formats across high-growth markets. With curated retail formats, immersive in-store experiences, and premium global offerings, NEO Homes is redefining how Bangalore approaches home design - one thoughtfully crafted wall at a time. Through initiatives like NEO Homes, Nippon Paint India continues to enhance consumer engagement by combining global expertise with localized design excellence.

About Nippon Paint India (Part of NIPSEA Group - Subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings Co.)

Nippon Paint India is part of the NIPSEA Group, a subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings Co. (Japan), the world’s leading coatings manufacturer with over 145 years of heritage. Headquartered in Singapore, the NIPSEA Group is the No. 1 paint and coatings provider in Asia Pacific, operating 118 manufacturing facilities across 28 locations with a global workforce of over 31,000 employees.

In India, the company operates across six core businesses: decorative paints, automotive OEM, automotive refinish and commercial vehicle coatings, wood coatings, industrial coatings and beyond coatings. This combined strength enables Nippon Paint India to provide comprehensive, high-performance coating solutions for virtually every surface and application. By combining advanced global research with a deep understanding of the local market, this unified approach delivers integrated, world-class products that meet the diverse needs of India's consumers and industries.

Indian professionals Are More Alert To Job Scams But Risk Persists Under Pressure, New LinkedIn Research Finds

* 82% Indian professionals now pause to question job legitimacy, yet Gen Z remains most at risk, with nearly half (49%) admitting they’ve come close to falling for a scam

* More than half (53%) of Indian professionals are more likely to question whether a job is a scam than they were a year ago

New research from LinkedIn reveals that Indian professionals are becoming increasingly cautious about job scams during their job search, with more than four in five (82%) pausing to assess whether a role is legitimate before applying. More than half (53%) say they are more likely to question whether a job is a scam than they were a year ago.

Findings from LinkedIn’s Job Search Safety Pulse highlight a growing awareness of job scams across the market, alongside a more nuanced risk for early‑career professionals. While awareness continues to rise, the pressure to secure opportunities can sometimes override caution - especially in the early stages of a career.

High-pressure moments can override caution early in careers

While professionals across age groups are becoming more vigilant, the data shows that early‑career job seekers can still be vulnerable in specific moments. More than half (54%) of Gen Z job‑seekers admit they have overlooked warning signs at times when opportunities felt too important to pass up, highlighting how urgency and competition can influence decision-making.

Nearly half (49%) of Indian Gen Z professionals say they have come close to falling for a job scam, compared to 36% of Gen X, pointing to higher exposure to scam-related situations among younger job‑seekers.

Vulnerability peaks before an application is submitted

The moments that professionals report as feeling the most concerned about scams are while browsing roles (20%) or during initial outreach from a recruiter or company (18%), when details are limited, and trust has not yet been established.

LinkedIn data shows that scammers frequently exploit these early moments by attempting to move conversations off trusted platforms. 90% of reported scam attempts redirect members to personal messaging apps, where accounts are harder to verify, and conversations feel more informal. And over half of all off‑platform attempts happen in the very first message, before any meaningful context or trust has been established.

How LinkedIn Is Helping Reduce Job Search Risk

LinkedIn uses a three‑layer defence against job scams, designed to help members make more informed decisions:

Detection: Proactively stopping fake accounts, scam messages and fraudulent job postings before members see them. As a result, the vast majority of detected scam activity is stopped before members ever see it.

Verification: Providing clearer trust signals at the moments that matter most, including verifications for companies, recruiters, jobs and the ability to apply and communicate on LinkedIn to stay within built-in security protections.

Protection: LinkedIn has recently introduced new measures which help keep job-seekers safe, including requiring ID verification for high-risk job posters, reducing visibility of posts and comments that may be more likely to be scams, , and enhanced spam filtering and detection systems.

Aditi Jha, Head - Legal & Public Policy, LinkedIn India, says, “Job scams are increasingly becoming a common part of the online job search experience. What our research shows is that awareness among professionals is growing, but in a fast‑moving and competitive market, acting on that awareness consistently can be challenging, particularly early in careers. Building a safer job ecosystem therefore requires more than awareness; it requires strong safeguards, trusted signals, and shared accountability across platforms, employers and job seekers. At LinkedIn, we are focused on strengthening these protections and enabling professionals to navigate opportunities with greater confidence and trust

Practical Advice for Job‑Seekers

LinkedIn encourages job‑seekers to:

Pause during early outreach, especially if roles or messages feel rushed or vague

Verify who’s behind a role by checking company pages, recruiter profiles and verification badges

Be cautious of requests to move conversations off‑platform too quickly

Report suspicious activity to help protect the wider community

Methodology:

Source: LinkedIn Job Search Safety Pulse, Censuswide survey of 2,002 U.S. professionals, March 2026

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 8512 Professionals (working full or part time) (Aged 18+) across the UK, USA, India, Germany, and Brazil. The data was collected between 16.03.2026 - 30.03.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms how companies hire, learn, market, and sell. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through the ongoing development of the world’s first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has over 1.2 billion members and has offices around the globe. www.linkedin.com / mobile.linkedin.com

MMTC-PAMP Relaunches Digital Gold & Silver Offering, Democratizing Access To Precious Metals Investment

MMTC-PAMP, India’s only London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery gold and silver refiner, has relaunched its digital gold and silver offering, strengthening the company’s position for investors and customers seeking a convenient, transparent and secure way to invest in the purest gold at 24K, as well as purest silver, both at 999.9+ purity.

Catering to the evolving consumer preferences, particularly among young and first-time investors, who are increasingly adopting digital avenues for gold and silver investment, this digital platform provides all the benefits to consumers, with a value-addition of transparency, 24x7 accessibility, assured purity and an entry point gold and silver investment going as low as Rs 10.

Commenting on the relaunch of the digital offering, Mr. Samit Guha, Managing Director & CEO, MMTC-PAMP said, “Digital gold and silver is increasingly becoming a preferred mode of purchase in the precious metals industry, particularly among young and first-time investors who value accessibility, flexibility and transparency. With this relaunch, our focus is to maintain the trust of physical gold and silver with the convenience of digital platforms. Every investment is backed by the purest silver and gold, stored in an insured, secured, bank-grade vaults, enabling consumers to participate in precious metals investment with confidence, while retaining the option of liquidity or physical redemption based on their needs.”

MMTC-PAMP’s digital gold and silver service enables customers to invest in precious metals starting as low as Rs 10, where every unit purchased is backed by physical gold and silver of the same amount, which is stored in secured, fully insured, bank-grade vaults. The offering combines ease of access with the assurance of purity and ownership, with holdings maintained in the customer’s name and regularly audited by an independent third-party auditor.

Consumers can buy, sell, gift or redeem their investment seamlessly. The platform allows users to redeem their holdings at the real-time market prices with direct bank transfers or convert their digital balance into physical gold and silver in the form of minted coins and bars. Additionally, digital gold and silver can be purchased directly on MMTC-PAMP’s website or Android app, or through a partner transacting platform like Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, among others.

Digital gold and silver continue to gain traction as a preferred investment option due to its flexibility, liquidity and accessibility. It allows a democratic entry to secure financial future with the precious metals’ inherent value as a safe haven asset, eliminates storage concerns, and offers a practical entry point for small-ticket investors.  

Bharat Forge Reports Strong Sequential Recovery In Q4 FY26; FY27 Outlook Remains Positive

Bharat Forge Limited (“BFL”), a global leader in metal forming and engineering, today announced its financial results for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026.

The company reported a strong sequential recovery in Q4 FY26 driven by improved export demand, resilient domestic automotive performance, and continued momentum across industrial and defence businesses.

On a standalone basis, Q4 FY26 revenue increased 8.5% QoQ to Rs 2,260 crore, while EBITDA rose 7.2% QoQ to Rs 610 crore, translating into an EBITDA margin of 27.0%. Profit before tax (before exceptional items) stood at Rs 486 crore, up 9.7% sequentially.

For FY26, standalone revenue stood at Rs 8,396 crore with EBITDA of Rs 2,312 crore. Consolidated revenue for FY26 increased 11.2% YoY to Rs 16,812 crore, while consolidated EBITDA rose 5.9% YoY to Rs 2,921 crore.

The company maintained a strong balance sheet with standalone net debt-to-equity at 0.18x.

During FY26, Bharat Forge secured new orders worth Rs 4,814 crore, including defence orders worth Rs 2,816 crore. The company’s defence order book stood at Rs 10,961 crore at the end of FY26, reinforcing its strategic positioning in the sector.

Export performance improved significantly during Q4, aided by inventory restocking and recovery in North American truck production. Passenger vehicle exports also witnessed strong momentum across North and Central America. Aerospace execution improved during the quarter with onboarding of new customers across engine, structural and landing gear components.

Domestic commercial vehicle demand remained robust, supported by GST-led industry tailwinds, while passenger vehicle production maintained healthy momentum. The industrial business continued to benefit from strong demand across power, construction & mining, agriculture, and machine tools.

Commenting on the performance, Baba Kalyani, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Forge Limited, said:

“Despite demand challenges and regulatory volatility, Bharat Forge delivered a resilient performance in FY26 supported by strong execution across businesses and improving export demand in the second half of the year. The company secured new orders worth Rs 4,814 Crores in FY26 including Rs 2,816 crores in Defence. The order book for Defence stood at Rs 10,961 crores as of FY26. The order wins across businesses reflect a resurgence in business momentum including in aerospace with onboarding of new customers across Engine, Structural and Landing Gear components.

On the Indian subsidiaries front, JS Autocast registered topline of Rs 757 Crore and EBITDA of Rs 106 Crore (14.3% EBITDA margin) in FY26. K-Drive mobility is making significant progress in its effort to reorient its product portfolio with new order wins beyond M&HCVs including 4 EV platforms for LCV’s. The Rs 450 Crores impairment during the quarter of our investments in KPTL (E-mobility division) is an acceptance of the need to take a fresh look at how we address the EV opportunity as the EV adoption globally has changed significantly.The US & European operations reported modest operating profits despite weak demand. We have initiated the restructuring of the steel business of CDP Bharat Forge and we expect this process to conclude by end of CY27. The management is pursuing various alternative business opportunities in Europe to leverage its scaled down manufacturing footprint.

Looking ahead into FY27, barring any geopolitical crisis and its impact of demand, we are optimistic of achieving 25% revenue growth with a commensurate increase in EBITDA & profitability for the Indian manufacturing operations driven by execution of orders across business and recovery in the export market.”