Archives April 2026

Mumbai, Apr 29 (BNP): Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in Balanced Advantage Funds are emerging as a disciplined investment approach for retail investors navigating volatile market conditions, according to recent market commentary and investment trends.

Balanced Advantage Funds, which dynamically adjust their equity and debt exposure based on market conditions, are increasingly being viewed as a stable option for long-term wealth creation. These funds aim to reduce downside risk during market downturns while capturing growth opportunities during upswings.

Financial experts note that combining SIPs with Balanced Advantage Funds helps investors maintain consistency in their investment behaviour, especially during periods of market uncertainty. Regular monthly investments reduce the impact of short-term volatility and help avoid emotional decision-making.

The approach is particularly relevant in the current environment, where equity markets are experiencing fluctuations driven by global cues, interest rate expectations, and geopolitical developments. SIPs ensure that investors continue investing at different market levels, which helps in averaging purchase costs over time.

Investment advisors highlight that Balanced Advantage Funds are designed to automatically rebalance portfolios between equity and debt, making them suitable for investors seeking a relatively smoother investment experience compared to pure equity funds.

Overall, the combination of SIP discipline and dynamic asset allocation is being positioned as a strategy that supports long-term financial goals while managing market uncertainty more effectively.

Dubai, Apr 29 (BNP): In a major development for the global energy sector, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will leave the OPEC and OPEC+ groups of oil-producing nations next month, ending nearly six decades of membership and raising fresh questions over the future of the cartel.

The UAE said the decision follows recent investments aimed at boosting its oil production capacity and would help the country meet growing global energy demand in the long term. Officials stated that leaving the group would provide greater flexibility in shaping its own production strategy without quota obligations.

The move is being seen as a significant blow to OPEC, with analysts warning it could weaken the alliance’s ability to influence global oil prices. Energy researcher Saul Kavonic described the development as “the beginning of the end of OPEC,” noting that the UAE accounts for a substantial share of the group’s production capacity.

The UAE joined OPEC in 1967 and its departure will reduce the cartel’s membership to 11 nations. OPEC was founded in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to coordinate oil production and safeguard the interests of exporting nations.

Market analysts believe the exit could trigger greater volatility in crude prices, as traders assess whether the UAE will ramp up independent production and whether other members may reconsider their positions.

The decision is also being viewed through a geopolitical lens, as it may pave the way for closer energy ties between the UAE and the United States at a time of shifting global alliances.

Bengaluru, Apr 29: KRAFTON India today announced the successful conclusion of the 2026 KRAFTON India Esports College Campus Tour Championship, marking the culmination of Season 2 of one of the country’s most ambitious grassroots esports initiatives.

Spanning 128 colleges across Tier I, II, and III cities, Season 2 engaged over 75,000 students nationwide, embedding structured competitive esports into college ecosystems and establishing one of India’s most expansive college esports platforms to date. The Grand Finals were streamed live on KRAFTON India Esports’ YouTube channel, culminating in the crowning of India’s first-ever College Campus Tour Champions.

The Championship represents a key milestone in KRAFTON India’s ongoing commitment to building a structured pathway for grassroots esports talent. Conducted entirely online for the first time, the Grand Finals brought together 16 BGMI squads from across North, South, East, and West zones for three days of high-intensity competition across Rondo, Erangel, and Miramar maps.

Participating teams represented a diverse mix of institutions, including premier campuses such as IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati, IIM Indore, and IIIT Delhi. For many participants, the tournament marked their first exposure to professional-grade competitive esports, complete with structured formats and a defined progression pathway into KRAFTON’s broader ecosystem.

After 18 matches, Gods Omen from Rishihood University emerged as champions with a total of 203 points, securing the top prize of ₹2,00,000, the national title, and a direct qualification slot for BMPS 2026.

The runner-up position was claimed by 9MM ESPORTS from G.B. Pant DSEU, while Endeavour Esports from IIT Bhubaneswar secured third place. The individual MVP award of ₹10,000 was awarded to AnujtooOp of Gods Omen.

Commenting on the milestone, Karan Pathak, Associate Director – Esports, KRAFTON India, said:

“Gods Omen’s victory is more than a championship win—it’s proof that the next generation of competitive talent in India is ready. When a team outperforms squads from IITs and IIMs on the national stage, it shows that esports is a true equaliser driven by skill, strategy, and teamwork. Season 2 of the Campus Tour has been our most ambitious yet, and the level of competition across 128 colleges has exceeded expectations.”

Note: The champions’ direct invitation to BMPS 2026 is subject to completion of all required documentation and formalities within the stipulated timeline. Failing this, the slot will be passed to the next eligible team.

Prize Pool Distribution (₹5,00,000)

• #1: Gods Omen (Rishihood University, Sonipat) – ₹2,00,000
• #2: 9MM ESPORTS (G.B. Pant DSEU, New Delhi) – ₹1,00,000
• #3: Endeavour Esports (IIT Bhubaneswar) – ₹50,000
• #4 – #8: ₹15,000 each
• #9 – #12: ₹10,000 each
• #13 – #14: ₹7,500 each
• #15 – #16: ₹5,000 each

The 2026 Championship further reinforces KRAFTON India’s vision to mainstream esports in India by nurturing young talent, building structured competitive ecosystems, and bridging the gap between amateur and professional gaming.

New Delhi, Apr 29 (BNP): Digital payments firm One 97 Communications has strengthened its core operations after fully distancing itself from Paytm Payments Bank, a move that is now seen as improving business clarity and supporting long-term profitability.

Following regulatory action by the Reserve Bank of India in early 2024, the company undertook a complete operational separation from its banking arm. This ensured that its payments and financial services businesses continued independently, without any reliance on the payments bank.

The company has also clarified in stock exchange filings that it has no financial exposure or ongoing commercial relationship with Paytm Payments Bank, with all such arrangements discontinued in 2024.

Market analysts and brokerages have viewed this structural “arm’s length” approach positively, noting that it has helped remove regulatory uncertainty and provided greater transparency around the company’s business model.

With this separation in place, One 97 Communications is now focusing on strengthening its core digital payments ecosystem and expanding financial services in a more streamlined manner. The move is expected to support operational efficiency and reinforce investor confidence in the company’s future growth prospects.

Overall, the restructuring is being seen as a key step toward simplifying operations and building a more stable and scalable business framework.

Raipur, Apr 29 (BNP): Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has launched a new mobile application designed to strengthen access to employment opportunities and government welfare schemes for workers across the state.

The app, named ‘e-Shram Saathi’, was launched during a review meeting of the Labour Department held at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. The initiative aims to create a simple digital platform where workers can connect with job opportunities and avail government services directly from their mobile phones.

The primary objective of the app is to bridge the gap between workers and employment systems by providing real-time access to job listings, labour-related services, and welfare schemes. It is intended to support both organised and unorganised sector workers by making essential information and services more accessible in one place.

Officials said the platform will also help improve transparency and efficiency in the delivery of labour welfare programs, ensuring that eligible beneficiaries can easily access government support without procedural delays.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also directed officials to conduct surprise inspections of industrial units using technology-based monitoring systems. This step is aimed at strengthening worker safety, ensuring compliance with labour laws, and protecting workers’ rights in industrial workplaces.

The launch of the app reflects the state government’s broader effort to integrate technology into governance and improve last-mile delivery of employment and welfare services.

BRISBANE, 29 April 2026 – In what is turning out to be a month of major achievements Fusion Signage, often referred to as Australia’s user-friendliest digital signage software, has officially achieved ISO 27001 certification and hit their 20,000 user licence milestone all in the same week.

ISO 27001 is the leading international standard for information security management.

Fusion Signage MD James Ingram explained, “It’s truly been a momentous few weeks. We’ve achieved both SOC 2 Type II attestation and ISO 27001 certification, alongside reaching 20,000 active licences.  For our customers, this instils confidence as, firstly, very few companies have both their SOC 2 Type II attestation and are ISO 27001 certified. Secondly, while it took a few years to get to 10,000 licences, it only took half that time to get another 10,000. For us, that’s a clear sign our platform is delivering real value and scaling with the businesses using it.”

Fusion Signage’s ISO 27001 certification means their customers’ data and content are managed under a globally recognised security standard with clear processes, regular audits and controls in place.

Ingram added, “As an Australian business supporting customers across a wide range of industries, we have always believed that protecting data isn’t a requirement it is a responsibility. With that in mind we are very proud that our commitment to security is now further enhanced and backed by an official ISO 27001 certification.”

  In truth the Fusion Signage team started the process of setting out, formalising and strengthening the security practices the company had already been living by over 12 months ago.

Ingram said, “It wasn’t a quick project or a checkbox exercise. It was a deep, organisation‑wide effort to evaluate, refine and document how we handle information at every level. From internal processes to platform development, to how we support our customers on a day‑to‑day basis our team has been dedicated to building a secure foundation that scales with our customers and the digital signage industry.”

The results and benefits of having both SOC 2 Type II attestation and ISO 27001 certification are clear for Fusion Signage’s customers and users as their content and data are managed through clear, audited security processes. Risks are identified and handled early, not after something goes wrong and security is built into the Fusion Signage platform, not layered on later.

Ingram said, “This all means that while you’re uploading content, scheduling campaigns or managing multiple locations, everything runs on a secure foundation without you needing to think twice. While the ISO 27001 certification is new, the mindset behind it isn’t. Fusion Signage has always been built on reliability, transparency and customer trust. This achievement simply reinforces what has guided our platform from the very beginning – a platform you can trust to just work. In the world of digital signage this is no mean feat. In short and as a very highly regarded member of our industry said last week, Fusion Signage is making an already trusted platform even more trustworthy.”

Fusion Signage’s ISO 27001 certification audit was carried out by Sensiba, the internationally recognised certification body well-known for its thorough and transparent approach to information security reviews.

Ingram explained, “Our certification covers the entire Fusion Signage platform end to end, from the operational systems that support the product to the way we build and maintain our software to how we handle and protect information internally. It’s a large scope that reflects our commitment to keeping security front and centre across all areas of the business, not just within the platform itself.”

This ISO 27001 certification is one of the biggest undertakings in Fusion Signage’s history as committing to ISO 27001 also meant dedicating a significant amount of time, resources and focus. Entire roles were redirected, development priorities were reshaped and countless internal processes were rebuilt from the ground up. It was a major behind‑the‑scenes effort that customers rarely get to see.

James Ingram concluded, “This was a serious investment and one we chose because as the technology evolves with the likes of AI and increasing data breaches, security has never been more important for our customers. Every process we refined and every control we implemented was done with our customers in mind. In truth that’s the whole point of Fusion Signage and our digital signage software solution – adding safe, secure and reliable value to our customers and their businesses no matter what their size.”

Varanasi, April 29 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Wednesday, where he offered prayers and performed darshan during his visit to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Pic Credit: Pexel 

The visit drew large crowds across the city, especially at key intersections like Lahurabir crossing, as residents gathered enthusiastically to welcome the Prime Minister. The atmosphere in Varanasi was marked by strong public turnout ahead of his scheduled roadshow.

Local leaders said the Prime Minister’s visits are often linked with new development announcements for the region, reflecting continued focus on infrastructure expansion and urban development in and around Varanasi.

Alongside the temple visit, the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway, a major road infrastructure project in Uttar Pradesh. The six-lane greenfield expressway, expandable to eight lanes, has been developed at an estimated cost of ₹36,230 crore.

The expressway spans 12 districts, including Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj, significantly improving regional connectivity across western, central, and eastern parts of the state.

Officials said the project is expected to reduce travel time between key cities such as Prayagraj and Lucknow, enhance road safety, and boost economic activity by improving logistics and accessibility.

Overall, the visit combines spiritual engagement at one of India’s most important religious sites with a major push for infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh.

Kolkata, Apr 29 (BNP): West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress candidate from Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to “forcefully rig the election” during polling in the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters while visiting polling booths in her constituency, Banerjee alleged incidents of violence against party workers and disruption of the democratic process. She claimed that one of her party workers had been assaulted overnight and termed the incidents an attack on the “festival of democracy.”

She further alleged that central forces and election observers were acting at the behest of the BJP and intimidating Trinamool Congress workers during polling hours.

The BJP strongly denied the allegations, with senior leader Suvendu Adhikari accusing the Trinamool Congress of trying to create fear among voters.

Meanwhile, scattered incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from several parts of the state, including Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar, during the early hours of polling. Election authorities said the situation remained under close watch, with extensive deployment of security personnel to ensure peaceful voting.

The second phase of polling covers 142 constituencies and is being seen as crucial in deciding the political future of the state. Voting began at 7:00 AM and will continue till the scheduled closing hours.