Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Inaugurated Vikram Solar’s 6 GW Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant at Gangaikondan

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Inaugurated Vikram Solar’s 6

GW Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant at Gangaikondan

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 14 th August: The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay,

today virtually inaugurated Vikram Solar’s 6 GW Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant at

Gangaikondan, Tirunelveli, as part of a state-level programme held at Chennai.

The inauguration marked a significant milestone in Vikram Solar's manufacturing journey,

underscoring the company's commitment to building large-scale, world-class solar infrastructure in

India. The inauguration was attended by Ms. S. Keerthana, Industries Minister; Dr. M. Sai Kumar IAS,

Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu; Dr. S. Vijayakumar IAS, Additional Chief Secretary – Industries; Dr. D.

Karthikeyan IAS, Principal Secretary and CMD – TIDCO; Thiru. Kumar Jayant IAS, Chairman and

Managing Director – TNPL; Thiru. S. A. Raman IAS, Managing Director, SIPCOT; Thiru. Deepak Jacob

IAS, Managing Director and CEO - Guidance Tamil Nadu and other bureaucrat and government

officials were present. Representing Vikram Solar, Mr. Sameer Nagpal, CEO, Vikram Solar Limited,

was also present at the inauguration proceedings.

Vikram Solar’s Gangaikondan facility represents a significant milestone in the company’s long-term

manufacturing strategy and its commitment to Tamil Nadu. Set within a larger greenfield campus of

nearly 186 acres, the 6 GW solar PV module manufacturing plant is among the most advanced

facilities in the country and is expected to create employment opportunities for more than 800

skilled professionals in the region.

The facility is also envisioned as an important building block towards Vikram Solar’s larger ambition

of establishing an integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem in India. Over the coming years, the

Gangaikondan campus is planned to progressively expand beyond module manufacturing to include

solar cell, wafer and ingot manufacturing, bringing key stages of the solar value chain together at a

single location.

As part of its broader manufacturing roadmap, Vikram Solar plans to establish 9 GW of solar cell

manufacturing capacity by FY27 and expanding to 3 GW by FY28. The expansion is aimed at

deepening domestic value addition, strengthening supply-chain resilience and creating sustained

industrial and employment opportunities in Tamil Nadu.

Mr Gyanesh Chaudhary, Chairman & Managing Director, Vikram Solar, said: “We are grateful to the

Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Government of Tamil Nadu for their continued support in enabling

this facility and for creating an ecosystem that encourages large-scale manufacturing investments.

Tamil Nadu offers a strong industrial foundation, skilled talent and a progressive environment for

manufacturing-led growth. Our investment here reflects our long-term commitment to the State, to

local employment and to building a more self-reliant clean energy value chain in India. The

Gangaikondan facility is an important step in our journey towards building an integrated solar

manufacturing ecosystem, and we are proud to contribute to Tamil Nadu’s industrial growth and

renewable energy ambitions.”

This Independence Day, India’s Shift Towards Higher Life Insurance Coverage Signals Greater Financial Preparedness

 This Independence Day, India’s Shift Towards Higher Life Insurance Coverage

Signals Greater Financial Preparedness

Mumbai, August 14, 2026: An analysis of life insurance business data for

FY2021–FY2025 compiled by the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) of India

points to an encouraging shift in India’s protection landscape.

The data shows that existing policyholders are progressively strengthening their

financial protection by opting for higher levels of coverage. With changes in life

cycle, responsibilities evolve. Recognising the same, increasingly, consumers are

enhancing their coverage. These trends reinforce growing consumer confidence in

life insurance as a long-term financial safety net. They also highlight the benefits

of starting one’s protection journey early.

The IIB analysis shows a clear movement towards higher-value life insurance

cover across all policy segments over the last five years. Between FY2021 and

FY2025, higher sum assured categories witnessed consistent growth, reflecting a

clear shift towards enhanced insurance protection and higher coverage levels

among policyholders. The share of policies with a sum assured between ₹2 lakh

and ₹5 lakh increased by 5.6% points, while the ₹10 lakh–₹25 lakh category

gained 2% points. At the higher end of the spectrum, the number of policies with

a sum assured exceeding ₹50 lakh grew by 68% from 4.4 million in FY2021 to 7.4

million in FY2025, generating annual premium of ₹975 billion.

Meanwhile, in FY2021, nearly two-thirds (65.1%) of all in-force life insurance

policies had a sum assured of ₹2 lakh or less. By FY2025, this proportion had

declined significantly to 53.6%. Also, every higher sum assured category

registered consistent growth over the same period.

The data also indicates that policyholders are consistently investing more towards

their financial protection. While the total number of in-force life insurance

policies has remained broadly stable at around 343 million over the five-year

period, the average annual premium per policy increased by 42.6%, rising from

₹15,567 in FY2021 to ₹22,195 in FY2025. Together, these trends suggest that

policyholders are strengthening their insurance cover over time rather than

viewing life insurance as a one-time or tax-saving purchase.

Mr. Kamlesh Rao, Chairperson, Insurance Awareness Committee (IAC)- Life, said,

“The IIB data clearly demonstrates that Indians who stay invested in life insurance

increasingly recognise its value and strengthen their protection as their lives and

responsibilities evolve. It is encouraging to see policyholders consistently moving

towards higher levels of insurance cover, reflecting a growing commitment to

financial security for themselves and their families. For those who have not yet

begun their life insurance journey, the message is simple—the earlier you start,

the more time you have to build comprehensive financial protection that can grow

alongside your aspirations and responsibilities.”

Several factors are driving the shift towards higher coverage and premium outlay.

Growing awareness of the importance of life insurance, rising incomes, inflation,

and evolving life stages and responsibilities have all contributed to greater

demand for comprehensive protection. The Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath

further highlighted protection gaps, prompting individuals to reassess their

financial resilience. At the same time, insurers have introduced more tailored

solutions catering to diverse customer needs, making life insurance more relevant

and accessible. Importantly, customers have understood the unique value

proposition of life insurance. As a long-term protection and financial security tool,

it complements other investment avenues. Most other traditional savings or

investment products help create wealth whereas life insurance protects against

the risks and volatility while doing the same.

The Insurance Awareness Committee – Life (IAC-Life) said these trends

underscore the importance of viewing life insurance as a lifelong financial

companion rather than a one-time purchase. Beginning early enables individuals

to secure protection at a younger age, benefit from lower premiums, and

gradually enhance their coverage as their income, responsibilities and long-term

financial goals grow.

IAC-Life will continue to leverage insights from the IIB study to design targeted

awareness initiatives that encourage more Indians to begin their life insurance

journey early and build lasting financial resilience through adequate and evolving

protection.

लुसो डिज़ाइन्स ने मुंबई में फ्लैगशिप एक्सपीरियंस सेंटर के शुभारंभ के साथ भारत के लक्ज़री मोबिलिटी परिदृश्य को नई ऊंचाई दी

लुसो डिज़ाइन्स ने मुंबई में फ्लैगशिप एक्सपीरियंस सेंटर के शुभारंभ के साथ भारत के लक्ज़री मोबिलिटी परिदृश्य को नई ऊंचाई दी

• वैश्विक ऑटोमोटिव कस्टमाइजेशन क्षेत्र की अग्रणी कंपनी ने भारत में अपने रिटेल संचालन की शुरुआत की। कंपनी के समूह की 50 वर्षों की विरासत है और भारत, मध्य पूर्व तथा यूरोप में 5,00,000 से अधिक ग्राहकों का भरोसा हासिल है।

• मुंबई, 17 जुलाई 2026: लुसो डिज़ाइन्स इंडिया प्राइवेट लिमिटेड, लक्ज़री मोबिलिटी स्टूडियो के क्षेत्र में एक वैश्विक अग्रणी कंपनी, ने मुंबई में अपने पहले फ्लैगशिप एक्सपीरियंस सेंटर के भव्य उद्घाटन के साथ भारतीय बाज़ार में अपनी रणनीतिक रिटेल एंट्री की आधिकारिक घोषणा की। यह अत्याधुनिक सुविधा कंपनी के अंतरराष्ट्रीय विस्तार में एक महत्वपूर्ण उपलब्धि है और उच्च-स्तरीय वाहन कस्टमाइजेशन तथा उत्कृष्ट ऑटोमोटिव शिल्पकला के लिए भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप में एक नया मानदंड स्थापित करती है।

फ्लैगशिप सेंटर ग्राहकों को एकीकृत और अनुभव-आधारित रिटेल प्रारूप प्रदान करता है, जहाँ वे स्ट्रक्चरल इंटीरियर मॉडिफिकेशन से लेकर प्रीमियम मटेरियल इंटीग्रेशन तक, अल्ट्रा-लक्ज़री वाहन परिवर्तन की सम्पूर्ण प्रक्रिया का अनुभव एक ही स्थान पर कर सकते हैं। ग्राहकों को सहज और निर्बाध अनुभव प्रदान करने के लिए यहाँ एक सुव्यवस्थित, उच्च-स्तरीय परामर्श प्रणाली अपनाई गई है, जो प्रारंभिक अवधारणा से लेकर पूर्णतः कस्टम-निर्मित वाहन तक की यात्रा को सरल बनाती है।

भारत के पहले समर्पित कार कस्टमाइजेशन एक्सपीरियंस सेंटर के रूप में स्थापित यह शोरूम पूर्णतः रूपांतरित लाउंज-एडिशन वाहनों का चयनित प्रदर्शन प्रस्तुत करता है। इसे एक इंटरैक्टिव डिज़ाइन एटेलियर के रूप में विकसित किया गया है, जहाँ ग्राहक विश्व-स्तरीय ऑटोमोटिव रिफाइनमेंट कम्पोनेंट्स, जैसे प्रिसीजन-इंजीनियर्ड अलॉय व्हील्स, एडवांस्ड हाइड्रो-डिपिंग टेक्नोलॉजी तथा लेदर, अलकांतारा और स्वेड से निर्मित प्रीमियम अपहोल्स्ट्री का प्रत्यक्ष अनुभव कर सकते हैं।

अपने डिज़ाइन दर्शन को और समृद्ध बनाने के लिए, लुसो डिज़ाइन्स ने प्रसिद्ध लक्ज़री डिज़ाइनर धनेश छेड़ा (जस्ट मेन) के साथ सहयोग किया है। उनकी डिज़ाइन सोच विशिष्ट शिल्पकला, परिष्कृत सौंदर्य और कालातीत उत्कृष्टता पर आधारित है। यह साझेदारी दो ऐसे ब्रांडों का स्वाभाविक संगम है जो उत्कृष्ट कारीगरी, सूक्ष्म विवरणों और व्यक्तिगत लक्ज़री अनुभवों के प्रति समान प्रतिबद्धता रखते हैं।

उद्धरण

श्री प्रतीक मलकान, चेयरमैन, अर्पन्ना ग्रुप ऑफ कंपनीज़ ने कहा, "पिछले पाँच दशकों से हमारा समूह इस विश्वास पर आगे बढ़ा है कि स्थायी व्यवसाय उत्कृष्ट शिल्पकला, नवाचार और गुणवत्ता के प्रति अटूट प्रतिबद्धता से निर्मित होते हैं। लुसो डिज़ाइन्स इसी दर्शन का लक्ज़री मोबिलिटी क्षेत्र में स्वाभाविक विस्तार है। आज भारत में ऐसे ग्राहकों की नई पीढ़ी उभर रही है जो व्यक्तिगत और वैश्विक मानकों के अनुरूप अनुभव चाहती है। लुसो के माध्यम से हम केवल एक नया ऑटोमोटिव कस्टमाइजेशन ब्रांड नहीं ला रहे, बल्कि ऐसा इकोसिस्टम विकसित कर रहे हैं जहाँ डिज़ाइन, इंजीनियरिंग और शिल्पकला मिलकर भारत और उससे आगे लक्ज़री स्वामित्व की नई परिभाषा गढ़ते हैं।"

श्री विहान मलकान, निदेशक, लुसो डिज़ाइन्स ने कहा, "मुंबई में हमारे फ्लैगशिप एक्सपीरियंस सेंटर का उद्घाटन भारत के लक्ज़री ऑटोमोटिव इकोसिस्टम में एक नए अध्याय की शुरुआत है। पिछले पाँच दशकों में हमारी विरासत गोपनीयता, प्रिसीजन इंजीनियरिंग और गुणवत्ता के प्रति अडिग प्रतिबद्धता पर आधारित रही है। इस सेंटर के माध्यम से हम वैश्विक लक्ज़री मानकों को स्थानीय डिज़ाइन संवेदनशीलता के साथ जोड़ रहे हैं तथा ग्राहकों को अल्ट्रा-लक्ज़री, व्यक्तिगत आराम और टिकाऊ डिज़ाइन की उनकी परिकल्पना को साकार करने का अवसर दे रहे हैं।"

लुसो डिज़ाइन्स की प्रमुख विशेषताएँ

·         स्केल विद क्राफ्ट: उपमहाद्वीप की सबसे बड़ी वाहन परिवर्तन क्षमता के साथ उत्कृष्ट गुणवत्ता बनाए रखना।

·         50 वर्षों की संस्थागत विरासत: पाँच दशकों की तकनीकी विशेषज्ञता और अनुभव।

·         डीलर-एक्सक्लूसिव वैरिएंट प्रोग्राम: अधिकृत डीलरशिप्स के साथ मिलकर फैक्ट्री-समर्थित एवं वारंटी युक्त कस्टम वैरिएंट विकसित करना।

·         वैश्विक अवसंरचना एवं निष्पादन: पुणे और दुबई स्थित उत्पादन केंद्रों के माध्यम से विश्वस्तरीय गुणवत्ता सुनिश्चित करना।

इस फ्लैगशिप लॉन्च के साथ लुसो डिज़ाइन्स ने भारत में लक्ज़री ऑटोमोटिव कस्टमाइजेशन के मानकों को नई ऊँचाई दी है, जहाँ पाँच दशकों की शिल्पकला और वैश्विक इंजीनियरिंग उत्कृष्टता एक ही छत के नीचे उपलब्ध है।

FinX Launches Season 2 of the Franklin Templeton National Mutual Fund Olympiad 2026 Knowledge Partner Groww ; Registrations Now Open

 

 FinX Launches Season 2 of the Franklin Templeton National Mutual Fund Olympiad 2026 Knowledge Partner Groww ; Registrations Now Open

Following the success of its inaugural edition, Season 2 aims to engage 50,000 students across 1,000 colleges, with registrations now open for undergraduate and postgraduate students across India.

Mumbai, 17 July 2026: Building on the encouraging response to its inaugural edition, FinX has today announced the launch of Season 2 of the Franklin Templeton National Mutual Fund Olympiad (FTNMFO) 2026, Knowledge Partner Groww. The initiative is supported by BFSI Sector Skill Council of India & FPA Edutech.  Registrations are now open, inviting undergraduate and postgraduate students across all academic streams from colleges Pan India. Its inaugural edition attracted over 10,000 students from more than 400 colleges across the country, establishing itself as one of India's largest student-focused financial literacy initiatives and a credible platform for advancing investment awareness among young learners.

Building on the momentum of its first edition, Season 2 aims to significantly expand its reach by engaging 50,000 students from 1,000 colleges nationwide. Students of the empaneled colleges can register through the registration portal. Through a structured, multi-level competition, participants will be assessed on their understanding of investment fundamentals, mutual fund products, financial planning, wealth creation, market concepts and emerging investment avenues.

The second edition has already garnered participation from several of India's premier educational institutions, including the IIM Bangalore, IIM Indore, IIM Vizag, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Dhanbad, VIT Vellore, IIFT Kolkata, Delhi Technological University (DTU), BITS Goa, Christ University, Lady Shri Ram College (Delhi University), among others. Their participation reflects the growing recognition of the Olympiad as a credible national platform for advancing financial literacy and investment education among students.

Powered by the FinX ecosystem, the Olympiad is being delivered as an end-to-end, technology-enabled learning experience. From participant registrations and assessments to analytics, and engagement, FinX seamlessly orchestrates every stage of the initiative, enabling the delivery of a national-scale financial education programme with efficiency and impact.

Speaking on the launch of the second edition, Mr. Avinash Satwalekar (President, Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt.) said, "The enthusiastic response to the inaugural Franklin Templeton National Mutual Fund Olympiad reaffirmed the growing interest among young Indians to build practical financial knowledge beyond the classroom. At Franklin Templeton, we believe financial literacy is an essential life skill, and initiatives like the Olympiad help equip students with the confidence to make informed financial decisions while improving their understanding of the evolving investment landscape.”

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Himanshu Vyapak (MD & CEO, FinX) said, "The Franklin Templeton National Mutual Fund Olympiad has evolved into a unique platform that brings together academia and industry to make financial education more engaging, accessible and relevant for students. With Season 2, we aim to significantly expand our reach, deepen engagement across campuses and continue building a financially aware generation that is better prepared for the opportunities and responsibilities of India's evolving financial ecosystem."

Through the Olympiad, Franklin Templeton and FinX continue their shared commitment to advancing financial literacy and creating meaningful learning opportunities for India's youth. By bringing together academic institutions and industry expertise, the initiative seeks to equip students with the knowledge, confidence and practical understanding needed to navigate an evolving financial ecosystem while building greater awareness of long-term investing and wealth creation.

***

Indian Consumers Gain Better Access to Credit as Unsecured Lending Strengthens: Experian Insights

 

Indian Consumers Gain Better Access to Credit as Unsecured Lending Strengthens: Experian Insights

 

• Personal Loan AUM reaches Rs. 15.9 lakh crore (+13% YoY); Credit Card AUM at Rs. 3.4 lakh crore (+9% YoY)
• Two-wheeler and Consumer Durable loan portfolios expand 18% and 16% YoY, respectively
• Fresh sourcing accelerates across products, with notable shifts towards higher ticket sizes and improved portfolio quality

 

 

Mumbai, 09 December 2025: Experian, a global data and technology company, today released its latest Credit Insights - Unsecured Loans, September 2025, offering a detailed view of India’s evolving unsecured lending landscape across personal loans, credit cards, two-wheeler loans, and consumer durable loans. The findings indicate sustained growth in unsecured credit demand, supported by stable portfolio performance and improving early-stage delinquencies across key products.

 

Fresh sourcing of loans in Q2 FY26 remained strong, driven by increasing ticket sizes, expanding participation from NBFCs, and strengthened borrower repayment behaviour. India’s unsecured credit environment is maturing, with lenders adopting more refined underwriting practices and consumers demonstrating healthier credit discipline. Growth in mid- and high-ticket borrowing reflects rising consumption and confidence, while improvements in early delinquencies suggest stronger portfolio resilience. These trends also highlight the impact of digital lending adoption, improved credit access in semi-urban/ Tier 3/ Tier4 markets, and a broader shift toward more structured and transparent borrowing.

 

Commenting on the insights, Manish Jain, Country Managing Director of Experian in India, said: “We are witnessing a meaningful shift in India’s unsecured lending space. Demand continues to rise, consumers are moving towards higher ticket sizes, and repayment behaviour is steadily improving. The improvement in early delinquencies across products shows that both consumers and lenders are making more responsible, informed choices, indicating positive trends towards a mature credit ecosystem.”

 

“Experian’s scores, attributes and insights offer a clear, data-led view of these shifts, helping financial institutions assess risk effectively and expand credit access responsibly. As the market evolves, we will continue to equip lenders with trusted data, advanced analytics and decisioning platforms designed to support transparency, inclusion and compliance.” he added.

 

Key Highlights:

 

1. Personal Loans

• AUM increased to Rs.15.9 lakh crore, up 13% YoY as of Sep’25.
• All lender categories (private sector banks, public sector banks, NBFCs) reported stronger YoY growth in fresh sourcing.
• NBFCs continued to increase their share, particularly in small ticket-size (< Rs. 1 lakh) loans.
• Increase observed in average ticket size compared to the previous quarter.
• Early-stage delinquency levels improved compared to last year.

 

2. Credit Cards:

• AUM increased to Rs. 3.4 lakh crore, up 9% YoY as of Sep’25.
• Fresh sanctioned limit witnessed 13% QoQ growth after three quarters of decline; YoY remains marginally lower (~1%).
• Top 4 players dominate credit card AUM, with portfolio share rising from 70% to 72% YoY

 

• Average credit limits have increased across banks and financial institutions
• Net 90+ delinquency improved from 2.0% to 1.8% YoY as of Sep’25.

 

3. Two-Wheeler Loans:

• AUM increased to Rs. 1.8 lakh crore, marking 18% YoY growth as of Sep’25.
• Sanctioned amount of new loans increased by 9% YoY in Q2 FY26.
• NBFCs hold a strong market share in the two-wheeler loans segment, driven by higher sourcing from NTC customers.

 

• Higher-ticket loans (Rs. 1–2 lakh) continued to gain share.
• Net 30+ delinquency reduced from 6.2% to 5.4% YoY, although net 90+ continues to remain elevated.

 

4. Consumer Durable Loans

• AUM increased to Rs. 1 lakh crore, marking 16% YoY growth as of Sep’25.
• Sourcing of new loans grew by 22% YoY, the fastest among unsecured products.
• NBFCs continued to dominate consumer durable loan sourcing due to strong retail penetration.
• Loans below Rs. 20,000 accounted for ~65% of loan volume.
• Portfolio delinquency has shown marked improvement, demonstrated by a decline in both Net 30+ and Net 90+ rates.

 

The Experian Credit Insights – Unsecured Loans provides lenders with a comprehensive, data-led view of consumer credit behaviour and emerging risk patterns. By leveraging Experian’s analytics, credit intelligence, and deep industry expertise, financial institutions can enhance decision-making, strengthen portfolio performance, and support responsible credit growth. Experian remains committed to driving financial inclusion and enabling a more transparent, efficient, and resilient credit ecosystem for India.