Author: NNI Editor

The weekend featured some of the 26 shows, from the country’s most established designers as well as bright new talent, including Rajesh Pratap Singh, JJ Valaya, Shantanu & Nikhil, Varun Bahl, Ashish N Soni, Bloni and more, showcasing innovative approaches and silhouettes to materials and techniques. This year also featured, for the first time, four women designers with an interesting take on men’s wear: Mandira Wirk, Mahima Mahajan, Nikita Mhaisalkar and Nirmooha by Prreeti Jaiin Nainutia. Sunil Sethi, chairman, The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), explains how the organisation, which has about 400 members from the industry, works to further…

Weak U.S. markets and tariff threats also dented investor sentiment. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Friday (February 21, 2025), dragged by auto stocks and relentless foreign fund outflows.Weak U.S. markets and tariff threats also dented investor sentiment.The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex dropped 424.90 points or 0.56% to settle at 75,311.06. During the day, it tanked 623.55 points or 0.82% to 75,112.41.The NSE Nifty declined 117.25 points or 0.51% to 22,795.90.In four trading days, the BSE bellwether gauge tumbled 685.8 points or 0.90% while the Nifty declined 163.6 points or 0.71%.From the…

“Currently, around 15 million air-conditioners are installed annually, more than double from just seven million four years ago,” Mukundan Menon said. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu “With the impact of climate change and people looking for comforts, India’s Air-conditioner (AC) market has doubled in four years to 15 million units,” a top industry official said. “The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry in India is experiencing unprecedented growth, with the residential air conditioning segment witnessing a 35% increase in sales last year alone,” Mukundan Menon, Executive MD and RAC head, Voltas, said.“Currently, around 15 million air-conditioners are installed annually, more than double…

(from left) Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Industries Minister P. Rajeev and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and during the inaugural session of Invest Kerala Global Meet in Kochi on Friday. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Friday (February 21, 2025) that the Left front government has ensured that no investor coming to Kerala will have to face the “cobweb of procedural delays and meet the barriers of red tape.”“We have made major strides in simplifying procedures as regards investments. The government considers that it has a great…

We are at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity where I am trying to sneak a picture of a block print of cultural icon Begum Akhtar on a blouse. Its wearer, Mamta Varma, runs Bhairavi’s Chikan in Lucknow, with 300 women who do fine chikankari embroidery. Noting my interest she reveals that the unusual blouse was made by Meeta Mastani, co-founder of Delhi-based printmakers Bindaas Unlimited, to commemorate the singer’s 100th birthday.A few feet away, the inimitable Darshan Mekani Shah, founder of Kolkata-based not-for-profit Weavers Studio Resource Centre, points to a gold-and-black cotton sari covered in hand-woven motifs of earrings. “This is a dul [earring…

Image used for representative purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters India’s service sector activity, as measured by the HSBC Flash India Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), rose to 60.6 in February, up from 57.7 in January 2025, according to a statement from HSBC. This marks the fastest growth in six months. The HSBC Flash PMI reflects private sector activity before the final reading is published, based on a sample that includes about three-quarters of the total companies surveyed for the final reading. A value above 50 indicates expansion.The rise in private sector activity was driven by a Flash services PMI…

Projects worth over ₹10 lakh crore were roped in by the government of Karnataka at the recently-concluded Global Investors’ Meet 2025 in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: File photo Karnataka government has officially commenced rollout of projects worth over ₹10 lakh crore that were roped in at the recently-concluded Global Investors’ Meet 2025 in Bengaluru.To start with, senior officials of Emvee Energy, a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic panels and modules, which committed an investment of ₹15,000 crore in a phased manner to set up a plant in Karnataka, met Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B Patil on February 20.According to the Minister,…

From the Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Infosys, Maruti and Sun Pharma were among the biggest laggards. File | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Friday (February 21, 2025) amid foreign fund outflows, weak U.S. markets and tariff threats.The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex declined 202.21 points to 75,533.75 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 63.5 points to 22,849.65. From the Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Infosys, Maruti and Sun Pharma were among the…

Image used for representative purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee appreciated 14 paise to 86.50 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Friday (February 21, 2025), fuelled by the broad weakening of the US dollar, which faced downward pressure from lackluster economic data.Forex traders said rupee is expected to trade with a slight negative bias on weak domestic equities and foreign fund outflows. However, overall weakness in crude oil prices may cushion sharp downside.At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 86.50 against the greenback, up 14 paise from its previous close.On Thursday, the rupee appreciated…

Representational image of Kotak Mahindra Bank branch in New Delhi | Photo Credit: Reuters S&P Global upgraded Kotak Mahindra Bank’s credit rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’ on Friday (February 21, 2025) after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently lifted operational curbs.“We believe Kotak Mahindra Bank is well positioned for growth over the next 24 months. This is after India’s central bank lifted restrictions on the bank onboarding new customers or issuing fresh credit cards. “We have therefore removed the negative comparable rating analysis adjustment under our comparative rating analysis on the private sector bank. This leads to a higher…