All posts by Sujata Achary

New Delhi, February 18, 2025: Latin Quarters, India’s premier women’s western wear brand, today unveiled its new exclusive store with a grand opening atNexus Mall, K P H B Phase 9, 2nd Floor, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500085. The grand launch was graced by guest of honor and renowned Bollywood actress, Tejaswi Madivada, known for her appearance in Bigg Boss 2 and her role in the movie Ice Break’.

This new store marks a significant milestone in Latin Quarters’ expansion journey, strengthening its presence in Hyderabad with its third store in the city, following successful outlets at Sarath City and Punjagutta. With a presence in 400+ locations nationwide, Latin Quarters’ new store is now open to the larger public in the region to access all the latest fashions.

Staying true to its ethos of celebrating individuality and style, Latin Quarters introduces the #CommittedtoBeYOU campaign with this launch. In the spirit of the ‘month of love’, the brand champions self-love, encouraging women to embrace their unique fashion identities. This store will be a gateway to discovering personal styles, offering a curated shopping experience with the latest trends and silhouettes.

Saurabh Jhingan, Director & Co-Founder of Latin Quarters, expressed his excitement, stating, “We are delighted to open our doors at Nexus Hyderabad Mall as we continue to expand our footprint in India. Hyderabad has long been a city of vibrant fashion and diverse cultural influences. With our new concept #CommittedtoBeYOU, we want every woman to feel confident, empowered, and stylish in her way. The launch of our ‘New Now SS’25’ collection further elevates this mission by offering a fresh take on seasonal fashion trends.”

Coinciding with the store launch, Latin Quarters also unveiled its latest ‘New Now SS’25’ collection–an ode to the effortless elegance and vibrant energy of the season starting with a range. From chic summer dresses to structured formal wear and trendy separates, the range is crafted to reflect contemporary global styles with a touch of Indian sensibilities.
Spanning an impressive retail space, the Hyderabad store is meticulously designed to offer an immersive shopping experience. Featuring modern aesthetics, well-lit interiors, and interactive fashion zones, the store promises to be a go-to destination for trend-conscious shoppers.

Mumbai, India, [18th February 2025] – Network People Services Technology Ltd. (NSE: NPST), a leading fintech company, providing digital banking and payments technology solutions, today announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, highlighting strong year-on-year growth in revenue for the first nine months of the year. The company posted a 78.53% increase in nine-month revenue, reaffirming its long-term growth strategy.

Consolidated Performance Highlights 9M and Q3 FY 2025

NPST’s nine-month revenue reached ₹152.46 crore, up from ₹85.40 crore in the same period last year. The growth reflects NPST’s continued investment in expanding its core payment platform and venturing into new verticals such as Offline Payments (QR and SoundBox), RegTech, and Instant Credit on UPI as a part of its strategy to strengthen and diversify its portfolio.

The net profit for the period surged to ₹38.91 crore, a significant increase from ₹16.69 crore in FY 2024, a 133.08% increase

The EBITDA for the nine months stood at ₹55.71 crore, compared to INR ₹28.40 crore in the same period last year, an increase of 96.2%.

For the quarter ending December 2024, NPST posted revenue of ₹23.23 crore, compared to ₹32.08 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The company maintained a positive EBITDA of ₹8.21 crore and a net profit (PAT) of ₹5.14 crore, driven by effective cost management and strong operational efficiency.

Deepak Chand Thakur, Co-Founder and CEO of NPST, said, “NPST’s Q3 performance highlights the impact of our strategic investments. While these have affected short-term revenue, they have reinforced our long-term foundation. Our nine-month results demonstrate solid growth, and our continued focus on high-potential areas like Offline Payments, RegTech and Instant Credit on UPI will position us for sustained expansion, providing a competitive advantage in the evolving fintech landscape.”

Commenting on the company’s financial performance, Ashish Aggarwal, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director of NPST, said, “NPST’s consolidated nine-month performance remains resilient, driven by financial discipline, operational efficiency, and strategic investments in product expansion. These investments are key to deepening customer relationships, securing a stronger foothold in the fintech sector, and driving sustained value creation for our stakeholders.”

Other Business Highlights

• Launched Instant Credit on UPI: NPST launched a UPI Instant Credit Line for one of India’s largest banks, marking an entry into embedded lending.
• RegTech Pilot: The company successfully piloted an AI-driven Risk Intelligence Decisioning Platform to counter fraud and enhance the security of payment ecosystems for acquirers
• Offline Payments: Secured incremental orders for Qynx (QR and SoundBox) and expanded its customer base for the product.
• Strategic Partnership: NPST partnered with a leading payments bank to optimize payout services and improve transaction flows.
• Industry Recognition: The company was awarded ‘Company of the Year 2024’ by Frost & Sullivan for its innovations in payments technology.

Mumbai, Feb 2025: Practus, a leading business consulting firm, proudly announces its fourth consecutive certification as a Great Place to Work. This recognition reaffirms the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering a workplace culture where employees thrive, collaborate, and drive innovation.

Achieving this recognition for the fourth year in a row reflects Practus’ dedication to building an environment that empowers talent, encourages professional growth, and nurtures a strong sense of purpose – consolidating its reputation as a top employer in the consulting industry.

Deepak Narayanan, Founder & CEO of Practus, shared his thoughts on this recognition, stating, “Being recognized as a Great Place to Work for four consecutive years underscores the strength of our people-first culture. At Practice, we believe that our success is deeply tied to the well-being and growth of our team. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to creating an environment where the team feel valued, inspired, and driven to make an impact.”

Aditi Nair, Chief People Officer at Practus, added, “Securing this recognition for four years in a row reflects our commitment to build a workplace where every individual thrives. It is a testament to the collaborative spirit and dedication of our team as they align with our vision to build a great workplace for all.”

The practice continues to prioritize a people-centric culture through initiatives that promote professional development, work-life integration, and open communication. With progressive policies and a culture of collaboration, the company has created an environment where innovation flourishes, the team feels empowered, and long-term success is built together.

Chandigarh 18 February 2025: Air India and Virgin Australia today announced a new codeshare partnership that significantly boosts connectivity and the ease of travelling between India and Australia.

The unilateral codeshare agreement enables Air India to place its ‘AI’ code on flights operated by Virgin Australia. This enhances the opportunities that Air India customers have when travelling from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney and takes seamless onward connections on Virgin Australia flights to 16 destinations in Australia and New Zealand1. The enhanced cooperation will also ensure that passengers travelling on a single ticket will have their baggage checked throughout the entire journey.

The 16 cities in Australia and New Zealand include: Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand)1, Sunshine Coast, and Sydney.

“We are pleased to partner with Air India to make it easier for their customers to explore everything Australia has to offer. India is a growing tourism market for Australia and this partnership will encourage travellers arriving on one of Air India’s 14 weekly flights to explore more of our wonderful country thanks to seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network,” said Alistair Hartley, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Virgin Australia.

“Australia is one of Air India’s most important international markets, so it is incredibly exciting for us to be partnering with Virgin Australia to expand our presence in the region. While the partnership provides greater ease and access for the large Indian diaspora spread across the continent, it also opens up a whole new range of destinations for holidaymakers wanting to soak up the beaches of Gold Coast, discover Tasmania, or explore the natural wonders of The Great Barrier Reef,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India.

Air India operates 14x weekly flights from India to Australia, flying non-stop daily from Delhi to Melbourne and Delhi to Sydney. The airline utilises its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on these routes, featuring
18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy Class. Air India customers taking onward flights on Virgin Australia flights within Australia and New Zealand will enjoy world-class Business and Economy Class cabins and award-winning service.

Chandigarh, February 18, 2025: Sterlite Power a leading private sector power transmission infrastructure developer and solutions provider, announced the successful commissioning of the Nangalbibra – Bongaigaon transmission (400kv D/C) line, an Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project. Through its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) execution, the project strengthens the power infrastructure in the region, ensuring reliable electricity supply in Meghalaya.

The project spans approximately 300 ckt km of transmission lines and includes a greenfield substation with a 300 MW transformation capacity across the challenging North-Eastern terrain of Assam and Meghalaya. It includes a 123km, 400kV D/C transmission line connecting Bongaigaon in Assam to a greenfield substation at Nangalbibra in Meghalaya, initially operated at 220kV and crossing the Brahmaputra River. The 220/132kV substation at Nangalbibra, equipped with 2x160MVA transformation capacity, also allows future expansion to 400kV to support increasing load demands. A 132kV D/C transmission line (19 km) further connects Hatsinghmari in Assam to Ampati in Meghalaya for an additional power source to the region.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Arun Sharma, CEO, of Infrastructure Business, Sterlite Power, said, “The successful commissioning of this project is a crucial step towards strengthening the power infrastructure of North-East India. By enabling the seamless transfer of over 1000 MW of electricity, this project will significantly improve power reliability and accessibility in Meghalaya and Assam, supporting the region’s industrial, commercial, and socio-economic growth and the overall quality of life. The transmission project will not only help bridge existing power gaps but also lay the groundwork for future expansion, thereby attracting investments, creating jobs, and driving infrastructure growth. As India moves toward a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape, we are committed to reinforcing the national grid and accelerating economic progress.”

This new infrastructure project ensures the reliable transmission of over 1000 MW of power from Assam to Meghalaya. Apart from bringing the additional power supply, the project also decongests the downstream networks in the region, thereby improving the quality and reliability of power supply in North-East India. Awarded through tariff-based competitive bidding in December 2021, the project was completed ahead of schedule, with all necessary approvals obtained and key elements commissioned between September and November 2024.

Chandigarh 18 February 2025: Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is driving economic empowerment among rural women in Bhatapara, through the transformative ‘Lakhpati Didi’ program. By fostering micro-enterprises and offering extensive support in training and resources, the Company’s CSR initiatives are helping women achieve financial independence and sustainable livelihoods.

The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ movement, initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development, aims to enable women in self-help groups (SHGs) to earn an annual household income of ₹1 lakh or more. Ambuja Cements’ CSR team identified 188 women from Bhatapara for this program and provided them with the necessary tools and training to achieve this milestone. Many women have successfully ventured into enterprises like tailoring, vegetable cultivation, and retail stores, significantly improving their quality of life and inspiring their communities.

This initiative has enabled women like Kuleshwari Verma, a fancy store owner earning ₹3.75 lakh annually, and Kusum Patel, who cultivates vegetables and earns ₹1.1 lakh per year, to achieve transformative financial growth. Stories like theirs highlight how access to resources and consistent support can unlock the entrepreneurial potential of rural women.

Ambuja Cements remains committed to promoting inclusive development and sustainable livelihoods through its CSR initiatives. By supporting rural women entrepreneurs, the company underscores its dedication to economic empowerment and long-term community growth.

Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar, Mithali Raj shared her thoughts on Ashleigh Gardner’s innings of 52 off 32 balls: “I think Ashleigh is continuing the rich form she has carried from the series. In the first game, we saw her hitting sixes, and today’s innings were even better than the last. She built a crucial partnership with Laura Wolvaardt, laying a strong foundation for Deandra Dottin to come in and play her role effectively.”

Speaking about the partnership between Deandra Dottin and Harleen Deol, Mithali Raj said on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar, “Yes, I think it was an important partnership because Harleen Deol got an opportunity in the middle and made the most of it, stitching together another valuable partnership with Deandra Dottin. While the runs may not have been big, Dottin needed to be at the crease because when she is there, you always have a chance to finish the match. Harleen also played some impressive shots against Sophie Ecclestone. Though she started a bit tentatively, she looked much more confident as she played in front of the wicket.”

Sharing her insights on Deandra Dottin’s power-hitting, Mithali Raj said on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar: “There is immense power in her shots, but what sets her apart from other six-hitting batters is her incredible bat speed. She doesn’t rely on a big backlift, instead, her strong wrists generate that quick bat swing, which is a huge advantage. Whether she is playing off the back foot or going over the boundary line, bat speed, and wrist work are her strengths. She also creates room for herself while playing in front, which makes her shots even more effective.”

Speaking about what Deepti Sharma could have done differently, Mithali Raj said on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar: “Well, I think we need to consider that this was her first game, and we shouldn’t be too critical. She did miss the presence of senior players in the squad, but moving forward, the team management will have to think carefully about the balance, perhaps bringing in an extra bowler instead of a batter. Right now, the batting is heavily reliant on Indian domestic players, so they need to assess their strategy accordingly.”

Speaking on Amul Cricket Live, JioHotstar, Mithali Raj also spoke about UP Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma’s performance against the Gujarat Giants, “Deepti was playing with a very healthy strike rate at about 140 plus and yes, it’s just unfortunate. She couldn’t get the sort of support she required at that time to build a partnership. They did have a 40-50 (runs) partnership, but then she wanted more out of the overseas players like Tahlia McGrath or Grace Harris to give her support and stay there and add more runs. Whatever little time she spent she tried to keep that momentum going and get those runs going for UP Warriorz.”

Chandigarh, February 18, 2025 – Fastrack, India’s leading youth fashion accessories brand has introduced its latest unisex collection BARE, an innovative transparent watch that celebrates raw authenticity and unfiltered self-expression. The collection has already garnered recognition as one of the Top 50 Designs in the Product Design Category at the prestigious 24th CII India Design Summit 2024.

The BARE collection showcases a striking skeletal dial complemented by bold aluminum bezel rings in 6 vibrant colors, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary watch design. Priced at INR 2195, the collection makes bold fashion accessible to style-conscious youth across India.

With the tagline of “Too Bare To Care”, the campaign highlights the unique design of the watch while celebrating those who are not afraid to show who they are.

Speaking at the launch, Danny Jacob, Head of Marketing at Fastrack, said, “Today’s youth navigate a digital world brimming with hyper-curated, picture-perfect content. But what often gets hidden are the raw, unfiltered realities—flaws, slip-ups, bloopers—that make us beautifully human. It takes boldness and authenticity to show up as your true self in a world that favors perfection. We want to celebrate those fearless enough to embrace the messy, imperfect, and wonderfully real moments of being unapologetically human!”

Chandigarh 18, February 2025: This season of love and commitment, Tanishq, India’s largest jewellery brand from the house of Tata, unveils- ‘The Soulmate Diamond Pair’, an exquisite set of rare couple rings that symbolize eternal bonds. This exclusive collection features two rings exquisitely crafted from a single, billion-year-old natural diamond, symbolizing the inseparable bond between two souls. The rings intrinsically linked echo the bond between a couple that is both rare and everlasting. This latest innovation transcends traditional jewellery, transforming a beautiful gem into a meaningful symbol of love, and eternity. This unique range was launched in collaboration with the De Beers Group further strengthening the partnership between the two brands.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day and the season of real diamond engagement rings, these couple rings serve as lasting tokens, marking cherished milestones and special moments. Rare Natural diamonds used in this collection have journeyed together over billions of years deep within the Earth, making them a true symbol of eternity and resilience—just like a meaningful relationship. This shared origin represents the unbreakable connection between two souls destined to be together. Designed for all couples across generations, these rings are ideal markers for intimate occasions like engagements, proposals, anniversaries, vow renewals, and special milestones

Drawing inspiration from the journey of a natural diamond itself, this collection launched in collaboration with De Beers presents a pair of rings, which are the epitome of oneness and lifelong commitment. Being rare and precious, and having gone through the billion-year journey, only a natural diamond can be the true symbol of timelessness, hence the collection is a tribute to couples who seek meaningful partnerships. The collection goes beyond being a mere adornment; it is a lasting symbol of love, crafted from shared moments and meant to sparkle with enduring brilliance across time.

Speaking on the collection launch, Mr. Arun Narayan, VP, Category, Retail and Marketing, Tanishq, Titan Company Ltd said “We are delighted to present a rare innovation, Tanishq’s tribute to the spirit of togetherness – The Soulmate Diamond Pair. It is an exquisite collection of a couple of solitaire rings created from a single natural diamond rough. What makes it stand out is that a single diamond takes a billion years to form, hence the new collection symbolises the rare and unbreakable partnership between soulmates. Rooted in the philosophy that love, like a diamond, is formed over time and meant to last forever, this collection is unparalleled in the world of jewellery and holds immense emotional significance.”

Mr. Amit Pratihari, Managing Director, De Beers India said “Our collaboration with Tanishq for the Soulmate Diamond Pair not only celebrates the intrinsic beauty of natural, real diamonds but also underscores their enduring value and timeless appeal. Transforming a single rough diamond into two exquisite rings perfectly symbolizes the rare and eternal bond shared by couples.”

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Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – Federal Bank’s new Managing Director and CEO, Mr. KVS Manian, met with Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today to discuss avenues for collaboration & growth. He also met with the Minister of Industries, law, and Coir Mr P Rajeeve. Mr. KVS Manian, who assumed the role of MD & CEO of Federal Bank in September 2024, brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in the banking sector. Since taking charge, he has been actively engaging with stakeholders across the state to gain insights into its landscape, opportunities, and challenges.

During the meeting with the Chief Minister, discussions centered on strengthening the partnership between the Federal Bank and the state government to foster economic growth and development initiatives in Kerala. Federal Bank, which has its origins in Kerala and now boasts a nationwide presence, operates over 600 branches in the state, accounting for 40% of its total branch network. It is also one of the most preferred banks for the large Non-Resident Indian community, predominantly from Kerala.

Mr. KVS Manian said ” Our discussion with the Honourable Chief Minister was both constructive and forward-looking, focused on unlocking new avenues for Kerala’s progress. At Federal Bank, we see our journey as inseparable from Kerala’s own. Our success has always been intertwined, and we remain committed to being more than just a perfect banking partner aim to be a catalyst for empowerment and development, ensuring that as Kerala rises, we rise with it.”

Federal Bank has been actively participating in various development initiatives within the state, focusing on supporting local businesses, empowering entrepreneurs, and promoting financial inclusion. The institution has also been using its CSR resources for conducting developmental activities across Kerala, including running skilling centers that provide vocational training and help in employment generation, with close to 500 trainees passing out last year alone. The bank has also been offering scholarships to students from financially backward families and has supported 600 cancer patients in Kerala through its Sanjeevani program. International Finance Corporation, the investment arm of the World Bank, is a key shareholder in Federal Bank.