Archive: November 2, 2026

Discover the Emerald Isle with Taj in Sri Lanka

Mumbai, Nov 02: From palm-fringed beaches and wildlife encounters to centuries-old heritage and contemporary city life, Sri Lanka offers a diversity of experiences within a single journey. Through Taj Bentota Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka and Taj Samudra, Colombo, Taj invites travellers to discover the ‘emerald island’ at their own pace.

Check into the coveted beachside paradise of Taj Bentota Resort & Spa, where uninterrupted sea views, the scent of ocean mist and the gentle rhythm of waves set the tone for a relaxing coastal escape. Built into the natural slope of the land, its red-tiled roofs and open terraces draws on the island’s colonial-era architecture. Oriental Pavilion, famed for the best Chinese cuisine in Sri Lanka, looks out over the Indian Ocean, while S.H.A.C.K. serves the freshest seafood dinners against a backdrop of starlit skies. Guests can revel in the lavish poolside feasts that The Palms is known for, while imaginative cocktails and lively rhythms make Tease the best bar and lounge on the coast. Beyond the resort, discover the world of turtle conservation at the Kosgoda project, step into the timeless Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spend a quiet morning on a Madu River boat safari, watch whales and dolphins off the southern coast, or browse local handicraft shops and tea stores.

Make your way to the bustling city of Colombo. From precious gems and plantation-fresh tea to exotic spices and indigenous handicrafts, the city offers an abundance of shopping and cultural experiences, all within easy reach of Taj Samudra, centrally located overlooking the iconic Galle Face Green. Spread across 11 acres of landscaped gardens, it is home to some of the most popular restaurants with signature Sichuan dishes at Golden Dragon, Mughal experience at Navratna or YUMI, where live cooking, fresh sushi and sashimi, and vibrant cocktails set the scene. At The Lattice lobby lounge, guests can sip Sri Lankan teas and coffees or unwind with a drink, while Ports of Call serves Sri Lankan specialities and global favourites. Take a stroll along Galle Face Green or visit the National Museum, housing carvings and structures with stories of the country’s ancient past. 

Guests can avail Suite Surprises, available year-round at both the hotels, brings 15% savings on suite stays along with daily breakfast, early check-in, access to the Taj Club Lounge and airport transfers.

MMTC-PAMP Expands Consumer Portfolio with a New Collection of 24KT Wearable Gold Pendants

New Delhi, Nov 02: MMTC-PAMP, India’s only London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery gold and silver refiner, has expanded its consumer gold portfolio with the launch of a new collection of wearable gold pendants crafted in 24KT 999.9+ purest gold. Featuring seven designs, the collection brings together gold purity and motifs drawn from cultural traditions, spiritual symbolism and nature, offering consumers options for personal adornment and gifting.

The collection features the Om Gold Pendant, Evil Eye Gold Pendant, Yin Yang Gold Pendant, Flower Arch Gold Pendant, Radiant Rays Gold Pendant, Butterfly Drop Gold Pendant and Lotus Drop Gold Pendant. Each design draws on a distinct symbol or natural form, giving consumers the opportunity to choose a pendant that reflects their personal style, beliefs or sentiments.

The Om Gold Pendant features the sacred Om symbol at its centre, representing spiritual consciousness and inner harmony. The Evil Eye Gold Pendant pairs a striking blue centre with intricate golden detailing, inspired by the symbol’s traditional association with protection and positivity. The Yin Yang Gold Pendant draws from the philosophy of Yin and Yang, representing balance and the interconnectedness of opposing forces.

The collection also draws inspiration from the natural world. The Flower Arch Gold Pendant features detailed floral motifs associated with growth and renewal, while the Radiant Rays Gold Pendant takes inspiration from the sun, with an engraved fan-shaped design representing warmth and vitality. The Butterfly Drop Gold Pendant celebrates transformation and new beginnings through its butterfly-inspired detailing. The Lotus Drop Gold Pendant combines a detailed lotus motif with peacock feather elements, bringing together symbols associated with purity, grace and India’s cultural heritage.

The launch expands MMTC-PAMP’s consumer gold portfolio into wearable formats, bringing together precious metal purity, design and personal expression. The collection is intended for consumers looking for gold products that carry personal or cultural significance, whether for themselves or as gifts for special occasions.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Samit Guha, Managing Director & CEO, MMTC-PAMP, said,

 “At MMTC-PAMP, we recognise that consumer preferences around gold continue to evolve, with people looking for products that align with their personal style, beliefs and gifting needs. As we approach the festive season, we see an opportunity to expand our consumer portfolio with offerings that bring together the enduring appeal of gold and contemporary design. Our new pendant collection reflects this approach, combining 24KT 999.9+ purest gold with meaningful motifs that consumers can connect with, whether for personal use or gifting. Through such offerings, we aim to make our gold products relevant to a wider range of consumer occasions while staying true to our focus on purity and quality.”

MMTC-PAMP has partnered with SBI to offer an inaugural benefit of up to INR 4,000 on purchase of wearable gold pendants made using SBI Credit Cards. The limited-period offer will be valid from 3rd November 2026 to 12th November 2026.

Each MMTC-PAMP product undergoes a purification process designed to meet high standards of purity and quality. Products carry a unique identification number and are packaged in Assayer-certified packaging to support product authentication. MMTC-PAMP also offers positive weight tolerance on its gold and silver products, meaning customers receive more than the stated weight, in line with the company’s applicable product specifications.

The collection will be available through MMTC-PAMP’s exclusive stores, leading jeweller partners, online marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, and it’s from official website, https://www.mmtcpamp.com/

Bank of India hikes Rates on its Medium & Long Term Fixed Deposit

Mumbai, Nov 02: Bank of India, one of the public sector banks in India, has increased interest rates on medium and long-term Fixed Deposits of less than Rs. 3 Cr and Rs.3 Crs to less than Rs.10 Crs for tenures from 1 to less than 3 years. Bank has also launched its special FD named “Star Akshay Fixed Deposit” for 500 Days with highest interest rate of 6.85% p.a. for general customers, 7.35% p.a. for Senior Citizen and 7.50% p.a. for Super Senior Citizens.

Interest Rate on BOI Fixed Deposit of less than Rs. 3 Crs for tenure of 1 year’s FD is upward revised to 6.60%, above 1 year to less than 3 year’s FD revised upward to 6.70% p.a. Senior Citizens will get an additional 0.50% p.a. interest and Super Senior Citizens will get additional 0.65% p.a. for deposits below Rs. 3 Cr with maturity of 180 days to less than 3 years. Bank of India has also increased it’s Interest Rate on Fixed Deposits of Rs.3 Crs to less than Rs.10 Crs under select maturity bucket.

Interest Rate on for tenure of 1 year’s FD is upward revised to 6.55%, above 1 year to less than 3 year’s FD revised upward to 6.65% p.a. An extra 0.15% p.a. is offered on non-callable Fixed Deposits for amount of above Rs. 1 Cr accepted for 1 year to 3 years tenure.

Loan against Fixed Deposit and Premature Withdrawal options are available only on callable deposit. Customers can open Fixed Deposits at any Bank of India branch or through the BOI Omni Neo App/internet banking. The revised rates are effective from 2nd November, 2026.  

ICICI Life Guaranteed Indexed Pension plan launched, combining lifelong guaranteed income with index-linked growth potential

Pune, Nov 02: ICICI Life Insurance Limited has launched ICICI Life Guaranteed Indexed Pension, a retirement income product that offers customers a combination of Guaranteed Annuity1 and Variable Annuity2. While the guaranteed component offers income stability to customers, the variable component helps them protect against inflation through index-linked income.

A key feature of the product is the flexibility to choose a guaranteed annuity component ranging from 60% to 100%, with the remaining portion is linked to the NIFTY 50 Total Return Index, enabling customers to participate in the market and provide an upside potential for retirement income in their golden years. 

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vikas Gupta, Chief Product Officer, ICICI Life Insurance, said,

“With increasing life expectancy, individuals need to plan for a longer retirement period. Rising living expenses and changing financial priorities make it crucial to have retirement solutions that provide stability while also offering the potential for market-linked income growth. 

With ICICI Life Guaranteed Indexed Pension, customers can choose the level of guaranteed income they are comfortable with along with the opportunity to benefit from market performance. This flexibility enables them to make informed choices and plan their retirement years with greater confidence and financial security.

The product offers single-life and joint-life options with return of purchase price3. Upon unfortunate demise of the annuitant or the last surviving annuitant, death benefit equal to total premiums paid would be returned to the nominee.”

The product also offers additional flexibility for immediate liquidity needs of customer with ‘Annuity Advance’ feature5. The feature allows customers to receive up to 99% of up to next five years of guaranteed annuity1 in advance as a lump sum, offering immediate liquidity when needed the most. Customers can choose to receive annuity payouts on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis, depending on their financial requirements. 

Additionally, the product also offers value-added services to customers, helping them to access health management and wellness services to support their broader needs as they prepare for and navigate retirement.

With this product launch, ICICI Life Insurance continues to strengthen its retirement solutions portfolio, offering customers greater choice and flexibility in planning for their long-term financial needs. The product reflects the Company’s broader commitment to making financial planning simpler, enabling customers to secure their future with greater confidence, in line with its brand promise of making ‘Har Kal Aasaan’ for its stakeholders.

Adani Group Investing In Large-Scale Infrastructure To Support Viksit Bharat By 2047: Dr Priti Adani

Varanasi, Nov 2: Adani Group is undertaking large-scale infrastructure projects aimed at addressing India’s key developmental challenges and supporting the country’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047, Adani Foundation Chairperson Dr Priti Adani said on Monday.

Speaking at the World Symposium on ‘Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges’ in Varanasi, Dr Adani emphasised that the private sector has an important responsibility in India’s development journey.

She pointed out that despite significant progress, the country continues to face challenges such as poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy and inadequate last-mile access to essential services, including electricity.

According to her, businesses must look beyond commercial objectives and contribute meaningfully towards addressing these issues.

“At the Adani Group, we have implemented large-scale infrastructure projects to address India’s challenges and contribute towards the vision of a developed nation by 2047,” she said.

Ancient Indian Wisdom Offers Lessons For Modern Businesses

Highlighting the relevance of India’s traditional knowledge systems, Dr Priti Adani called upon businesses to incorporate sustainability, social responsibility and a sense of duty into their operations.

Drawing an analogy with yoga, she said India’s ancient practices offer valuable lessons for addressing contemporary challenges.

She observed that yoga, once rooted in Indian tradition, has gained global recognition for promoting a balance between the mind and body.

Similarly, millets, which were traditionally an important part of Indian diets, are now receiving renewed attention for their nutritional benefits, climate resilience and contribution to food security.

Dr Adani stressed that these examples demonstrate how traditional knowledge can provide practical solutions to modern-day problems.

Adani Group Commits Over $100 Billion To Energy Transition

Outlining the group’s sustainability agenda, Dr Priti Adani highlighted its commitment of more than $100 billion towards energy-transition infrastructure.

She pointed to the renewable energy development at Khavda in Gujarat, which is being developed as the world’s largest renewable energy park, with a planned capacity of 30 GW through solar and wind power generation.

The project, she said, reflects the scale of infrastructure development required to support India’s transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Emphasising the need to translate sustainability commitments into measurable action, she said environmental responsibility should not remain confined to corporate reports but must become an integral part of business operations.

“We believe sustainability cannot simply remain a chapter in the annual report. Sustainability must be put into practice,” she said.

Businesses Have A Bigger Role In India’s Development Journey

Dr Priti Adani’s address highlighted the growing importance of private-sector participation in India’s efforts to achieve its development goals.

From expanding infrastructure and improving energy access to strengthening food security and promoting sustainable practices, she said businesses have an opportunity to contribute to long-term national progress.

Her remarks at the Varanasi symposium placed particular emphasis on combining India’s traditional wisdom with modern innovation to address emerging economic, social and environmental challenges.

As India moves towards its 2047 development target, large-scale infrastructure investment, sustainable business practices and stronger corporate participation are expected to remain important elements of the country’s growth strategy.

RVNL–GPT JV Executing INR 1,201-Crore Namo Setu Rail-cum-Road Bridge over Ganga at Varanasi for Indian Railways

• Lower deck: Four Broad Gauge railway lines, substantially enhancing rail transportation capacity.
• Upper deck: A six-lane highway to facilitate smooth and efficient road movement across the Ganga.
• Bridge structure: Eight open-web steel girder spans of 108.5 metres each and two spans of 103.3 metres each, with an aggregate span length of approximately 1,075 metres.
• Foundations: Specialised Twin-D well foundations in the river portion.
• Overall length: Approximately 2.5 kilometres, including the approaches.

• Enhance freight movement, with an additional transportation capacity of 27.83 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
• Strengthen connectivity towards Bihar, West Bengal and the northeastern states through improved rail and road infrastructure.
• Improve access to Kashi Railway Station, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Namo Ghat, benefiting pilgrims, tourists and local commuters.
• Generate approximately 10 lakh human-days of direct employment during construction, besides creating wider socio-economic opportunities.
• The project forms part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and reflects Indian Railways‘ commitment to building future-ready infrastructure through integrated planning, modern engineering and enhanced connectivity, contributing to the country’s economic growth and the vision of a Viksit Bharat.