Archives February 2025

ICAI Celebrates Convocation with Ceremonies Held at 13 Locations Across India

Kolkata, 7th February 2025: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) organized a grand Convocation Ceremony simultaneously across multiple locations across India to confer certificates of membership to newly qualified Chartered Accountants and honor rank holders. The Convocation was conducted at 11 centers—New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Indore, and Jaipur—on February 6, while the events in Chandigarh and Ludhiana are scheduled for February 7. In this prestigious event, 19,075 newly enrolled Chartered Accountants received their certificates, marking the beginning of their professional journey.

icai

The convocation commenced simultaneously across all locations and was addressedby Chief Guest,Shri (Dr.) C.V. Ananda Bose, Hon’ble Governor, West Bengal from Kolkatain the presence ofCA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, President, ICAI andCA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, Vice President, ICAIwho joined in from New Delhi to inspire new graduates as they embark on a future of excellence and integrity.

Addressing young Chartered Accountants from Kolkata,Shri (Dr.) C.V. Ananda Bose, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal,said, “When the going gets tough, the tough gets goingand I am addressing the toughest of the toughest in the professional services of this nation. Chartered Accountants are the sentinels of financial integrity, the architects of corporate governance and the driving force behind a transparent and resilient economy.Chartered Accountants are harbingers, custodians of truth as far as corporate governance are concerned.It is because of the vigilance of the Chartered Accountants that the nation’s financial health is nurtured.”

CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, President, ICAI congratulated the newly enrolled Chartered Accountants and said, “As young Chartered Accountants, you are the torchbearers of financial integrity, entrusted with fostering transparency, good governance and economic progress. With knowledge, integrity and dedication, you are the chosen ones to drive the financial landscape and strengthen the financial ecosystem of the country.”

CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, President ICAI also administered Oath to the newly inducted members.

On this occasion, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal conferred the prestigious Governor’s Award of Excellence on ICAI in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the profession, ethical standards and Nation Building. This award is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to producing world-class professionals who uphold integrity, excellence and service to society. The award includes a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000.ICAI has become the first professional regulator in the country’s history to receive this esteemed recognition, marking a momentous achievement in its legacy of excellence.

Furthermore, exceptional achievements of top three rank holders of this year, was also awarded Governor’s Award of Excellence,recognizing their hard work, dedication andpursuit of excellence that they have set a benchmark for others to follow.The award includes a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of ₹25,000.

On this occasion, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, Vice President, ICAI addressing from New Delhi,congratulated the newly enrolled Chartered Accountants, emphasizing their vital role in shaping India’s financial future. He stated, “Today is a proud milestone as we welcome the next generation of Chartered Accountants—financial guardians of our nation. Since its establishment under an Act of Parliament in 1949, our profession has stood as a pillar of discipline, integrity, and technical excellence. Integrity and ethical conduct must remain your guiding principles in your professional journey.”

Hexaware Technologies IPO Opens on February 12, 2025

Chandigarh, February 7, 2025: Hexaware Technologies Limited (the “Company”) proposes to open an initial public offering (“Offer”) of its equity share of the face value of ₹1 each (“Equity Shares”) on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The Anchor Investor Bidding Date is one Working Day before the Bid/Offer Opening Date, Tuesday, February 11, 2025. The Bid/ Offer Closing Date is Friday, February 14, 2025.

The Price Band of the Offer has been fixed from ₹ 674 per Equity Share to ₹ 708 per Equity Share. Bids can be made for a minimum of 21 Equity Shares and multiples of 21 Equity Shares thereafter.

The initial public offering comprises an offer for the sale of Equity Shares aggregating up to ₹ 8,750 crores by CA Magnum Holdings (the Promoter Selling Shareholder).

The Offer is being made in terms of Rule 19(2)(b) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957, as amended, (the “SCRR”) read with Regulation 31 of the SEBI ICDR Regulations. The Offer is being made through the Book Building Process, in compliance with Regulation 6(1) of the SEBI ICDR Regulations, wherein in terms of Regulation 32(1) of the SEBI ICDR Regulations, not more than 50% of the Net Offer shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Qualified Institutional Buyers (“QIBs”) (the “QIB Category”), provided that our Company in consultation with the BRLMs, may allocate up to 60% of the QIB Category to Anchor Investors, on a discretionary basis by the SEBI ICDR Regulations (the “Anchor Investor Portion”), of which one-third shall be reserved for domestic Mutual Funds, subject to valid Bids being received from domestic Mutual Funds at or above the price at which Equity Shares of face value of ₹ 1 each are allocated to Anchor Investors (the “Anchor Investor Allocation Price”). In the event of under-subscription or non-allocation in the Anchor Investor Portion, the balance Equity Shares of the face value of ₹ 1 each shall be added to the QIB Category (other than Anchor Investor Portion) (“Net QIB Category”).

Further, 5% of the Net QIB Category shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Mutual Funds only and the remainder of the Net QIB Category shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to all QIBs, including Mutual Funds, subject to valid Bids being received at or above the Offer Price.

However, if the aggregate demand from Mutual Funds is less than 5% of the QIB Category, the balance of Equity Shares available for allocation in the Mutual Fund Portion will be added to the remaining QIB Category for proportionate allocation to QIBs.

Further, not less than 15% of the Net Offer shall be available for allocation to Non-Institutional Investors (“NIIs”) (the “Non-Institutional Category”) of which one-third of the Non-Institutional Category shall be available for allocation to Bidders with a Bid size of more than ₹ 200,000 and up to ₹ 1,000,000 and two-thirds of the Non-Institutional Category shall be available for allocation to Bidders with a Bid size of more than ₹ 1,000,000 provided that under-subscription in either of these two sub-categories of the Non-Institutional Category may be allocated to Bidders in the other sub-category of the Non-Institutional Category by the SEBI ICDR Regulations, subject to valid Bids being received at or above the Offer Price.

Further, not less than 35% of the Net Offer shall be available for allocation to Retail Individual Investors (“RIIs”) (the “Retail Category”), in accordance with the SEBI ICDR Regulations, subject to valid Bids being received from them at or above the Offer Price.

Further, Equity Shares will be allocated on a proportionate basis to Eligible Employees applying under the Employee Reservation Portion, subject to valid Bids received from them at or above the Offer Price.

All Bidders (other than Anchor Investors) shall mandatorily participate in this Offer through the Application Supported by Block Amount (“ASBA”) process, and shall provide details of their respective bank account, including UPI ID for UPI Investors in which the Bid Amount will be blocked by the SCSBs or the Sponsor Banks, as the case may be. Anchor Investors are not permitted to participate in the Offer through the ASBA process.

The Equity Shares of the Company are proposed to be listed on BSE Limited (“BSE”) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (“NSE”) (the “Stock Exchanges”).

Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited and IIFL Capital Services Limited (formerly known as IIFL Securities Limited) are the Book Running Lead Managers (“BRLMs”) to the Offer.

SBI General Insurance Drives ‘Meri Policy Mere Haath’ Initiative for PMFBY Policy Distribution in Rabi 2024-25

Chandigarh February 07, 2025: SBI General Insurance, one of India’s leading General Insurance companies, is delighted to join hands with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Government of India for the forthcoming ‘Meri Policy Mere Haath’ campaign, a doorstep policy distribution drive under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) scheduled to run from 1st February to 15th March 2025, this campaign aims to provide physical policy documents to the farmers at their doorsteps to ensure awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop insurance & seamless crop insurance experience.

The aim of the “Meri Policy Mere Haath” campaign initiative is to empower farmers by ensuring transparency, accessibility & awareness in terms of central Toll free no. 14447, National Crop insurance portal to lodge intimations in case of losses. The initiative focuses on delivering crop insurance policy documents directly to farmers, promoting awareness about the schemes benefits and strengthening trust in the process. It helps farmers stay informed about their crop coverage, claims and enrolment process under PMFBY Scheme. During the campaign, SBI General will be conducting awareness workshops such as Fasal Bima Pathshala, Women centric workshops etc. in 8 states namely Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh to sensitize farmers about the PMFBY Scheme and its benefits. The campaign will also leverage social media campaigns with dedicated hashtags like #MeriPolicyMereHaath, #PMFBY, #FasalBimaKarao, and #AtmanirbharKisan to amplify awareness and participation.

Speaking of the event, Mr. Naveen Chandra Jha, MD and CEO of SBI General Insurance, said “At SBI General Insurance, we are deeply committed to empowering India’s farming community by ensuring they have easy access to the benefits of crop insurance under PMFBY. The PMFBY scheme is bridging the risk needs of farmers by providing them the security net, offering them financial security and peace of mind. The ‘Meri Policy Mere Haath’ campaign reflects our dedication and commitment wherein we work closely with local administrations, stakeholders, and the farming community, we aim to make the policy distribution process seamless, efficient, and impactful”

Kyoorius Creative Awards 2025 Opens for Entries

Rajesh Kejriwal

Chandigarh, 7th February 2025 – The Kyoorius Creative Awards 2025 (KCA25) are now open for entries, inviting India’s creative community to step forward and #LeaveYourMark.

Entrants have till 17 April 2025 to submit entries.

Judging is scheduled to begin on 24 April 2025, and the awards will culminate at the 2025 Kyoorius Creative Awards Night on 23 May 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre, in BKC, Mumbai.

Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder and CEO of Kyoorius, shared his vision for KCA25: “Since 2014, the Kyoorius Creative Awards have celebrated impactful creativity. With #LeaveYourMark, we aim to recognize work that sets new benchmarks, resonates deeply with the audience, and delivers results.”

Kyoorius has also rolled out strategic updates designed to simplify and enhance the entrant experience. The awards are now streamlined into eight tracks: Advertising, Regional Advertising, Craft, Experience and Engagement, Entertainment, Sector Specific, Creativity for Good, and the ZEE Equality Award.

The ZEE Equality Award continues to be presented by Indian Creative Women (ICW).

Additions to the 2025 awards include the debut of the B2B discipline, celebrating exceptional business-to-business creativity, and a Humour sub-category across multiple disciplines, recognizing the need to encourage the craft of wit in storytelling. The Use of AI category has also been updated to reflect its growing significance in creative work.

Kalyan Jewellers Launches ‘Crafting Futures’ Initiative to Uplift Artisans

 Kalyan Jewellers Launches

Chandigarh, Feb 07, 2025: Kalyan Jewellers has announced the launch of Crafting Futures, a transformative CSR initiative and a cornerstone of the With Love brand philosophy. This initiative is dedicated to improving the livelihoods of jewellery artisans, preserving craftsmanship, and fostering community development. To lay the foundation for this initiative, Kalyan Jewellers has committed Rs 3 crore towards its implementation, ensuring tangible and lasting impact from the very start.

To create a larger collective impact and drive meaningful change, Kalyan Jewellers is inviting its partners and stakeholders to join the movement. Crafting Futures is an ongoing effort and a long-term action plan, that is set to evolve and expand in the years ahead.

“Jewellery is not just about gold and gemstones – it carries the soul and artistry of the karigars who bring each piece to life. Their craftsmanship is a living tradition that must be nurtured and passed on. With Crafting Futures, we are ensuring that traditional craftsmanship evolves with modern advancements, taking a stand for the artisans who have upheld our industry’s legacy for generations. We invite our partners to join us in this mission, ensuring a future where every artisan is valued, empowered, and supported,” TS Kalyanaraman, Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers said.

Crafting Futures is not just a CSR project – it is a movement to create lasting change. The initiative focuses on bridging tradition with innovation by improving workspaces, introducing technology, and providing upskilling opportunities. This approach not only preserves the legacy of craftsmanship but also equips artisans with the skills needed to thrive in a changing industry. Additionally, the initiative will support artisans’ children’s education, provide healthcare, and drive long-term financial stability for artisans and their families.

As Kalyan Jewellers takes this initiative forward, the company invites its long-term partners and stakeholders to join this collective effort. Together, the mission is to build a sustainable ecosystem where artisans thrive, their traditions endure, and their contributions are truly recognised.

Mahindra Electric Origin SUVs: Bookings Open for 9 Variants on Feb 14, 2025

Chandigarh, February 7, 2025: Mahindra’s Electric Origin SUVs have set new benchmarks with world-beating features, making it an #UnlimitIndia pride moment. Driven by the overwhelming response by customers who want to access these world beaters at multiple price points, Mahindra is opening bookings for all packs of the XEV 9e and BE 6 starting February 14, 2025, 9 AM. To support this, a structured production ramp-up is being implemented, with timelines for each variant being shared.

Aadhar Housing Finance Achieves Robust 21% YoY AUM Growth in Q3 FY25

Mumbai, February 7th, 2025: Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended 31st December 2024.

Key Performance Highlights:

Particulars (Rs. Cr) 9M FY25 9M FY24 YoY Q3 FY25 Q3 FY24 YoY
Assets Under Management (AUM) 23,976 19,865 21% 23,976 19,865 21%
Disbursements 5,626 4,904 15% 2,094 1,741 20%
Profit after tax (PAT) 667 548 22% 239 204 17%
Net Worth 6,114 4,249 44% 6,114 4,249 44%
ROA (%) 4.3% 4.2% 4.4% 4.6%
ROE (%) * 16.8% 18.3% 15.8% 19.7%
GNPA on AUM (%) 1.36% 1.40% 1.36% 1.40%

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS – Q3 & 9M FY25

  • Assets under management (AUM) grew by 21% to Rs. 23,976 crore as of 31st December 2024 from Rs. 19,865 crore as of 31st December 2023
  • Total number of loan accounts as of 31st December 2024 reached 2,86,000+
  • Profit after tax (PAT) increased by 22% in 9M FY25 to Rs. 667 crore from Rs. 548 crore in 9M FY24
  • Net worth stood at Rs. 6,114 Crore as of 30th December 2024 inclusive of IPO proceeds from primary infusion Rs. 1,000 Crore (Gross)
  • Return on assets (ROA) for 9M FY25 stood at 4.3%, as against 4.2% for 9M FY24
  • Return on equity (ROE) for 9M FY25 stood at 16.8% (see note above), as against 18.3% for 9M FY24
  • Gross NPA as of 31st December 2024 stood at 1.36%, as against 1.40% as on 31st December 2023 – Improved by 4 Bp

Commenting on the Q3 & 9M FY25 performance, Mr. Rishi Anand, MD & CEO of Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd said:

 We have successfully concluded the first nine months of FY25 with a strong growth momentum. There has been consistent growth in our AUM, and we have reached an AUM level of Rs. 23,976 Cr as at the end of Q3 FY25 which is a 21% YoY growth in AUM. Disbursements have remained strong with a growth of 20% (Q3 FY25 Vs Q3 FY24). PAT for 9 months ended 31 st December 2024 stood at Rs. 667 Cr, a growth of 22% on a YoY basis.

Government support remains a key growth driver, further strengthened by urbanization and rising demand. The recent budget announcements on income tax exemptions are set to boost the purchasing power of lower and middle-income groups, driving increased demand for housing loans. Budget allocations under PMAY will further enhance affordability initiatives, benefiting AHFCs that primarily serve low- and middle-income borrowers.

This quarter we have added 12 new branches, taking the total number of branches in the current financial year to 34. This takes our total branches to 557 covering 21 states and 545 districts, enabling us to serve 286K+ live accounts across the country. Geographical expansion has always been our core focus area and we continue to strengthen our market presence through our “deeper impact” strategy. Additionally, we continue to leverage advanced data-driven insights, thereby strengthening our risk assessment, optimized resource allocation, and enhanced portfolio management.We are confident in our efforts and the exciting opportunities ahead, as we continue our commitment to serving the underserved communities”.

Ajax Engineering Limited: Initial public offering to open on Monday, February 10, 2025

Chandigarh February 7, 2025: Ajax Engineering Limited (the “Company”) proposes to open an initial public offering (“Offer”) of its equity share of the face value of ₹1 each (“Equity Shares”) on Monday, February 10, 2025. The Anchor Investor Bidding Date is one Working Day prior to the Bid/Offer Opening Date, Friday, February 7, 2025. The Bid/ Offer Closing Date is Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

The Price Band of the Offer has been fixed from ₹ 599 per Equity Share to ₹ 629 per Equity Share. Bids can be made for a minimum of 23 Equity Shares and multiples of 23 Equity Shares thereafter.

The initial public offering comprises an offer for sale of up to 20,180,446 Equity Shares (“Offered Shares”), consisting of up to 1,716,102 Equity Shares by Krishnaswamy Vijay, up to 1,716,102 Equity Shares by Kalyani Vijay, up to 2,288,136 Equity Shares by Jacob Jiten John, up to 5,593,221 Equity Shares by Jacob Hansen Family Trust, up to 1,430,085 Equity Shares by Susie John, and up to 7,436,800 Equity Shares by Kedaara Capital Fund II LLP.

The Offer is being made in terms of Rule 19(2)(b) of the SCRR read with Regulation 31 of the SEBI ICDR Regulations. The Offer is being made through the Book Building Process and is in compliance with Regulation 6(1) of the SEBI ICDR Regulations wherein in terms of Regulation 32(1) of the SEBI ICDR Regulations, not more than 50% of the Offer shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Qualified Institutional Buyers (“QIBs”, and such portion, the “QIB Portion”) provided that our Company in consultation with the BRLMs, may allocate up to 60% of the QIB Portion to Anchor Investors on a discretionary basis by the SEBI ICDR Regulations (“Anchor Investor Portion”), of which at least one-third shall be available for allocation to domestic Mutual Funds, subject to valid Bids being received from domestic Mutual Funds at or above the Anchor Investor Allocation Price. In the event of under-subscription or non-allocation in the Anchor Investor Portion, the balance Equity Shares each shall be added to the Net QIB Portion.

Further, 5% of the Net QIB Portion shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis only to Mutual Funds and the remainder of the Net QIB Portion shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to all QIB Bidders (other than Anchor Investors) including Mutual Funds, subject to valid Bids being received at or above the Offer Price.

However, if the aggregate demand from Mutual Funds is less than 5% of the QIB Portion, the balance Equity Shares each available for allocation in the Mutual Fund Portion will be added to the remaining QIB Portion for proportionate allocation to QIBs. Further, not less than 15% of the Net Offer shall be available for allocation to Non-Institutional Bidders out of which (a) one-third of such portion shall be reserved for applicants with application size of more than ₹0.20 million and up to ₹1.00 million; and (b) two-third of such portion shall be reserved for applicants with application size of more than ₹1.00 million provided that the unsubscribed portion in either of such sub-categories may be allocated to applicants in the other sub-category of Non-Institutional Bidders and not less than 35% of the Net Offer shall be available for allocation to Retail Individual Bidders (“RIBs”) by the SEBI ICDR Regulations, subject to valid Bids being received from them at or above the Offer Price

All potential Bidders (except Anchor Investors) are required to mandatorily utilise the Application Supported by Blocked Amount (“ASBA”) process by providing details of their respective bank accounts (including UPI ID for UPI Bidders using UPI Mechanism) (as defined hereinafter) in which the Bid amount will be blocked by the SCSBs or the Sponsor Banks, as applicable, to participate in the Offer. Anchor Investors are not permitted to participate in the Anchor Investor Portion of the Offer through the ASBA process. Further, Equity Shares will be allocated on a proportionate basis to Eligible Employees applying under the Employee Reservation Portion, subject to valid Bids received from them at or above the Offer Price.

The Equity Shares of the Company are proposed to be listed on BSE Limited (“BSE”) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (“NSE”) (the “Stock Exchanges”).

ICICI Securities Limited, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, JM Financial Limited, Nuvama Wealth Management Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited are the Book Running Lead Managers (“BRLMs”) to the Offer.

All capitalized terms used herein and not specifically defined shall have the same meaning as ascribed to them in the red herring prospectus dated February 4, 2025.

MTAR Technologies Bags Rs. 200 Cr Orders in Clean Energy and MNC Aerospace Vertical

Hyderabad, Feb 07, 2025: MTAR Technologies Limited has secured orders worth Rs. 200 Crs in Clean Energy – Fuel Cells, Civil Nuclear Power, MNC Aerospace and Space verticals. Out of the above orders Rs. 157.4 Crs of orders are from Bloom Energy in Clean Energy – Fuel cells division, Rs. 2.7 Crs of orders are for first articles from Fluence in Clean Energy – Energy Storage systems, Rs. 22.0 Crs of orders are from Clean Energy – Civil Nuclear Power and Rs. 17.9 Crs orders are from Space including orders from ISRO and MNC Aerospace customers. Majority of the orders will get executed by end of FY 26.

srinivas

 “The company is in the process of receiving volume orders for new products with existing customers and new customers in Clean Energy & Space verticals post completion of first articles over the past 2-3 years. We are in final stages of discussion with reputed customers for various other projects that will strengthen our order book over the coming quarters. We expect to register significant growth in Clean Energy and Aerospace verticals backed by robust order book going forward. In addition, we are expecting substantial orders in Civil Nuclear Power by end FY 25.”, said Mr. Parvat Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director, MTAR Technologies Limited.

Amazon India signs MoU with ARGA to boost women entrepreneurship in Uttar Pradesh

Chandigarh, Feb 07, 2025: Amazon India today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ARGA, an initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, to enable women entrepreneurs in and around Gonda district to leverage e-commerce and build their businesses. The collaboration was formalized at a special event celebrating World Wetlands Day at the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary. The dignitaries present at the event included Shri Yogi Adityanath, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Arun Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) for Forest & Environment, Zoological Garden, Climate Change, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Shri Krishan Pal Malik, Minister of State for Forest & Environment, Zoological Garden, Climate Change, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

As part of the MoU, Amazon will support women-led businesses associated with Brand ARGA through its Saheli program. This includes providing training in digital and performance marketing, product listing optimization, and advertising methods. Women entrepreneurs from the region will also gain access to data-driven insights and metrics to better understand customer expectations and market opportunities. The collaboration will also enable Brand ARGA to list its diverse range of products, including pickles, jams, flour, namkeen, gram flour, noodles, and more, on Amazon.in.

On this occasion, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said, “At Parvati Arga, we are empowering local women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). With Amazon’s support, these SHGs will now have the opportunity to sell their products online. While our products have always been of high quality, we have now addressed packaging challenges, and with organizations like Amazon onboard, marketing hurdles are also being overcome. Initiatives like these play a crucial role in advancing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reinforcing the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement.”

Sharing his views on this occasion, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Minister of State for External Affairs, said, “We appreciate Amazon India’s initiative to promote Brand ARGA, a pioneering initiative which is revolutionizing the local businesses by women entrepreneurs of Gonda district. With this MoU, the women of Gonda will be able to sell their products all across the country. Let us all work together to help local artisans and entrepreneurs reach new heights.”

Gaurav Bhatnagar, Director-Sales, at Amazon India, said, “Our collaboration with ARGA reflects Amazon’s commitment to working together with government initiatives to empower women entrepreneurs. By combining the reach of e-commerce with the rich diversity of local products from the Gonda district, we can create growth opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the region. Our Saheli program will provide them with the digital tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s market. We strongly believe this partnership can contribute meaningfully to inclusive growth and support the vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

Brand ARGA addresses a crucial issue faced by local businesses – the lack of proper branding and packaging for their diverse range of products, including pickles, jams, namkeen, gram flour, noodles, and more. It enables SMBs to market their products under the brand name ‘ARGA’ in the local/international markets. In the first phase, more than 55 products, including food products, manufactured by the SMBs of Gonda district, have been given a new identity under ARGA.

Amazon Saheli program was launched in 2017, with the aim to enhance the awareness and accessibility of locally made products from women entrepreneurs and local women owned businesses in India. As part of this initiative, Amazon works with partners to drive digitization and provide requisite tools to woman entrepreneurs, which enables them to become successful in their digital endeavors. Today, Amazon Saheli has 60+ partners with a reach of 16 lakh+ women entrepreneurs from urban and rural sectors, along with 1.8 lakh+ women made products products across ten categories like apparel, jewelry, groceries, etc. More than 80,000+ women artisans are involved in this partnership and benefit from it. The artisans produce and sell these products to support their livelihoods.

Amazon India has provided numerous opportunities for women across its ecosystem, including Seller Partners, Operations Network Partners, Community Beneficiaries, Employees, and Associates, all of whom play crucial roles in positively impacting Amazon’s diverse customer base throughout the country. It has introduced various benefits, programs, and initiatives to empower women, within and outside its organization.