Apr 22 (BNP): India could witness emerging food inflation risks ahead of the Kharif agricultural season, even with significant government support measures in place, including subsidies valued at approximately USD 18.6 billion, according to a senior economist from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The outlook is influenced by disruptions in global supply chains, particularly those linked to geopolitical tensions affecting critical maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions have contributed to volatility in the movement of essential commodities and agricultural inputs.

While domestic policy interventions and subsidy mechanisms continue to provide stability to the agriculture sector, external supply-side pressures remain a key concern for price control and market equilibrium.

The FAO economist noted that maintaining food security will require a combination of strong domestic production, efficient supply chain management, and close monitoring of global trade dynamics.

Authorities are expected to remain vigilant to ensure price stability and protect consumer interests during the upcoming agricultural cycle.

Apr 22 (BNP): Indore-based gynaecologist Dr Ishita Joshi has been awarded the prestigious NariFirst Jewel of India Season 3 title, recognising her contributions to women’s healthcare and community awareness initiatives.

The award was presented in the presence of Malaika Arora, who felicitated the winners for their achievements and impact across diverse professional fields.

Dr Joshi was selected for her dedication to advancing women’s health services and her efforts in promoting awareness around reproductive health and maternal care. Her work has been acknowledged as a significant contribution to both clinical practice and social outreach.

The NariFirst Jewel of India initiative celebrates women achievers from across India in sectors including healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and public service. Season 3 of the platform continued its mission of recognising impactful women leaders who are driving change in society.

The recognition underscores the growing importance of women professionals in shaping India’s healthcare landscape and community development efforts.

Apr 22 (BNP): India’s real estate sector has achieved a historic milestone, recording approximately $5.1 billion in investment inflows during the first quarter (January–March), marking its strongest quarterly performance to date.

The growth was primarily driven by robust participation from domestic investors and the expanding role of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which are increasingly channeling capital into income-generating commercial assets.

Investment activity remained concentrated in key urban centres, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR, with strong interest in office spaces, mixed-use developments, and core real estate assets.

The sector continues to demonstrate resilience amid global economic uncertainties, supported by strong domestic demand, institutional confidence, and evolving investment structures.

Experts highlight that the rising dominance of domestic capital reflects a structural transformation in India’s real estate market, moving toward a more stable, transparent, and institutionally driven investment ecosystem.

With REITs gaining further traction and investor appetite remaining strong, India’s real estate sector is expected to maintain steady growth momentum in the coming quarters.

Bengaluru, April 22: VIRGIO, the fashion-tech brand redefining sustainability through its Clean Fashion philosophy, marks Earth Day by spotlighting a more mindful approach to how clothes are designed, worn, and valued.

At a time when sustainability conversations in fashion are often limited to materials and sourcing, VIRGIO continues to take a more holistic view—focusing on creating garments that are not only responsibly made but also thoughtfully designed for longevity, relevance, and repeated wear.

Built on the principles of transparency, responsible production, and conscious consumption, VIRGIO’s Clean Fashion approach emphasizes fewer, better, and longer-lasting pieces. By prioritizing quality, versatility, and wearability, the brand encourages consumers to move beyond fast fashion cycles and invest in wardrobes that deliver higher value over time.

Speaking on the occasion, Amar Nagaram, Founder, VIRGIO, said,

“Sustainability in fashion needs to move beyond surface-level fixes and become part of how we design, buy, and wear clothes every day. At VIRGIO, we’re building Clean Fashion as a system—where every decision, from design to production to how a garment lives in your wardrobe, is more intentional. When clothes are made better, fit better into people’s lives, and stay relevant for longer, they naturally get worn more. That’s where real impact comes from—reducing waste not just through materials, but by changing behavior and making conscious choices feel effortless.”

Central to this philosophy is the idea of cost-per-wear—shifting the focus from price tags to long-term value. By designing pieces that stay relevant across seasons and occasions, VIRGIO aims to reduce wardrobe churn while enhancing everyday utility.

As the brand continues to grow, it remains committed to driving a new standard for the industry, one that balances style, responsibility, and practicality. With Clean Fashion at its core, VIRGIO is shaping a future where everyday fashion choices are more aligned with the needs of the environment, reinforcing the importance of mindful consumption as Earth Day brings global attention to sustainable living. 

Apr 22 (BNP): The Odisha Government’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department has issued a fresh advisory to district collectors and municipal commissioners, stressing enhanced safety protocols for enumerators engaged in the first phase of Census 2027—the houselisting and housing census exercise.

The field operation, which began on April 16, 2026, and will continue till May 15, 2026, involves door-to-door surveys across the state to collect data on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets owned by families.

The advisory comes after reports of multiple incidents during fieldwork in different districts, including a suspected health-related death of an enumerator in Subarnapur, a missing enumerator case in Mayurbhanj, heat-related illness and minor accidents in Balasore, and a road accident in Rourkela.

In view of these concerns, the department has directed local administrations to strengthen on-ground monitoring, ensure real-time tracking of field staff, and take preventive steps to reduce exposure to heat and other operational risks. District authorities have also been asked to identify vulnerable areas and ensure quick medical response wherever required.

Officials have further been instructed to sensitise enumerators on safety guidelines, particularly given the physically demanding nature of door-to-door data collection and prevailing weather conditions.

The advisory underscores the state’s focus on balancing the efficiency of the nationwide census exercise with the safety and well-being of frontline field workers.

Apr 22 (BNP): The Central Government has approved a new railway project to strengthen connectivity in Odisha’s mineral-rich Rayagada district. The Cabinet has sanctioned the Gunupur–Therubali new rail line, a 73.62 km route aimed at improving transportation infrastructure in one of the state’s key mining regions.

The project, estimated at a cost of around ₹1,362 crore, is expected to enhance regional mobility and provide more efficient and reliable rail services. It will connect important industrial and mining zones, improving the movement of both passengers and freight.

Officials noted that the new rail corridor will play a significant role in supporting economic activity in southern Odisha by improving access to remote areas and strengthening logistics efficiency for the Indian Railways network.

The development is also expected to contribute to long-term regional growth by enabling smoother transportation of resources, boosting local connectivity, and integrating the region more effectively with broader economic corridors.

Apr 22: Apptrove, a leading Mobile Measurement Partner (MMP), has announced the integration of Truecaller into its expanding ecosystem of advertising, media, and growth platforms. The addition marks another milestone in Apptrove’s broader strategy to build a partner-first measurement ecosystem that sits between advertisers, DSPs, ad networks, and media platforms. By integrating into Apptrove’s platform, partners gain access to a broader pool of advertiser demand and monetisable traffic opportunities, while brands benefit from expanded publisher reach, diversified acquisition channels, and unified performance measurement across the ecosystem.

As digital advertising continues to evolve, app marketers are increasingly looking beyond traditional channels to diversify user acquisition, improve return on ad spend, and drive stronger campaign results. At the same time, media platforms are under growing pressure to demonstrate performance, transparency, and accountability to attract larger advertiser budgets and increase repeat spend. Reliable attribution and campaign measurement have therefore become essential tools for platforms seeking stronger advertiser adoption, better campaign outcomes, and long-term monetisation growth.

The continued expansion of DSP integrations is changing how advertisers use MMPs. They now have access to more media channels while keeping measurement consistent, ensuring attribution is accurate, and allowing for faster optimisation of campaigns. For brands that work with several DSPs, this provides more freedom to broaden acquisition strategies without losing track of performance results. With the addition of Truecaller, marketers can measure installs, in-app events, conversions, and post-install engagement from Truecaller campaigns using Apptrove’s attribution system. This helps with better budget allocation and clearer tracking of ROI. This integration is especially useful for sectors like fintech, where building trust for user acquisition is important; gaming, where measuring scale and retention is crucial; e-commerce, where re-engaging customers based on intent can boost conversions; and subscription-led apps that aim to attract high-quality users with good lifetime value.

Udit Verma, Co-Founder and CMO, Apptrove, said,

“Our focus is on building an ecosystem where advertisers can access high-performing media channels through a single, trusted measurement layer. As we continue expanding our partner ecosystem, our goal remains simple: to create more growth opportunities for advertisers and stronger monetization pathways for platforms.”

Echoing this shared vision, Ravi Tripathi, Global Head- Ads Strategy and Partnerships, Truecaller added,

“Truecaller’s 500 Mn active user base is built on trust. This integration with Apptrove is another step in deepening our commitment to offer a fully measurable framework for advertisers, helping them measure every engagement that trust drives. This partnership opens up Truecaller’s high-intent inventory to marketers who expect transparency and scale all in one place.”

Apptrove’s growing integration network already includes connectivity with prominent advertising and growth platforms such as AnyMind Group, Appnext, CleverTap, and Adevolve, among others. By continuously expanding its partner ecosystem, Apptrove is creating greater access between enterprise advertisers and monetizable demand channels across regions and industry verticals.

With over 50 enterprise app clients across gaming, fintech, e-commerce, OTT, and consumer internet sectors, Apptrove continues to support brands looking to scale user acquisition through data- backed decision- making. The company’s attribution platform offers marketers a unified view of campaign performance across channels while helping reduce inefficiencies commonly associated with fragmented mobile media buying.

As more advertisers prioritise measurable outcomes and diversified acquisition strategies, partner ecosystems built on transparency and interoperability are becoming increasingly valuable. Apptrove remains focused on expanding integrations that simplify campaign measurement, unlock new sources of demand, and create sustainable growth opportunities for all stakeholders in the mobile advertising value chain.

The Truecaller integration is now available for Apptrove clients globally.