Business

New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The Centre’s Department of Consumer Affairs on Thursday announced that it has invited online applications from eligible industries, laboratories, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and testing facilities for recognition as Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) under the Legal Metrology Rules.

With the application window currently open, eligible organisations are encouraged to submit their applications through the Department's online portal emaap.gov.in/gatc before the deadline of 31 August 2026, up to 5:00 PM. The portal provides a completely digital process for submission of applications, payment of fees, tracking of application status and communication with applicants, making the process simpler, transparent and business-friendly, according to an official statement.

The GATC initiative is aimed at expanding India's verification ecosystem by enabling technically competent private sector institutions to participate in the verification and re-verification of specified weights and measures used in trade and commerce. More verification capacity will lead to faster services and better consumer protection, the statement said.

As on date, 51 GATCs have already been recognised. The Department is now further expanding the network so that businesses have greater access to verification facilities closer to their locations, reducing turnaround time and facilitating faster compliance, according to the statement.

The initiative will also complement the efforts of State Legal Metrology Departments. With more approved centres available for verification services, State Legal Metrology Officers can focus more on market surveillance, enforcement and consumer grievance redressal.

Following recent amendments to the GATC Rules, recognised GATCs can undertake verification and re-verification of 23 categories of weights and measures covering important sectors such as healthcare, energy, transport, retail, manufacturing and infrastructure. These include: water meters, sphygmomanometers, clinical thermometers, automatic rail weighbridges, tape measures, non-automatic weighing instruments, load cells, beam scales and counter machines.

Weights of all categories, gas meters, energy meters, moisture meters, vehicle speed meters, breath analysers, multi-dimensional measuring instruments and flow meters are the other categories in the list.

Besides, the inclusion of petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, LNG and hydrogen dispensers is part of the recent expansion of the GATC framework. This will help strengthen verification capacity for fuel dispensing systems and support accurate measurement and transparency in fuel transactions, the statement said.

The expansion of GATCs is an important Ease of Doing Business reform. Instead of relying only on limited departmental facilities for verification, manufacturers, traders and users can increasingly access approved technical facilities through the expanding GATC network.

The digital application system further simplifies the process by enabling applicants to apply online, make payments digitally and track their applications without the need for repeated physical visits to Government offices.

Eligible organisations are required to have the prescribed testing and calibration equipment traceable to national standards, qualified technical personnel and the infrastructure specified under the GATC Rules, the statement added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Larsen & Toubro's transportation infrastructure business has secured an order worth up to Rs 5,000 crore to design and build the Automated People Mover (APM) system for Phase 1 of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, the company said on Thursday.

The order has been won in a consortium with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) with L&T responsible for the turnkey delivery of the fully integrated APM system, including construction, supply, testing, commissioning and operational readiness.

An automated people mover is a driverless transit system used to transport passengers between airport terminals and other facilities.

Under the design-and-build contract, L&T will undertake the design, procurement, delivery and integration of key APM infrastructure and systems which include guideways, DC traction substations, power distribution, signalling and telecommunications, onboard communication systems, platform screen doors and depot equipment.

Moreover, the project is being developed by Dubai Aviation City Corporation and implemented through Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, according to L&T.

The company said it forms a key part of the airport's long-term, multi-phase expansion programme.

Once fully developed, Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to become the world's largest airport with a planned capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually, it said in an exchange filing.

Ramkumar S, Executive Vice-President and Head of Transportation Infrastructure at L&T, said the project demonstrated the company's capabilities in executing integrated APM rail systems.

The combination of MHI's APM systems and L&T's integrated systems experience, supported by its engineering design capabilities, would enable execution with a strong focus on safety and quality, according to him.

Following this, shares of L&T traded 1.31 higher to hit an intraday high of Rs 4,083 by around 1 pm on the BSE.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Three in four corporate occupiers in India intend to expand their office portfolios over the next two years, as they are entering a phase of conviction-led growth, a report said on Thursday.

Nearly 30 per cent of office occupiers plan ‘significant’ portfolio expansion in India, up from 18 per cent last year, the report from CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. said.

The report, drawn from a survey conducted between April and June 2026, showed a marked rise in conviction‑led expansion as nearly half of the surveyed occupiers plan to expand their real estate footprint by coupling business growth with expansion and consolidation strategies.

Concurrently, approximately a quarter of occupiers intend to renew their existing leases over the next two years.

The respondents planning expansion said that they intend to grow their office portfolio in India by more than 30 per cent over two years.

"When nearly a third of occupiers are planning to grow their footprint by more than a third, that reflects a structural rather than cyclical shift in how corporates are approaching their India real estate strategy," said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE.

As the office sector’s stock has already crossed the 1-billion-square-feet milestone, the occupier enthusiasm signals sustained confidence in India as a long-term destination for corporate growth, he added.

Ram Chandnani, Managing Director, Leasing Services, India, CBRE stressed the breadth of this expansion, which is not confined to any single sector or region of origin with an appetite grounded in operational need.

“About 63 per cent of the large-sized occupiers plan to expand and consolidate in the next two years and we are likely to see this translate into active requirements across both established and emerging micro-markets," he said.

The Indian office market has shown a strong performance in the last few years with the gross leasing hitting a record 24.6 million sq. ft. in Q2 2026 - up 18 per cent sequentially and 14 per cent year-on-year.

This pushed the gross H1 2026 absorption to 45.5 million sq. ft., the best half-year on record and roughly 10 per cent ahead of H1 2025. GCCs remain the single biggest engine of this growth, accounting for 42 per cent of the quarterly take-up at a record 10.3 million sq. ft., while flex operators accounted for a 27 per cent share.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises organised a national seminar at IIT Madras to promote digital commerce and export readiness for micro, small and medium enterprises, an official statement said on Thursday.

Praveen Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary, MSME Department, Tamil Nadu emphasised that digital commerce is transforming MSME’s access to global markets by transcending geographical boundaries.

He called for stronger Centre-State convergence to create an enabling ecosystem that can accelerate the global competitiveness of MSMEs, the statement from the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises said.

The event, held by the MSME Development & Facilitation Office, Chennai in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Madras, drew MSMEs, entrepreneurs, students, policymakers, financial institutions and digital‑commerce experts to explore practical pathways for enabling MSMEs to access national and international markets.

The seminar focused on the changing landscape of international trade and the growing role of digital commerce, technology, innovation and market linkages in enabling MSMEs to reach customers beyond geographical boundaries.

Prof Manu Santhanam, Dean, IC&SR of IIT Madras highlighted the critical role of innovation, academia-industry collaboration in enabling MSMEs to develop new products and technologies, enhance competitiveness.

Hansraj Verma, Director General, Council of State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation of India, stressed that quality is fundamental to strengthening competitiveness in domestic as well as international markets and underlined importance of digitalisation for MSMEs to expand their reach.

The technical sessions featured experts and officials from DGFT, EXIM Bank, ECGC IIT Madras, export and e-commerce consulting domains, who provided practical insights on export procedures, trade finance, export risk mitigation, market identification, international payments, compliance, digital onboarding and opportunities for MSMEs to leverage e-commerce for global market access.

The Procurement & Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme of the Ministry of MSME includes national workshops or seminars as a dedicated component under its capacity-building interventions, aimed at creating awareness and educating MSMEs on market access, packaging, import-export procedures, e-commerce platforms and other developments relevant to expanding their markets.

The National Seminar was part of these components, providing MSMEs with direct access to experts and practical knowledge on digital commerce and export readiness, the statement noted.

The seminar also provided an important platform for students and aspiring entrepreneurs to understand the emerging opportunities in digital commerce, entrepreneurship and international markets.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) US-based technology giant Google has announced a one-year free subscription to its 'AI Plus' plan for eligible college students in India which offers access to enhanced artificial intelligence tools and higher usage limits to support learning.

In its latest blog post, the tech company said that under the offer eligible students will get access to Gemini Omni, twice the usage limits available to non-AI subscribers, 400 GB of storage and other features at no cost for one year.

It is also offering students a discounted bundle of Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium, with savings of up to 70 per cent for those seeking ad-free music and video streaming.

Alongside the student plans, the company is introducing new and enhanced learning tools across Gemini and Google Search.

The company further noted that students will have access to a dedicated student hub designed to help them organise their studies and get started with Gemini's learning tools.

In addition, a new study notebook feature will provide personalised learning support by using diagnostic quizzes to identify students' strengths and knowledge gaps.

It will then generate bite-sized study plans tailored to individual learning goals, the company said. The tech firm also expanding Gemini Live to allow students to request and discuss Deep Research reports through voice-based conversations while on the move.

Apart from that, new features in Google Search will allow students to generate interactive visuals to understand complex concepts, take practice quizzes across subjects, including standardised tests, and learn concepts step-by-step using Google Lens.

Additionally, students will be able to organise academic projects using notebooks and create custom files to streamline their studies. Google said its education tools across Search, Gemini and YouTube are designed with safety in mind and are based on learning science with the aim of supporting personalised learning while keeping teachers in the lead.

Moreover, the student offer is available in more than 140 markets where Google AI Plus is offered with certain exclusions and eligible students in India can redeem the offer until December 31, 2026 subject to verification and applicable terms.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) A former Meta engineering director testified in a US federal court that Instagram took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to children under 13, prioritising user engagement and growth over safety, accusing the company of harming young users, according to multiple reports.

Arturo Bejar -- who has previously testified before Congress on child safety -- said during his second day on the stand that Meta measured employee performance and compensation largely by engagement metrics such as user numbers and time spent on the platform.

“In that context, safety was an afterthought,” he said according to the reports.

Bejar also testified that his research found “tens of thousands” of children under 13 using Instagram and that it was “common knowledge” within the company that such young users were using the application.

The trial that pits Meta against California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, saw Bejar pointing out that Meta had sophisticated systems to detect fake accounts but it did not have any "goals or metrics" for employees to detect and check the ages of children suspected to be under 13.

The states leading the charge in federal court are among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023, accusing it of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features that encouraged children to become addicted to its platforms.

Reports suggest that the lawsuit also alleged that Meta routinely collected data from children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal law. Meta has rejected the allegations, saying evidence presented during the trial will demonstrate its commitment to safety.

They further noted that Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said, "You will hear over the course of this case a lot of important issues, issues like teen mental health, issues like social media, issues like how teens use social media."

"Those are important issues, and they're issues where Meta believes that it has a responsibility. It has a responsibility to act on its own. It has a responsibility to try to work with teens and parents in partnership to try to address those questions," he added.

Bejar also slammed features purportedly introduced by Instagram to make the experience safer for young people, saying these did not work.

Instagram’s Take a Break feature, introduced in 2021, was designed to fail because users had to enable it themselves and could easily dismiss prompts, Bejar noted.

“A safety tool has to be on by default,” he said, adding that if Meta was serious about wanting users to take a break, the feature could not be so easily swiped away with a finger tap.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The Centre has tightened sugar stockholding limits for bulk consumers amid a sharp rise in prices ahead of the festive season and directing those consuming more than 10 metric tonnes a month to hold inventories for no more than 15 days.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the new restriction will come into effect from September 1 and remain in force until November 30.

Under the order, no bulk consumer using or consuming more than 10 metric tonnes of sugar a month as raw material for production, consumption or use can hold stocks exceeding 15 days of such consumption.

The government has defined bulk consumers to include confectioners, soft drink manufacturers, food processing industries, sweetmeat sellers and other institutional buyers consuming at least 10 metric tonnes of sugar a month on average during the last one year, excluding the current month.

However, institutions belonging to the central or state governments, Union Territory administrations and local bodies have been exempted from the order.

In addition, the government will verify the monthly quantity of sugar sold by each sugar mill to bulk consumers either directly or through dealers.

While sugar consumption will be determined with reference to Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns filed by sellers or buyers using the relevant Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code for sugar.

The government's decision comes after it directed dealers to hold sugar stocks for no more than 30 days in an effort to improve market supplies.

Despite the earlier stockholding restrictions on dealers, sugar prices have risen sharply.

The average retail price of sugar rose 13 per cent year-on-year to Rs 52.30 per kg on August 18 from Rs 46.34 per kg, according to the government data.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Radico Khaitan Limited -- one of the largest spirits companies in India -- announces the launch of Magic Moments Aam Panna, the newest addition to its highly successful Flavours of India portfolio.

Inspired by one of the country's most loved beverages, the launch reinforces Magic Moments' commitment to celebrating India's rich flavour heritage through innovative and contemporary experiences.

The launch marks another milestone in the remarkable journey of Magic Moments Vodka, India's No.1 and the 5th Largest Vodka Brand globally. Having delivered 8.6 million cases in FY2026 and over 3.25 million cases in Q1 FY2027, the brand continues to redefine category growth through consumer-centric flavour innovation.

Crafted to capture the nostalgia, vibrancy and refreshment, Magic Moments Aam Panna combines the tangy character of raw mangoes with the smoothness of premium vodka. Refined through Magic Moments' signature 5-stage filtration process, the new variant delivers a balanced sweet-and-sour taste profile with a crisp finish designed for the Indian palate.

With the launch of Aam Panna, the Flavours of India portfolio now brings together some of the country's most iconic flavour inspirations, including Thandaai, Alphonso Mango and Jamun SpicyMint. Rooted in the campaign thought "Soul of India", the launch celebrates the flavours, memories and cultural experiences that unite consumers across generations and geographies.

With an estimated 60 per cent market share, Magic Moments has played a defining role in shaping the evolution of India's vodka market.

Indian vodka category is undergoing a multi-year structural transformation, driven by changing consumer preferences, premiumisation, cocktail culture, growing in-home social occasions, and increasing acceptance of white spirits among new-age consumers.

Flavoured vodka has emerged as one of the strongest growth drivers for the category, accounting for over 75 per cent of vodka volumes in Q1 FY2027, as innovation continues to attract new consumers and encourage experimentation. While vodka accounts for nearly 28-30 per cent of global spirits consumption, its share within India's IMFL market was 4.3 per cent in FY2026 and 6.1 per cent in Q1 FY2027, underscoring the significant headroom for long-term category growth.

Commenting on the launch, Abhishek Khaitan, Managing Director, Radico Khaitan, said: "Magic Moments has consistently led the evolution of the vodka category in India through meaningful innovation and a deep understanding of consumer preferences. The Flavours of India portfolio is a celebration of India's rich culinary heritage and our belief that local flavour inspiration can create truly differentiated experiences for consumers. The outstanding success of Jamun SpicyMint, Alphonso Mango and Thandaai has reinforced the growing demand for authentic Indian flavours. Aam Panna is the next expression of this journey. It captures one of India's most loved summer experiences and reimagines it for today's consumers in a contemporary format. As consumers increasingly seek flavours that feel familiar, relevant and rooted in culture, we believe Aam Panna will further strengthen our leadership in the flavoured vodka segment while continuing to expand the category."

Kunal Madan, Chief Marketing Officer, Radico Khaitan, said, "At Magic Moments, innovation begins with culture. It is not just about what we put in the bottle, but also how we take it to consumers. With Aam Panna, we are backing the launch with a robust, digital-first marketing mix that brings together social media, contemporary storytelling and highly relevant, culture- and geography-led communication. With Kriti Sanon as the face of the campaign, we are bringing this distinctly Indian flavour to consumers through a fresh, contemporary lens that is rooted in local relevance."

What began as a bold vision to create a distinctly Indian flavoured vodka portfolio has evolved into one of the strongest growth drivers for Magic Moments. The Flavours of India range has received an overwhelming response from consumers across markets. The success reflects a growing consumer preference for authentic, culturally rooted flavour experiences that blend familiarity with contemporary consumption occasions.

Magic Moments Aam Panna will be available in Quart, Pint, Nip, 180 ml Pocket Pack and 90 ml Pocket Pack formats across key markets including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, Daman, Goa, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India is likely to maintain a prolonged pause on policy rates in FY27 as resilient economic growth and easing inflation provide room for the central bank to stay on hold, a report has said.

A report from SBI Research said the communication from the central bank showed a clear acknowledgement of risks with members adopting a more hawkish tone but the underlying data did not yet warrant an immediate rate hike.

“We believe growth is most likely to remain robust as shown by all leading indicators,” it added and maintained its view of a prolonged pause in FY27.

In addition, CPI inflation for July came in at 4.45 per cent broadly in line with market expectations, while imported inflation also eased and declined to 7.3 per cent in July 2026 from 8.1 per cent in June.

SBI Research has expected inflation to rise to around 4.7 per cent in August and could briefly move above 6 per cent in October and November before moderating to around 5 per cent in the fourth quarter of FY27.

Moreover, the report also highlighted improving monsoon conditions.

Despite a rainfall deficit of around 40 per cent in June surplus showers in July and normal rainfall in August have reduced the nationwide shortfall to roughly 13 per cent.

The positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) could also help offset some of the impact of the ongoing El Nino, the report said.

Despite deficient rainfall in some major foodgrain-producing states, kharif sowing is only around 2 per cent below last year's level, indicating improved irrigation facilities across states, it said.

It further noted that markets should therefore attach a premium to pragmatic policy action.

On the global front, SBI Research noted that central banks across the world were grappling with communication challenges.

It also said the US Federal Reserve's move to smoothen the long end of the Treasury curve and increase government debt repurchases had contributed to a decline in longer-term yields.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) -- the country's largest insurer -- traded 1 per cent higher on Thursday after receiving approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its stake in HDFC Bank to up to 9.99 per cent.

In its regulatory filing, HDFC Bank said the RBI has approved LIC's application to acquire up to 9.99 per cent of the bank's paid-up share capital or voting rights.

In addition, LIC currently holds 4.11 per cent of HDFC Bank's total share capital as of August 14, according to the filing.

The approval gives the state-owned insurance firm flexibility to significantly increase its holding in the private sector lender, subject to applicable regulatory and statutory requirements.

The RBI approval is also subject to conditions specified by the central bank and compliance with relevant Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulations, it said.

However, the approval does not mean that LIC will immediately raise its holding to 9.99 per cent. Any increase in stake will have to be undertaken in accordance with the conditions laid down by the RBI and other applicable regulatory norms.

LIC is one of India's largest institutional investors, while HDFC Bank is among the country's leading private sector lenders.

Shares of LIC traded around 1 per cent higher at Rs 417.40 on the BSE in early trade on Thursday. The PSU stock has touched a 52-week high of Rs 468.30 and a 52-week low of Rs 361, according to the exchange.

Similarly, HDFC Bank stock also traded higher, jumping 1.09 per cent to Rs 728 on the aforesaid exchange. The banking stock recorded a 52-week high of Rs 1,020.35 and a 52-week low of Rs 715.05.

--IANS

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