Author: News Desk

India’s startup ecosystem is booming, creating unprecedented opportunities, but women are still underrepresented at every level—from founders and investors to technical talent and leadership positions. Founders and FundingWomen make up roughly 14–18% of startup founders in India, but in technology-focused areas like AI, deep tech, or software, the numbers drop sharply, often into single digits. Among unicorns, women-founded ventures remain rare. Funding disparities are stark: women-led startups receive less than 3% of total venture capital in India, facing smaller rounds, lower valuations, and stricter scrutiny compared to male founders with similar credentials. Women founders are often concentrated in sectors like…

Veena Kumaravel, along with her husband C K Kumaravel, started the first Naturals Salon in Chennai in 2000. They saw a gap in the market for affordable premium salons accessible to middle-class customers. Despite having no prior experience in hair, beauty, or salon management, they focused on learning business management and recruiting skilled professionals to run the operations. Growth of Naturals From a single salon in Chennai, Naturals expanded to nearly 1,000 franchises across India and overseas, including London, Singapore, and the Gulf. Today, Naturals is India’s largest salon chain, with thousands of franchise owners, most of whom are women.…

Women-led start-ups in India are no longer rare; they are becoming an essential part of the country’s growth story. Across sectors such as fintech, beauty, deep tech, manufacturing, food, and education, women entrepreneurs are making a significant impact. This progress has been supported by policies improving access to capital and by a growing focus on encouraging women-led enterprises. Below, we highlight ten of the most influential women entrepreneurs shaping India’s business landscape in 2026. Leading Women Entrepreneurs in India Falguni Nayar – NykaaFalguni Nayar, founder of Nykaa, has transformed India’s beauty and lifestyle retail sector. Nykaa operates both online and…

Kidney beans, popularly known as rajma in many countries, are an important source of plant protein and a staple ingredient in cuisines across the world. When it comes to global production, India ranks as the largest producer of kidney beans. India produces more than 6 million tonnes annually, making it the world leader in kidney bean output. The country’s diverse agro-climatic conditions and large cultivation areas support extensive production of pulses and beans. Myanmar follows as the second-largest producer, while Brazil and the United States also contribute significantly to global supply. Kidney beans are widely grown in several Indian states including Jammu…

Veteran diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed the new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, replacing Vinai Kumar Saxena as part of a broader reshuffle of governors and lieutenant governors announced by President Droupadi Murmu. Sandhu is a retired 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer with more than three decades of diplomatic experience. He previously served as India’s Ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2024, playing a key role in strengthening bilateral relations during a crucial period for India-US ties. Before his tenure in Washington, Sandhu served as India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka between 2017 and 2020, and held several diplomatic assignments…

Genesyslabs, a leading global technology company specializing in AI datacentres and high-performance computing solutions, has launched Kerala’s first Nvidia AI Factory in partnership with KeyValue Software Systems, marking a major milestone for India’s growing AI ecosystem. The AI Factory, designed and built by Genesyslabs in Kochi, is a state-of-the-art computing facility certified by Nvidia Studio and backed by Intel Gold membership. It provides powerful infrastructure for companies, research teams, and creative studios to develop and run AI applications efficiently. Engineered for scalability, the facility can eventually support thousands of processors, massive memory capacities, and advanced graphics units, with the potential…

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has announced a ₹23,487-crore metro project connecting Wadala to the iconic Gateway of India as part of the state’s Budget 2026–27 infrastructure push. The project, known as Metro Line 11, will be a fully underground corridor designed to improve connectivity between central and south Mumbai. The line is expected to extend further from Dharavi to Bandra suburban station and Bandra Terminus, strengthening integration with the city’s rail and transport networks. The announcement is part of a broader urban mobility strategy aimed at transforming transport across Maharashtra. The state government plans to develop around 1,200 km of metro rail lines and more…

Walmart-backed e-commerce giant Flipkart is letting go of approximately 250–300 employees across various business functions, representing around 1.5% of its 20,000-strong workforce. Company representatives confirmed that such exits are part of routine performance reviews, which also include mid-year check-ins. Similar performance-based layoffs have occurred previously, including a major round in January 2024, when about 1,000 employees (5% of the workforce) were affected. Preparing for a Domestic IPO Flipkart is reportedly moving closer to a long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) in India. Last December, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the company’s proposal to shift its legal domicile from Singapore…

Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd. has been selected as the lowest bidder for a Kochi Metro Phase 2 contract to install ballastless tracks on the elevated section between Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro Station and Infopark Metro Station. The company offered ₹130.2 crore for the project. The contract, under Tender No. KMRL/PROC/TENDER/2025-26/038, covers the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of standard gauge ballastless track along the elevated corridor, spanning from chainage +60.000m to 10640.000m. The work is scheduled to be completed within 16 months from the date of the award. Other bidders included KEC International Ltd. at ₹138.1 crore, Aapurvakriti…

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday stated that the state government is considering introducing a Rs 25,000 birth incentive for couples from their second child onwards as part of efforts to address the declining birth rate. Speaking in the Assembly, Naidu explained that the government aims to raise Andhra Pradesh’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) from the current level of 1.5, which is below the replacement rate, to 2.1. He said, “We are looking at a novel method. We will give Rs 25,000 to parents having a second child or more at the time of delivery itself. This…