Archives January 2026

Mumbai, Jan 17:  The Bank today announced its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 (Q3FY26), reporting strong business growth, improved profitability, and a marked enhancement in asset quality compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Key Financial Highlights (Q3FY26 vs Q3FY25)

• Total Business grew by 15.77% on a year-on-year basis

• Total Deposits increased by 13.24% YoY

  • CASA deposits constituted 47.13% of total deposits

• Gross Advances rose by 19.48% YoY

• Net Profit increased by 31.70% YoY

• Operating Profit grew by 16.76% YoY

• Net Interest Income (NII) remained stable during the quarter

• Net Interest Margin (NIM) stood at 2.96%

• Cost-to-Income Ratio improved by 99 basis points to 57.84%

• Return on Assets (ROA) improved to 1.01% from 0.87%

• Return on Equity (ROE) improved to 14.47% from 12.85%

Profitability Performance

• Total Income (interest income plus non-interest income) increased by 12.62% YoY during Q3FY26

• Operating Profit grew by 16.76% YoY and 4.26% on a year-to-date basis

• Net Interest Income declined marginally by 1.07% YoY

• Improvement in ROA and ROE reflects enhanced operational efficiency and disciplined cost management

Business Highlights

• RAM (Retail, Agriculture & MSME) portfolio recorded 17.89% YoY growth

  • Retail segment grew by 20.93%

  • Agriculture segment grew by 15.41%

  • MSME segment grew by 15.90%

• Business per Employee improved on a year-on-year basis, reflecting higher productivity levels

Asset Quality

• Gross NPA improved significantly to 2.70% from 3.86%, registering an improvement of 116 basis points

• Net NPA declined to 0.45% from 0.59%, an improvement of 14 basis points

• Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) strengthened to 96.69%, reflecting prudent risk management

Capital Adequacy

• Basel III Capital Adequacy Ratio (CRAR) stood at 16.13%

  • Tier I Capital at 13.87%

• Capital adequacy remains well above regulatory requirements, providing strong support for future growth

Branch & Distribution Network

As of December 31, 2025, the Bank maintained a robust pan-India presence with 21,817 touch points, comprising:

• 4,567 branches, with 65.22% located in rural and semi-urban areas

• 4,111 ATMs

• 13,099 Business Correspondent (BC) points

• 40 BC Maxx points

Mumbai, Jan 17:  CARS24, India’s leading auto-tech platform, today announced its financial results for the first half of FY26, delivering strong operating momentum, improving unit economics, and continued progress in its transformation from a buy-sell marketplace into a full-stack vehicle ownership platform.

During H1 FY26, Adjusted Net Revenue increased 18% year-on-year to INR 651 crore, while Adjusted EBITDA burn reduced by 36% YoY to ₹(162) crore, reflecting greater operating efficiency and disciplined cost management.

CARS24 maintained its position as the largest online used-car platform across India, UAE, and Australia. During the period, approximately 85,000 cars were transacted across the three markets, with Vehicle Transaction GMV of ₹3,731 crore.

Financing emerged as a key growth driver, with loans disbursed rising ~38% YoY to ₹1,637 crore globally. The company continues to scale non-captive financing offerings, including dealer consumer financing and refinancing, beyond traditional captive attach rates on retail car transactions, establishing financing as a meaningful and sustainable growth pillar.

Vehicle Ownership Services witnessed strong traction as CARS24 expanded into an end-to-end ownership ecosystem over the past 18 months. Offerings now include Insurance, Challan Payments, CarTruth (pre-delivery inspections and vehicle history reports), Buyback, and Chauferly. This segment generated ₹94 crore in GMV during H1 FY26, with transactions increasing 19x on the platform. The acquisition of CarInfo further strengthens the company’s focus on this high-margin, recurring-revenue segment, reinforcing its brand promise of “Better drives, better lives” by building long-term relationships with vehicle owners.

At its core, CARS24 remains technology-first, delivering a seamless experience to over 11 million monthly users across its platforms.

Looking ahead, the company expects H2 FY26 Adjusted Net Revenue to exceed ₹750 crore, representing approximately 35% YoY growth, with acceleration anticipated in Transaction GMV. CARS24 is also preparing for a potential IPO in the next 6–12 months, subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals.

Bengaluru, India, Jan 17:  Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, on the occasion of National Youth Day, announced the certification of 1,750 students in Uttar Pradesh under its flagship Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme, marking a significant milestone in the company’s youth-skilling efforts in the state.

The certification ceremony was held at the City Group of Institutions in Lucknow, in the presence of Smt. Rajni Tiwari, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with academic leaders and programme partners.

With this cohort, the total number of students trained under Samsung Innovation Campus in Uttar Pradesh has reached 3,900, making it one of the fastest-growing states under the programme. Samsung announced its intent to skill 5,000 youth in Uttar Pradesh, as part of its broader national target of upskilling 20,000 students, a six-fold increase over the previous year. The programme is currently operational across 10 states.

Under the Lucknow initiative, students received industry-aligned training in emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (950 students), Coding & Programming (550 students), Big Data (150 students), and Internet of Things (100 students).

“At Samsung, our firm belief is that the future of India will be defined by its youth. Samsung Innovation Campus is designed to bridge the gap between education and industry by providing hands-on training in future-tech courses such as AI, IoT, or Big Data and Coding. The certification of 1,750 students in Lucknow underscores our commitment to support the Government of India’s skilling vision and empower young learners across Uttar Pradesh with industry-relevant capabilities. Samsung Innovation Campus is our flagship programme designed to empower the next generation and make them job-ready for the fourth Industrial revolution”, said Shubham Mukherjee, Head, CSR & Corporate Communications at Samsung Southwest Asia.

“As higher education evolves, it is essential that learning outcomes remain aligned with emerging economic and technological needs. Samsung Innovation Campus adds significant value by exposing students to advanced digital disciplines and experiential learning. Such collaborations strengthen our institutions and help create a knowledge-driven, competitive workforce for Uttar Pradesh. I commend Samsung’s commitment to empowering our youth and supporting the state’s vision of building a future-ready, skilled workforce. Our young people are the foundation of Uttar Pradesh’s progress and the driving force behind India’s growth story”, said Smt. Rajni Tiwari,  Minister of Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Launched in India in 2022, Samsung Innovation Campus focuses on expanding access to future-tech education, particularly in underserved and semi-urban regions. The programme is implemented in collaboration with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) through accredited training partners.

Nationally, the programme has recorded 44% women participation, underscoring Samsung’s focus on inclusive and equitable skilling. In addition to technical training, students receive soft-skills inputs and placement support to improve workplace readiness.

Together with initiatives such as Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung DOST, Samsung Innovation Campus reflects the company’s long-term commitment to strengthening and expanding India’s digital skilling goals.

Fevicol, Bridgestone, and Kotak 811 go beyond generic festival posts

This Makar Sankranti, Schbang created campaigns for three brands that actually added something to the conversation instead of just adding to the noise. Here’s what made each one work.

Fevicol: Sticking Together, Not Cutting Apart

Fevicol turned Instagram into an interactive kite-flying experience. Users placed their thumbs on two circles to hold a virtual chakri, and as their kite soared across the screen, it stuck to other kites instead of cutting them down.
In a festival famous for katti patang, Fevicol flipped the narrative. The campaign reinforced “Fevicol Ka Jod, Mazboot Jod” while tapping into childhood nostalgia – proving that sometimes the strongest bonds are the ones that bring us together rather than tear us apart.

Bridgestone: One Journey Across Four Festivals

Instead of separate posts for each region, Bridgestone unified Pongal, Lohri, Magh Bihu, and Makar Sankranti under one campaign. Each festival celebrates harvest and new beginnings differently, but the thread connecting them—progress and the road ahead—made perfect sense for a tier brand.

By honouring regional cultures and maintaining a unified brand voice across India, Bridgestone positioned itself as the one tyre brand connecting every region and every journey.

Kotak811: When Banking Takes Flight

Kotak811’s Makar Sankranti wish came with a clever parallel: flying a kite requires the same balance and smoothness that good banking should offer. The connection between a perfectly balanced kite and seamless digital banking felt natural, not forced. It was festive enough to fit the occasion and witty enough to stand out—proof that financial brands can be relevant during celebrations without overdoing it.

What Made These Work

Each campaign found a genuine connection between brand and culture. Fevicol demonstrated bonding through interactivity, Bridgestone unified regional diversity, and Kotak811 made banking relatable without forcing it. That’s topical content that works, not just exists.

Hyderabad, Jan 16: Valencia Nutrition Limited (VNL) today inaugurated Unit II of its integrated beverage manufacturing facility under its subsidiary, Valencia Beverages and Super water (VBSW), in Hyderabad. The facility was inaugurated by Mr. Manish Turakhia, Visionary Promoter and Managing Director of Valencia Nutrition Limited.

VBSW Unit I and Unit II were developed by the company’s in-house engineering team, led by Mr. Jay Shah, Executive Director of VBSW, and John P. Michael, Director of VBSW. The commissioning of Unit II marks a significant milestone in VBSW’s roadmap to 27 plants, strengthening its decentralized manufacturing strategy for the mass-market PET bottle range sold under the flagship brand Bounce Super drinks and category brands such as Vitafizz, Pulpify, and Powerplay.

As part of the inauguration, VNL announced that Bounce Vitafizz will now be available in a new packaging format. Designed for affordability and wider reach, this new format supports the company’s focus on high-volume distribution.

The VBSW Unit II facility, spanning 49,700 sq. ft., is the largest juice-line manufacturing facility in Telangana and houses India’s first hybrid hot-fill juice-line manufacturing system. This integrated line enables the production of juices, fruit-based drinks, pulp beverages, nata-de beverages, and soda variants. The unit has a production capacity of 300,000 bottles per day and is equipped with a 120,000-liter-per-day RO water system, high-speed PET bottling lines, and IoT-enabled production monitoring for real-time operational visibility.

The facility was fully commissioned within three months (October 15, 2025, to January 14, 2026), achieving regulatory compliance within two months. Notably, Unit II was established at approximately 60% of typical market costs, reflecting VNL’s execution efficiency.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Manish Turakhia, Promoter and Managing Director of VNL, said: “Well-planned machinery layout, execution speed, and efficient local approvals are critical to setting up complicated plants. This facility reflects our approach to building efficient, compliant, and future-ready infrastructure. Achieving effective plant utilization through ‘majority sales at factory gate’ is essential for faster ROI. I take pride in Team Valencia’s management of the installation of over 107 tonnes of machinery and pipelines.”

Mumbai, Jan 16:  Infiniti Mall, Mumbai’s premium destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment, presents the Art Aura Exhibition at its Malad location from 12th to 18th January, between 11:00 am and 9:30 pm, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and emerging artistic talent. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Dr. Kishor Ingale, Director, Directorate of Art, Maharashtra State, as the Chief Guest..

More than 40 artists will be participating in the exhibition, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with emerging talent and gain insights into diverse creative practices. Art Aura showcases a wide range of art forms including Painting, Drawing, Block printing, Paper quilling art, 3D artworks, Sculptures and Handicrafts. Presented in association with L S Raheja College, the exhibition promises a visually immersive experience for art enthusiasts.

Set within an inspiring retail environment, the Art Aura Exhibition creates a unique platform to experience art while supporting emerging artists. Infiniti Mall looks forward to welcoming art lovers to Art Aura, a vibrant celebration where creativity and innovation take centre stage, promising an enriching and memorable artistic experience.

By:  Tarandeep Singh Sekhon, Chief Business Officer, KidZania India.

“India‘s edutainment market is scaling toward INR 465 billion by 2030, and experiential learning has moved from being a nice-to-have to a must-have. When graduate employability sits at 54.81%, the government’s INR 1,28,650 crore education budget sends a clear message: skills aren’t taught in classrooms, they’re built through experience.

We’ve spent a decade at KidZania proving this works. Kids who engage in real-world role-play come out with genuine career confidence and employment readiness. But here’s the challenge: private sector innovation in immersive learning keeps hitting the same walls, constraints due to current GST classifications and infrastructure gaps that make scaling difficult.

The 2026 Budget is the moment to fix this. Reclassify experiential learning platforms as GST-exempt, enable public-private partnerships for skill centers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and tie government incentives to actual employment outcomes. These are practical steps to make experiential learning the backbone of India‘s education system, not a premium add-on.

We have 250 million students and a closing window. The infrastructure we build now determines whether India becomes job-ready or skills-constrained.”

A seasoned hotelier with over two decades of global experience, Sachin has been associated with Marriott International for more than 16 years. He has successfully led brand repositioning initiatives, large-scale hotel openings, and driven operational excellence across India, the USA, and Europe. Most recently, as Senior Director of Operations, South Asia, he played a pivotal role in strengthening and scaling Marriott’s regional portfolio.

Now at the helm of JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Sachin is leading the hotel into its next phase of growth, further solidifying its position as the Gateway to Mumbai and a preferred luxury destination for both business and leisure travellers.

Sachin is available to share insights on topics such as:

• The evolution of luxury hospitality and experiential travel in India and global markets

• Leadership, agility, and organisational transformation in a post-pandemic world

• Driving guest-centric innovation and operational excellence at scale

• Mumbai’s role as a strategic hub for global business, travel, and events

We welcome opportunities for interviews, panel discussions, keynote sessions, or curated industry conversations tailored to your editorial focus or platform.