As cricket fever grips the nation ahead of T20 Season 2026, Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today announced the launch of its exciting new range of EcoLink Exclusive Rajasthan Royals Limited Edition Fans, a first-of-its-kind collection designed to help fans stay cool while owning their loyalty loud and proud.

EcoLink X Rajasthan Royals

Blending smart cooling, energy efficiency and cricket passion, this collection strategically reinforces EcoLink’s commitment to delivering reliable and efficient solutions for Indian consumers. The range reflects the same spirit the brand and Rajasthan Royals are known for, high performance, bold energy and a relentless drive to win. With advanced BLDC fan technology at its core, the range delivers powerful cooling, dependable performance and energy efficiency, making it as practical as it is exciting.

Commenting on the launch, Sumit Joshi, CEO and MD, Signify, Greater India, said, “At Signify, we are constantly looking for ways to bring innovation closer to consumers in ways that feel meaningful and relevant. The Exclusive Rajasthan Royals Limited Edition Fans exemplifies this commitment. It combines EcoLink’s focus on energy efficiency and reliability with the passion of cricket fans, offering a tangible way to engage. We anticipate this range will contribute to a more comfortable and spirited experience for fans across the country.”

Nikhil Gupta, Head of Strategy and Marketing for Greater India, Signify, commented, “Cricket in India is not just a sport, it’s a cultural phenomenon & passion. With this launch, EcoLink is turning that passion into a tangible everyday experience. Our BLDC fan technology, central to these co-branded products, ensures energy efficiency and consistent performance. This collection, from portable neck fans to home-based solutions, is a strategic effort to strengthen consumer engagement and reinforce EcoLink as an accessible and trusted brand.”

This launch further reinforces EcoLink’s strategy to broaden its market presence and strengthen its appeal by aligning with major cultural phenomena that resonate with Indian consumers. The EcoLink Exclusive Rajasthan Royals Limited Edition Fans is set to make this T20 season cooler, louder and more memorable for fans everywhere.

About Signify
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers. We proudly bring to market the world’s best lighting brands, from Signify, Philips, Philips Hue, Signify Interact, Philips Dynalite, Color Kinetics and many more. Our advanced products connected systems and services unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. In 2025, we had sales of EUR 5.8 billion, approximately 27,000 employees, and a presence in over 70 markets. We are in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and hold the EcoVadis Platinum rating. News and updates from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, maintaining balanced nutrition often takes a back seat. Between long workdays, packed schedules, and convenience-driven food choices, incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into daily diets can feel like a challenge. Addressing this growing need for effortless wellness, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd., one of India’s most trusted consumer electrical brands, introduces the Crompton Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer, designed to make healthy choices easier—every day.

Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer

Built on Crompton’s legacy of reliability and thoughtful innovation, the Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer is crafted for consumers ready to take the first step towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Powered by gentle cold press technology, the juicer ensures maximum juice extraction while preserving essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants—turning every glass into a healthy habit.

Traditional juicing methods often compromise nutrition due to heat and high-speed processing. The Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer addresses this by using a slow, gentle cold press motor, delivering up to 90% nutrition and vitamin retention*, while extracting richer flavour and higher juice yield from fruits, vegetables, and even nuts. Whether it’s a refreshing fruit juice, a nutrient-rich vegetable blend, or creamy homemade nut milk, the Ameo Fresh makes wholesome nutrition effortlessly accessible, with easy assembly and a wide-mouth design for added convenience.

Key Features of the Crompton Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer

Designed to support modern, health-conscious lifestyles, the Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer comes equipped with advanced features that simplify everyday juicing:

• Nutri Fresh Technology: Pure Juice, Pure Nutrition: Features a unique dual-filter design and a 200W slow juicing motor to ensure maximum juice extraction with minimal nutrient loss.

• Upto 90% Nutrition & Vitamin Retention: *Gentle cold press motor preserves essential vitamins and antioxidants, supporting a healthier lifestyle.

• Reduced Preparation Time: Enables easy juicing of larger fruits and vegetables with minimal chopping, thanks to the 108 mm wide mouth.

• Versatile Juicing Performance: Efficiently extracts juice from hard fruits and vegetables, while also producing smooth, creamy nut milks.

• Easy to Use & Maintain: Comes with just three easy-to-assemble parts, an anti-drip spout, juice and pulp collectors, and a cleaning brush—making daily use and cleaning hassle-free.

The Crompton Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer is ideal for households looking to prioritise nutrition without complexity. Designed for working professionals, families, and young individuals, the appliance fits seamlessly into both nuclear and joint family kitchens—supporting the regular consumption of fresh juices as part of everyday routines.

Speaking about the launch, Ketan Chaudhari, Head – Small Domestic Appliances, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd., said, “At Crompton, we understand that consumers today aspire to lead healthier lives but often struggle to balance wellness with busy schedules. With the Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer, our aim is to remove that barrier and make nutrition simple, accessible, and consistent. Powered by Nutri Fresh Technology and thoughtful design, this product ensures that every sip delivers maximum goodness, helping consumers make healthier choices with ease and confidence. Our focus goes beyond functionality—we want to empower people to build long-term healthy habits. The Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer reflects Crompton’s commitment to innovation, performance, and wellness-led living, ensuring that healthy choices become a natural part of everyday life.”

The Crompton Ameo Fresh Cold Press Juicer will be available across major retail outlets and leading e-commerce platforms. With its blend of performance, ease of use, and trusted Crompton engineering, the juicer offers a reliable solution for anyone looking to embrace healthier living—one fresh glass at a time.

*Terms & Conditions Apply: Nutrient retention values are based on controlled laboratory tests and may vary across fruits, vegetables, produce quality, batches and actual user conditions.

About Crompton

With a brand legacy of over 85 years, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. is India’s market leader in the category of fans and residential pumps. Over the years, the organization has continuously strived to produce a range of innovative products that cater to the modern consumer including superior quality and high-performance fans, pumps, lighting solutions, and a range of other categories like water heaters; air coolers; small kitchen appliances like mixer grinders, air fryers, OTG, electric kettles etc; other home appliances like irons & built-in kitchen appliances. The company has further invested in brand and innovation to not only better understand and meet consumer needs but to also help drive energy efficiency. The consumer business also has a well-established and organized distribution network driven by a strong dealer base across the country offering a wide service network and robust after-sales service to its customers. Beyond its consumer portfolio, Crompton also has a robust B2B presence in the Lighting segment, delivering advanced and energy-efficient solutions for commercial and industrial applications. In 2025, Crompton became the first lighting company to receive the GreenPro certification for its B2B lighting solution, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and innovation. Strengthening its foothold in the renewable energy space, the company has forayed into solar rooftops—representing a significant step forward in its contribution to India’s evolving clean energy landscape. With solar solutions spanning lighting, pumps, and rooftops, Crompton continues to lead as a responsible and future-ready brand in sustainable energy.

The company’s consistent dedication to developing energy-efficient products has led to significant recognition. It has been honored with three prestigious National Energy Consumer Awards (NECA) by BEE, Ministry of Power. The recent award was presented by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu for the company’s storage water heater in 2025. In 2019, the brand won in two categories: Ceiling Fans and LED Bulbs. Additionally, it was recognized as one of India’s Best Managed Companies 2022 by Deloitte Private and listed among ‘India’s Top 500 Companies 2022’ by Dun & Bradstreet India. The company has also been featured in Brand Top 75 most valuable Indian brands list for 2020 released by WPP and Kantar. Furthermore, Crompton was also recognized as the Brand of the Decade 2021 by Herald Global and BARC Asia in the Consumer Electrical category.

BIDSO, a design led manufacturing platform focused on the global toys and consumer products ecosystem, today announced that it has raised INR 63 crore in a Series A funding round led by Blume Ventures, comprising INR 51 crore in equity and INR 12 crore in venture debt. The round also saw participation from existing investors Peer Capital and Sadev Capital. Venture debt for the round has been raised from Alteria Capital.

Co-Founders of design-led manufacturing platform Bidso – Aditya Krishnakumar, Vivek Singhal & Rahul Agarwal

The Series A round, finalised in March 2026, follows BIDSO’s earlier institutional backing from Peer Capital during its Seed round in July 2023, and a Pre-Series A round in January 2025 that saw participation from Peer Capital along with Sadev Ventures, Marshot Ventures, and Atrium Ventures.

Sajith Pai, Partner, Blume Ventures says, “After textiles, toys is shaping up to be one of the bigger beneficiaries of the China+1 shift, and Bidso is one of the very few Indian manufacturers actually equipped to serve that demand today. Vivek, Rahul, and Aditya, have known each other for over 15 years, and bring complementary skills, and deep operating experience, to come together with a clear-eyed understanding of what Indian toy manufacturing needs. Their depth of customer insight, coupled with operating rigour makes them amongst the best teams we have seen in manufacturing thus far. We are excited to partner with Bidso, and support them for the next phase of growth ahead.”

The fresh capital will be deployed to strengthen BIDSO’s product design and manufacturing capabilities, expand its manufacturing footprint and production capacity, and significantly scale its product portfolio. The company will also invest in expanding its design, engineering, production, and sales teams as it accelerates growth in both domestic and international markets.

Commenting on the funding, Vivek Singhal, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BIDSO, said, “We are disrupting the traditional manufacturing bottleneck by integrating product design and licensing execution directly into the supply chain. Our unique FOCO model brings a much-needed network effect to manufacturing capacity, providing the agility that the industry has lacked for decades. With this new capital, we will expand our manufacturing network and design capabilities, enabling both global and domestic brands to scale high-quality production out of India at unprecedented speeds.”

Over the past 12 months, BIDSO has recorded significant momentum across its global B2B partnerships with leading toy brands. The company has also successfully executed a strategy of acquiring licenses for globally recognized characters such as Peppa Pig, Harry Potter, Transformers, and NASA, enabling the company to develop licensed product ranges for its brand partners that resonate strongly with children. 

These developments, combined with a substantial expansion of its product portfolio and increased manufacturing capacity, have helped BIDSO more than double its revenue over the last 12 months. During this phase, the company has also transitioned from being perceived purely as a contract manufacturer to being recognized by customers as a strategic partner in product development and innovation.

Ankur Pahwa, Managing Partner, Peer Capital says, “Consumer goods is a trillion-dollar global market where India holds less than 2% of supply despite having every other advantage: demand, talent, capital, and digital infrastructure. The gap has always been a missing capability layer: a full-stack Original Design Manufacturer that can take a brand from brief to shelf-ready product. Bidso has built the kind of capability spine that Indian manufacturing has lacked, and that global supply chain diversification is now urgently demanding. With 7-8% of global consumer goods manufacturing projected to shift to India in the next five to seven years, Bidso is positioned at the centre of what we believe is a generational opportunity.”

BIDSO is currently focused on the toys segment, but over time plans to leverage the design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities it is building to expand into adjacent consumer product categories that represent a combined global market opportunity of approximately $486 billion, with an estimated India market of around $22 billion. Within these sectors, nearly 45% represents organized contract manufacturing opportunities, creating significant long-term potential for integrated manufacturing platforms like BIDSO.

Rahul Agarwal, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BIDSO, added, “We are seeing a structural shift in both domestic and global markets. Indian brands are scaling rapidly, increasing demand for innovation-led manufacturing partners, while global brands are diversifying supply chains beyond China as a strategic priority. This creates a strong opportunity for India to emerge as a hub for design-led manufacturing, with end-to-end support for scaling brands.”

Ai+ Smartphone today announced the launch of its highly anticipated Nova Series, with the Nova 2 and Nova 2 Ultra set to debut on April 9, 2026, across Flipkart and other channels of distribution. The remaining three devices in the series, Nova 2 Pro, Nova 2 Neo, and Nova Flip, will follow in the months ahead. The launch marks the next phase of Ai+’s evolution as it expands into a full-spectrum smartphone portfolio, built around distinct user needs, lifestyles, and self-expression. The Nova Series is not just an upgrade, It is a statement of intent bringing together bold design, intelligent performance, and deeply personal experiences in a way the category has not seen before.

Ai+ Smartphone  Nova Series Set to Launch on April 9, 2026

At the center of the lineup is the Nova 2 Ultra – Customisable Technology that responds to you, the most expressive device Ai+ has ever built. Its customisable back-panel lighting responds to calls, messages, music, and notifications turning everyday interactions into something visual, personal, and immersive.

The Nova 2 is crafted for users who want a no-compromise flagship experience grounded in reliability and everyday performance. It focuses on delivering what matters most — seamless speed, dependable battery life, refined design, and a user experience that is intuitive and consistent.

“With the Nova Series, we are expanding what a smartphone can mean to people,” said Madhav Sheth, CEO, Ai+ Smartphone and Founder, NxtQuantum Shift Technologies. “For some, it is about reliability and performance. For others, it is about identity and expression. This lineup is built to deliver both without compromise, without complexity, and without creating barriers to access.”

Since its launch in July 2025, Ai+ Smartphone has consistently challenged the idea that premium technology must not come at a premium cost. With over one million devices sold in under a year, the brand has focused on building products that combine thoughtful design, strong performance, and honest pricing.

Kanchan Mishra, Vice President Mobiles, Flipkart, added, “India’s smartphone consumers today are more informed and aspirational than ever. Ai+ Smartphone focusses on providing modern technology at accessible price points. We are looking forward to bringing the Nova Series to millions of customers across the country through Flipkart.”

The Nova Series marks a defining step in Ai+ Smartphone’s journey from proving a point to building a complete, future-ready portfolio. With five distinct devices, a clear point of view on design and camera, and a continued commitment to making great technology accessible, this series sets the blueprint for what comes next.

Nova 2 and Nova 2 Ultra launch on April 9, 2026, on Flipkart and across select retail outlets.

About Ai+ Smartphone

Ai+ Smartphone is a next-generation brand built in India, delivering reliable and high-performance mobile experiences. Powered by NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign mobile operating system. The brand focuses on delivering a clean design, ensuring long battery life, and maintaining trusted software performance, all while keeping prices accessible without compromising the user experience.

From redefining smartphones to pioneering AIoT products as part of the company’s Connected Ecosystem, Ai+ Smartphone is creating a new standard for trust, immersive experience, and accessibility. Rooted in a privacy-first architecture and a commitment to equitable access, Ai+ Smartphone stands for more than specs — it stands for India’s next era of user-owned, future-ready technology.

About NxtQuantum Shift Technologies
NxtQuantum Shift Technologies is a deep-tech Indian company building secure, sovereign digital platforms for a digital-first world. Founded by Madhav Sheth, the company develops NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign operating system, and is committed to building technology that is authored in India and globally competitive. 

Chitkara University successfully organised the third edition of Emergence’26, a dynamic three-day event focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, and startup culture. The event brought together entrepreneurs, creators, investors, and industry experts, creating a high-impact platform for students to gain real-world insights, learn from successful journeys, and explore new opportunities.
 

A powerhouse lineup at Emergence’26, Chitkara University: Ashwin Mushran, Anubhav Dubey (Chai Sutta Bar), Sanjay Gupta (Raj Comics), and Vatsal Sheth (Prismix Studios)
 

The event commenced with an inspiring Day 1 dedicated to entrepreneurial excellence. Anubhav Dubey, Founder of Chai Sutta Bar, shared his journey of building one of India’s most recognised youth brands, motivating students to think ambitiously and remain resilient. Sanjay Gupta, known for his work with Raj Comics, engaged the audience with insights on storytelling and character creation. The day also featured interactive masterclasses and the Makers’ Buildathon finale, promoting hands-on innovation and creative problem-solving.
 

Day 2 focused on innovation, investment, leadership, and industry insights, with a major highlight being Chitkara Xcelerator Demo Day’26, the region’s largest Agri-Tech Accelerator program under the DST’s NIDHI Accelerator Program. The platform acted as a bridge between disruptive ideas and real-world capital, where several Agri-Tech startups secured on-the-spot investment commitments, enabling them to scale their technology-driven ventures.
 

The event was supported by a distinguished network of investors and mentors, including Sushanto Mitra, Manish Johari, Rohit Bafna, Brendon Faroz, Param Patel, Sameer Shaikh, Priyanka Barot, Shreya Mishra, and Malhar Potnis. Through this initiative, Chitkara University strengthened its role in accelerating regional agricultural innovation and startup growth.
 

Another key highlight was the keynote session by Ashwin Mushran, who spoke on leadership, communication, and confidence. A fireside chat featuring Vatsal Sheth and Sahil Nayar offered insights into the evolving media landscape, creativity, and risk-taking. One of the most engaging sessions, the “100 Crore Club Panel,” moderated by Malhar Potnis, brought together leading entrepreneurs to discuss strategies for scaling businesses and building sustainable ventures. Investor pitch sessions throughout the day enabled students to present their ideas and receive expert feedback.
 

The final day celebrated creativity, innovation, and achievement, featuring continued investor pitch sessions and an engaging stand-up performance that added a vibrant dimension to the event. Emergence’26 concluded with a grand award ceremony recognising outstanding innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and student excellence.
 

With participation from over 1,200–1,500 students, Emergence’26 emerged as a transformative experience, combining expert-led sessions, practical learning, and meaningful industry interactions. The event equipped students with the knowledge, exposure, and confidence to pursue entrepreneurial journeys and build future-ready careers.
 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, said, “Emergence’26 reflects our commitment to nurturing an ecosystem where ideas can thrive and innovation is encouraged at every level. By bringing together industry leaders and young minds, we aim to inspire our students to think boldly, act purposefully, and lead with confidence in an ever-evolving global landscape.”
 

Emergence’26 reinforced Chitkara University’s commitment to experiential learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement, empowering students to become future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
 

About Chitkara University
Chitkara University is a UGC-recognised and NAAC A+ accredited private university with campuses in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, recognised among India’s leading institutions by NIRF, QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across Engineering, Business, Healthcare, Pharmacy, Design, Architecture, Hospitality, and emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning.
 

The University’s academic model integrates internships, live industry projects, and research into core curricula, supported by 2,000+ campus recruiters and 300+ international academic and industry partners. Global Pathway programs, developed in partnership with leading universities in the United States, Australia and Canada, allow students to complete part of their degree abroad. With a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied learning, Chitkara University, prepares graduates for careers in India and internationally.
 

For more information , please visit: www.chitkara.edu.in.

The Government has notified the Income Tax Rules, 2026, with changes effective April 1, 2026, impacting multiple salary perquisites and allowances. AdvantageClub.ai today said it is ready with Tax Saving Benefits & Rewards, updated to align with the notified rules, enabling HR teams to implement the revised benefit limits smoothly from Day 1.

New Tax Rules 2026: Gifts Tax-Free Upto Rs 15,000 in Both New and Old Tax Regime, AdvantageClub.ai Ready with Tax Saving Benefits & Rewards

Two key employee benefit changes HR teams will care about

1. Gifts and festival vouchers (new and old tax regime)
 The annual exemption limit for gifts/festival vouchers has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 in both new and old tax regime. This is especially relevant for engagement and Rewards & Recognition moments—including spot awards, festive gifting, and milestone recognitions—where organizations want employees to feel the value directly.

2. Meal and food vouchers (old tax regime)
The exemption limit for meal/food vouchers has been increased from Rs 50 per meal to Rs 200 per meal under the old tax regime, subject to the conditions specified in the notified rules.

Practical “tax-free” salary can reach Rs 12.9 lakh in new tax regime

Under the new tax regime, many salaried employees can have nil tax liability up to Rs 12 lakh of taxable income, and the Rs 75,000 standard deduction can take this to Rs 12.75 lakh of salary income in practical terms. The revised Rs 15,000 gift/festival voucher exemption can further add tax-efficient value through employer-provided Rewards & Recognition, depending on applicability and structure.

AdvantageClub.ai said its Tax Saving Benefits & Rewards offering has been updated to align with the notified rules, effective April 1, enabling HR teams to structure and issue benefits such as gifts/festival vouchers, and meal vouchers (where applicable) in a compliant manner, so employees experience the enhanced value seamlessly.

“April 1 should feel like a smooth switch, not a scramble. The revised limit on gifts and festival vouchers is a meaningful upgrade for Rewards & Recognition, and the change to meal vouchers further strengthens everyday benefits for eligible employees. We are ready with Tax Saving Benefits & Rewards so HR teams can implement the updated limits with compliance and clarity from Day 1,” said Sourabh Deorah, CEO & Co-founder, AdvantageClub.ai.

Other notified changes impacting salaried employees (selected highlights):

• Company car perquisite (motor car): monthly valuation revised upward—up to 1.6L from Rs 1,800 + Rs 900 to Rs 5,000 + Rs 3,000; above 1.6L from Rs 2,400 + Rs 900 to Rs 7,000 + Rs 3,000 (as applicable by use-case).

• Driver provided by employer: perquisite value revised from Rs 900 per month to Rs 3,000 per month.

• Interest-free or concessional loans: no perquisite value where the aggregate loan does not exceed Rs 2,00,000; medical treatment loans have specific provisions, including limits where reimbursed under medical insurance.

• Children-related allowances (old tax regime): Children Education Allowance revised from Rs 100/month/child to Rs 3,000/month/child; Hostel Expenditure Allowance from Rs 300/month/child to Rs 9,000/month/child.

• HRA expansion + disclosures (old tax regime): “metro” list expanded to 8 cities for 50% of salary (Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad); additional disclosure requirements apply in certain cases, including landlord-relationship disclosure in Form 124 where applicable.

• Transport allowance (transport system employees): exemption remains lower of 70% of allowance or the monthly cap, with the cap increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 (subject to conditions, including not receiving daily allowance).

• Driver provided by employer (with company car): taxable perquisite value for a driver has been revised from Rs 900 per month to Rs 3,000 per month (effective April 1).

AdvantageClub.ai added that as HR teams recalibrate benefits for the new financial year, organizations should proactively educate employees on what has changed, and help them make an informed choice between the old and new tax regimes based on their individual salary structure and eligible benefits.