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The growing influence of the cultural and literary economy in Guwahati was reflected at a major book launch event organised by the Byatikram Group, where five books by author Dr. Seema Kashyap were unveiled before an audience comprising leading figures from academia, literature, media and the entertainment sector. The books — “Shunya Theke Shikhare” (Bengali translation), “Rosona Samaghra”, “Zubeen Garg: Ek Aastito” (Hindi translation), “Ami Zubeen Bolchi” (Bengali translation), and “30 Dinot Xoloni Korok Apunar Jibon” — underline the increasing market demand for regional-language publications, motivational literature and personality-driven narratives in Northeast India’s publishing sector. The event attracted prominent personalities…

Classic Legends-owned motorcycle brands Yezdi and BSA Motorcycles on Thursday launched two new scrambler motorcycles in India, aiming to strengthen their presence in the growing premium motorcycling segment. The companies introduced the new Yezdi Scrambler 350 and the BSA Scrambler 650, positioning them as versatile motorcycles designed for city riding, highway touring and light off-road use. Launched at an introductory price of Rs 1,99,950, the Yezdi Scrambler 350 is powered by a new 350cc liquid-cooled ‘Katar’ engine and is being positioned as India’s lightest scrambler at 174 kg. The motorcycle delivers 30 bhp and 30 Nm torque and comes in…

Instamart witnessed a massive spike in festive purchases during Akshaya Tritiya, recording a 45-fold rise in overall demand on April 19, driven by a sharp increase in gold and silver orders through its quick commerce platform. According to the company, gold demand surged 49 times while silver orders grew 24 times compared to regular trends. The most popular gold purchases included 1g, 2g and 0.5g coins, indicating that affordability and cultural buying sentiment went hand in hand during the festival. Silver bars weighing 10g, 5g and 20g emerged as popular choices for gifting and investment. The platform also introduced a…

Kotak Mahindra Bank has expanded its instant Working Capital Demand Loan facility for corporate customers after disbursing more than Rs 9,000 crore during its pilot phase, signalling a shift in how businesses are managing short-term funding requirements. The bank said eligible corporates can now access working capital loans within seconds through its digital platform, fyn (for your needs), eliminating manual processing delays and banking cut-off timings that traditionally slowed loan access despite pre-approved limits. Companies can apply by entering details such as loan amount and tenure, following which pricing checks and disbursement are completed digitally. Anu Aggarwal, President and Head…

Reshmi Deokota from West Bengal will represent the state at the prestigious Miss Grand India 2026, scheduled to be held in Delhi. She will compete alongside contestants representing different states and Union Territories from across the country. Miss Grand India is regarded as one of India’s leading beauty pageants, where participants are judged through multiple rounds focused on beauty, confidence, intelligence, communication skills, and advocacy. The winner of the competition will earn the opportunity to represent India at the international-level Miss Grand International pageant. Reshmi began her modeling career at the age of 15 and has spent more than a…

Motorola has launched the new motorola edge 70 pro smartphone in India, introducing a flagship-grade device focused on low-light photography, AI-powered performance and premium design aesthetics. The smartphone will go on sale from April 29 through Flipkart, Motorola.in and retail stores at a starting effective price of Rs 36,999. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Extreme processor and comes with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.1 storage. Motorola said the handset is designed to deliver faster multitasking, gaming and AI-driven imaging performance, supported by a 4600mm² vapor chamber cooling system and 17 5G bands.…

Beverage major The Coca-Cola Company has launched Sprite Lemon Mint, the first flavour innovation for Sprite in India, as the company looks to tap into rising consumer demand for cooling summer beverages inspired by familiar local tastes. The limited-edition drink combines Sprite’s signature lemon-lime flavour with mint notes, a combination the company said reflects the common Indian habit of adding mint to chilled summer drinks for extra refreshment. The launch is backed by a new advertising campaign conceptualised by WPP’s StudioX and features actor-comedian Sunil Grover promoting the brand’s “Thand Rakh” message of staying calm in stressful moments. Sumeli Chatterjee,…

India should prepare for geopolitical disruptions every one to two years and use the current global uncertainty to push long-pending economic reforms, Axis Bank chief economist Neelkanth Mishra said at Kotak Private Banking’s Take and Counter Take (TACT) forum. Speaking at the invitation-only event moderated by Nilesh Shah, Mishra said the temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States may have eased immediate tensions, but volatility linked to the broader US-China geopolitical rivalry is likely to continue. Mishra warned that the biggest risks from conflicts emerge through disruptions in supply chains, energy flows, chemicals, fertilisers, logistics and aviation. He said…

Britannia Industries has expanded its premium snacking portfolio with the launch of Britannia 5050 Cheeze Dipped and Caramel Dipped Crunchy Layered Sandwiches, marking a new phase for the brand that has been part of India’s snacking culture for over three decades. The new products aim to redefine the brand’s signature “50-50” identity by combining contrasting textures of crunch and melt in a single snack format. The newly launched sandwiches are made with 22 baked layers designed to deliver a structured crunch, while the cheese and caramel coating adds a smooth melting texture. According to the company, the products are positioned…

India’s construction and infrastructure sector is facing growing challenges from climate-related risks, with experts warning that extreme heat, flooding and rapid urbanisation are threatening the resilience of major projects across the country. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Aon said climate volatility is increasingly affecting infrastructure projects at every stage, from planning and construction to long-term operations. According to Nisheeth Srivastava, President and Head of Property, Construction, Power and Infrastructure at Aon India, flooding continues to be one of the most disruptive threats to the sector. Aon’s Climate and Catastrophe Insight reports identified flooding as a major cause of economic…