AI Tokenisation Pricing Will Outweigh Human Effort in the Future, Says Hexaware’s Siddharth Dhar
Hexaware is rolling out its Agentverse Enterprise AI platform in 2026, featuring over 600 pre‑deployed AI agents that customers can access via a unified marketplace. The company will price these solutions using a hybrid model that blends traditional headcount‑based billing with a per‑token cost for AI inference. Siddharth Dhar says the token‑based component is currently balanced with human effort but will grow as AI learns and requires less supervision. Hexaware expects the model to boost both top‑line revenue and bottom‑line productivity while reshaping workforce utilization.
Premium Chocolatier SMOOR Plans 200 Outlets, Targets ₹800 Crore Revenue in Five Years
SMOOR Chocolates, a premium Indian chocolatier, is targeting roughly $96 million in revenue over the next five years, up from about $21 million in FY 24‑25. The company plans to grow its retail footprint from 75 to 200 locations, adding 15 stores initially...
India Coca‑Cola Bottler SLMG Beverages May Hike Prices Amid Rising Packaging Costs From West Asia War
India’s largest Coca‑Cola bottler, SLMG Beverages, is weighing selective price hikes as the Middle‑East war drives up costs for plastic bottles, caps, labels and cartons. The company, which posted a 49% sales jump to ₹6,773 crore and a 76% profit surge...
Euro Pratik Acquires 51% Stake in Chawla Brothers for ₹33.2 Crore to Strengthen North India Play
Euro Pratik Sales Limited announced the acquisition of a 51 percent stake in Chawla Brothers for ₹33.2 crore, including a ₹4.1 crore capital infusion, to expand its north‑India presence. The deal, funded entirely from internal accruals, is slated to close by 31 March 2026 and...
L&T Says No Major Disruption to L&T’s Middle East Business, Order Pipeline Intact
Engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro says its Middle East operations remain largely uninterrupted, with about 95 percent of its roughly 100 sites functioning normally despite regional tensions. Only 5 percent of sites near conflict zones have been temporarily halted, and no major projects...
Consumer-Tech Player Nothing Bets Big on Offline, Targets to Add 5,000 Touchpoints by Year-End in India
Nothing, the London‑based consumer‑tech brand, opened its first exclusive Bengaluru store to overwhelming demand, seeing 700‑750 visitors daily and projecting profitability within a year. Riding that momentum, the company announced plans to add 5,000 offline touchpoints, taking its Indian footprint...
Chai Kings Brews Expansion Plans; Eyes Fresh Fundraise
Chai Kings, the Chennai‑based new‑age tea retailer, is set to open about 30 new outlets in the city this year and expand into Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The chain, which posted roughly ₹56 crore in revenue this fiscal year, is targeting...
Skoda Auto India Eyeing up to 12% Sales Growth in 2026: Company Official
Skoda Auto India is targeting 10‑12% sales growth in 2026, building on a near‑100% increase that delivered about 72,000 units in 2025. The plan hinges on ten product actions, including new variants of the Kushaq, Kylaq, Kodiaq and a facelift...
JSW MG Motor India Looks to Leverage on Non-Metros to Accelerate Sales of EV Windsor
JSW MG Motor India reports that 70% of its best‑selling EV, the Windsor, is sold in non‑metro markets, bringing cumulative sales to about 65,000 units since its October 2024 launch. The company’s 541 sales‑and‑service outlets, only 51 of which are in...
Max Fashion Aims to Open 40-50 Stores Nationally in Next Year: Official
Max Fashion announced plans to open 40‑50 new stores across India within the next year, extending its rapid expansion strategy. The retailer inaugurated its 34th Chennai outlet, the 71st in Tamil Nadu, featuring a 14,000 sq ft format with dedicated men’s, women’s and...
NCLT Directs Veranda Learning’s Shareholders to Approve Commerce Vertical Demerger
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Chennai has ordered Veranda Learning Solutions (VLS) to call a shareholder meeting to approve the demerger of its commerce arm, J.K. Shah Commerce Education Limited (JSCEL). The meeting is scheduled for April 24,...
Indriya Eyes 100-Plus Stores as Aditya Birla Jewellery Brand Bets on Fashion Credentials
Indriya, the Aditya Birla Group’s jewellery label, is accelerating its retail footprint from more than 55 stores to a projected 100‑plus locations, with a goal of surpassing 75 stores by the end of March. The brand is shifting its marketing mix...
Vedanta Reuses 85 Million Cubic Metres of Water Across Operations in FY26
Vedanta Ltd reported reusing more than 85 million cubic metres of water across its mining and metals operations in FY26, achieving a 31 percent water‑recycling rate that ranks among the highest globally for water‑intensive sectors. The company’s three‑pillar strategy—recycle, conserve, replenish—underpins its...
Customers Will Choose Powertrain Options, Not Company: Lexus
Lexus introduced the ES500e, its first battery‑electric vehicle for India, priced at ₹90 lakh ex‑showroom. The car packs a 74.68 kWh lithium‑ion battery delivering 252 kW of power and a claimed range of up to 580 km on a single charge. President Hikaru Ikeuchi...
Generic Semaglutide Versions Roll Out at Prices Pegged 80% Less that Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic
Indian drugmakers Natco Pharma, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Eris Lifesciences are set to launch generic semaglutide on March 23, 2026, just after the drug’s patent expired. The generics are priced roughly 80% less than Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, with Natco’s vials costing...
Thomas Cook India to Demerge Resort Business Into Sterling Holiday
Thomas Cook India will demerge its resort business into subsidiary Sterling Holiday Resorts Ltd, transferring six Nature Trails properties that generated ₹70 crore in revenue during the first nine months of FY2026. The split is intended to streamline the capital structure,...
LPG-Dependent Operations Halted at IFGL Refractories’ Kandla Plant in Gujarat
IFGL Refractories Ltd. has temporarily halted LPG‑dependent operations at its Kandla plant in Gujarat after the Indian government ordered oil‑marketing companies to prioritize domestic LPG supplies amid a Middle‑East conflict‑driven shortage. The stoppage affects high‑temperature kiln and heat‑treatment processes, but...
Tata Motors to Raise ICE Vehicle Prices by 0.5% From April 1
Tata Motors announced a 0.5 percent weighted increase in prices for its internal‑combustion‑engine (ICE) vehicles, effective April 1, 2026. The hike varies by model and variant and aims to offset rising input, commodity and logistics costs. This move reflects the broader pricing...
HDFC Bank Has Been Repeatedly Hauled up by Regulators on Compliance Issues
HDFC Bank has faced a string of regulatory actions over the past seven years, beginning with a ₹1 crore RBI penalty in 2019 for KYC and AML lapses. Subsequent sanctions include a 2020 RBI directive that halted digital launches, a 2024...
Nestle Adds Munch Production Line at Sanand Plant
Nestle India announced a ₹225 crore investment to add a new Munch chocolate production line at its Sanand, Gujarat plant. The expansion will boost the factory’s output by roughly 8,300 tonnes per year and is financed entirely through internal accruals. Nestle...
JSW Cement Adds 2.50 MTPA Capacity in Rajasthan
JSW Cement has commissioned a greenfield integrated cement plant in Nagaur, Rajasthan, adding 2.5 MTPA of cement grinding capacity alongside a 3.3 MTPA clinkerisation unit. The facility brings the company's total grinding capacity to 24.1 MTPA and clinker capacity to 9.74 MTPA, positioning it...
Health Tech Firm Oura Marks India Debut with Smart Ring
Finnish health‑tech company ŌURA has launched its Oura Ring 4 in India, available through Cromā stores and Amazon. The titanium smart ring tracks over 50 health indicators and offers personalized insights via a dedicated app. Pricing starts at ₹28,900 for the...
MRPL Dispatches 1000th Petcoke Rake to JSW Cement From Mangalore
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) dispatched its 1000th petcoke rail rake, bound for JSW Cement’s Karnool plant. The shipment completed a second batch of 500 rakes, moving 40% faster than the first, highlighting MRPL’s operational improvements. Senior executives from...
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Announces ₹1,580 Cr Expansion
Malabar Gold & Diamonds announced a ₹1,580 crore expansion plan that will add 20 new showrooms across India by March 31. The rollout will lift the company’s global footprint to 445 stores in 14 countries and 22 Indian states and union territories....
Par Panel Asks Govt to Expedite Monetisation Tailings Dumps at Bharat Gold Mines
A parliamentary standing committee has urged the mines ministry to fast‑track the monetisation of roughly 33 million tonnes of gold‑rich tailings at Bharat Gold Mines Ltd (BGML) in Karnataka’s Kolar Gold Fields. The dormant PSU, closed since 2001, received ₹8.75 crore in...
Maruti Gets ₹5,786 Cr Income Tax Order; to Challenge Before Dispute Resolution Panel
Maruti Suzuki India received a draft income‑tax assessment of ₹5,786.4 crore for the 2022‑23 fiscal year. The company announced it will file objections before the dispute‑resolution panel. It emphasized that the order has no immediate effect on its operations, finances or...
French Carmaker Renault Ready with EV, but Indian Market Not yet Ripe
Renault India says its electric‑vehicle platform is ready but will wait for sufficient market demand before launching. EV penetration in India remains low at about 4 percent, prompting a cautious rollout. The company debuted the all‑new Duster with a hybrid powertrain...
AI Can Transform MSMEs in Kerala, Says CII at Digi-Tech Seminar
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala hosted a Digi‑Tech seminar emphasizing artificial intelligence as a catalyst for small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state. Speakers urged entrepreneurs to move beyond incremental AI use and to redesign business models,...
Samsung Union Issues Strike Notice; Conciliation Talks on Monday over 27 Workers’ Termination
The Samsung India Workers Union (CITU) issued a strike notice on February 13, demanding the reinstatement of 27 workers suspended since March 7, 2025. The union warned it would walk out after a 14‑day deadline if terminations are not reversed. Labour Commissioner A Yasmin...
Tanker Carrying Crude Safely Exits Fujairah Even as Drone Hits Oil Terminal
An Indian‑flagged Suezmax tanker, Jag Laadki, loaded with about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude, left Fujairah for India on March 15, despite a drone strike that damaged the UAE’s key oil terminal the day before. The vessel’s safe departure marks the...
EV Discounts Hit ₹5 Lakh as Fuel Jitters, Tax Perks and PLI Targets Drive March End Sales
Indian automakers are slashing electric‑vehicle prices by up to ₹5 lakh as the fiscal year closes, combining cash rebates, exchange bonuses and extended warranties. The push is fueled by fuel‑price uncertainty, generous corporate tax depreciation and the need to meet production‑linked...
West Asia Conflict : Plastics Manufacturers Raise Concerns About Polymer Price Hikes, Seek Survival Package for MSME Units
The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) warned that polymer prices have surged 59% in just 11 days amid the West Asia conflict, threatening the viability of India’s plastic‑processing sector. Over 90% of the roughly 50,000 units in the industry...
Lupin Taking Bigger Bets on Innovation, More Proprietary Products in India: Lupin MD
Lupin is pivoting toward proprietary new chemical entities (NCEs) in India, aiming to launch multiple innovative products by next year. The company plans to focus on cardiac, diabetes, respiratory and oncology molecules, leveraging lower development costs and faster time‑to‑market. AI...
Zydus Lifesciences’ Anaemia Drug Desidustat Gets China Approval
Zydus Lifesciences has received NMPA approval for its oral anaemia drug Desidustat, targeting renal anaemia in adult chronic kidney disease patients who are not on dialysis. The therapy, a hypoxia‑inducible factor‑prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, demonstrated efficacy and safety in Chinese Phase III...
Hettich Opens New Indore Plant; Eyes India as Key Global Manufacturing Hub
German furniture fittings leader Hettich inaugurated a 25,700 sq m automated undermount drawer‑runner plant in Indore, part of a roughly ₹2,000 crore investment in India. The new Quadro facility adds an annual capacity of about 5 million drawer runners and complements an existing hinge...
TIDCO to Invest ₹25 Crore Each in Raptee Energy and AgniKul Cosmos
The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) approved ₹25 crore investments each for space‑tech startup AgniKul Cosmos and electric‑mobility firm Raptee Energy, marking the first disbursements under the state’s Startup Investment Policy 2025. The policy authorises up to ₹25 crore per startup across sunrise sectors...
Tata Consumer Receives ₹98 Crore Income Tax Demand for FY23, to Challenge Order
Tata Consumer Products Ltd received an income‑tax demand of ₹98.03 crore for FY23 under Section 143(3) of the Income‑tax Act. The company deems the demand unmaintainable and has filed an appeal, stating the assessment will not immediately affect its financial position or...
JSW Steel Starts Work on Mozambique Coking Coal Mine
JSW Steel has broken ground on the Minas de Revuboè (MdR) coking‑coal mine in Mozambique’s Moatize basin. The deposit contains 850 million tonnes of reserves, with 250 million tonnes of hard coking coal deemed recoverable, and the first phase aims to deliver...
Hindalco Halts Aluminium Product Sales as Iran War Roils Market
Hindalco Industries has suspended sales of its extruded aluminium products, invoking force‑majeure clauses as the Iran‑Israel conflict chokes shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupts gas supplies vital for processing. While Indian smelters continue operating, the lack of reliable...
CCI Junks Complaint Against BookMyShow over Alleged Abuse of Dominance
India’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed a complaint alleging that BookMyShow abused its dominant position in the online movie‑ticket market. The regulator defined the relevant market as online intermediation services for booking movie tickets and noted that while...
LPG Shortage: Wadi Surgicals’ Operations Shut in Vizag
Wadi Surgicals’ Visakhapatnam plant has been idle for four days after Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited failed to deliver its daily 4,500 kg LPG requirement. The shortage halted production of nitrile examination gloves, a vital PPE item for hospitals and labs. Management...
Dodging LPG Crunch, Bengaluru’s Oterra Hotel Takes the E-Route
Bengaluru’s five‑star Oterra hotel has largely avoided the citywide LPG supply crunch by converting its kitchens to electric induction cooking. The hotel now relies on industrial induction cooktops powered by renewable energy, using LPG only for a pizza oven and...
CRISIL Rates WeWork India A+/Stable, Projects 15-20% Revenue Growth
CRISIL assigned WeWork India Management Ltd an A+/Stable long‑term rating and an A1 short‑term rating covering ₹800 crore of bank facilities. The rating agency projects operating income to rise 15‑20% over the medium term as the coworking provider adds 20,000‑30,000 desks...
Razorpay Bets on AI Agents, Global Expansion to Power Next Phase of Growth
Razorpay is expanding beyond its core payments business by launching AI‑powered agents such as Agent Studio and Liquid, aimed at automating payments, finance and payroll tasks for startups and SMBs. The fintech is also scaling internationally, with operations now in...
US-Iran War Crimp LPG Supply, Hit Borosil’s Glass Production at Jaipur
Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran have disrupted LPG shipments to India, prompting Oil Marketing Companies to issue a force‑majeure notice. Borosil Ltd, a major glass maker in Jaipur, said the shortage forced a temporary shutdown of...
Gujarat-Based Grew Energy to Host Engineers From China to Train Workforce
Grew Energy Pvt Ltd, a Gujarat‑based solar player, has brought roughly 40 Chinese engineers to India to install and commission its new 8 GW solar‑cell manufacturing complex in Madhya Pradesh. Phase‑1, a 3 GW line, is slated for trial runs in April 2026,...
GAIL Buys Oman LNG Cargo, Sources Say
Indian gas utility GAIL has purchased a cargo of Omani liquefied natural gas for delivery next week, priced between $17 and $20 per million British thermal units. The cargo, loaded on the vessel Orion Hugo chartered by Shell, is slated...
GREW Solar Gets ₹500 Cr Module Supply Order
GREW Solar has secured a repeat order worth about ₹500 crore from an independent power producer for high‑efficiency PV modules. The supply will feed the IPP’s upcoming utility‑scale solar projects across several Indian locations. GREW operates a 6.5 GW module plant in...
Pulsar International Board to Consider Venture Into Precision Farming
Pulsar International’s board will review a proposal to extend its Smart Agri Solution into AI‑driven Internet of Things (IoT) precision farming. The plan calls for integrating AI analytics, IoT sensors and drones to fine‑tune fertilizer, water and other inputs while...
IOC, BPCL, HPCL Could See Margin Pressure Amid Oil Price Spike: S&P
S&P Global Ratings warns that India’s oil‑marketing firms IOC, BPCL and HPCL could see profit margins squeezed as they keep retail petrol and diesel prices steady amid a recent crude price surge. Crude oil jumped above $100 per barrel after...