Air India and SBI Card to Launch Co-Branded Credit Card Soon

(L-R) Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO & Managing Director, Air India; Salila Pande, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card; Oliver Jenkyn, Group President, Visa and Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India

Industry leading organisations across airlines, credit cards and payment networks unite to curate new co-brand credit card program

Air India, India’s leading global airline, and SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, today announced having entered a partnership to develop a new co-brand Visa-powered credit card program that will offer a rewarding suite of travel and lifestyle benefits to members of Air India's Maharaja Club loyalty programme.

The partnership combines the complementary strengths of three leading organisations across airlines, credit cards, and payment network, to create a compelling proposition for Air India's fast-growing base of frequent flyers and loyalty members.

As India’s flag carrier, Air India has a long and distinguished history of connecting India to the world. SBI Card brings trusted credit card expertise, deep experience of serving Indian customers, and a strong understanding of their evolving payment needs. With over four decades of presence in India, Visa combines its technology leadership with the scale of its global payments network and an extensive experience in building successful co-brand partnerships around the world.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "As we transform every aspect of the customer journey with Air India, from a modernising fleet and world-class cabin products to an expanding global network, we are also building one of India's most compelling loyalty ecosystems with Maharaja Club. We see a tremendous opportunity to create a co-brand credit card that is unmatched in its ability to reward customers for both their everyday earning and their travel & lifestyle aspirations. Together with SBI Card and Visa, our goal is to build India's most compelling travel credit card programme and make Maharaja Club the loyalty currency of choice for millions of Indians."

Salila Pande, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card, said, “As travel aspirations evolve and customers seek experiences that offer greater value and convenience, we see a significant opportunity to redefine the role of credit cards in their travel journeys. At SBI Card, our focus remains on developing differentiated credit card propositions that are aligned with evolving customer preferences, unique spending needs, and lifestyle aspirations. Through this strategic partnership, we aim to create a compelling travel-focussed credit card that delivers rewarding experiences to customers. This partnership marks another significant step towards delivering innovative payment solutions for customers and expanding customer choice.”

Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said, “Our partnership with Air India and SBI Card reflects a shared ambition to shape the next generation of payment experiences - where every transaction adds greater value to the journey. By bringing together Visa’s trusted global network and decades of co-brand expertise, we aim to create a compelling proposition that elevates travel for Air India and SBI Card customers in India and around the world.”

With a simplified structure, a host of customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity, Maharaja Club has added over five million new members since the programme was redesigned in 2024. Maharaja Club members are now able to earn and redeem Maharaja Points on flights operated by Air India and Air India Express to and from 104 destinations across North America, Europe (including the UK), Australia, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, in addition 25 other Star Alliance member airlines. Maharaja Club’s partnerships with over 100 other brands across categories, including hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services, enables members to earn Maharaja Points across a broad range of travel and everyday spends.

PhysicsWallah’s School of Startups (PW SoS) Partners with Startup India (DPIIT) to Accelerate 25,000 Early-Stage Startups with Seed Funding and Incubation

PW SoS has signed an MoU with DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to scale India's regional startup ecosystem

PhysicsWallah School of Startups (PW SoS), the entrepreneurship wing of education company PhysicsWallah, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The two-year partnership aims to accelerate grassroots entrepreneurship, deep-tech innovation, and venture incubation across Tier-II, Tier-III cities, and rural Bharat, reaching aspiring and early-stage founders.

The joint initiative will deliver end-to-end support to early-stage ventures, essentially combining structured online and residential training, product prototyping guidance, incubation infrastructure, investor access, and early-stage seed capital.

To support founders at every stage, PW School of Startups is introducing a range of programmes tailored to their needs. PW UDYAMI offers a 90-day live online training programme and one year of mentorship to empower entrepreneurs from small towns and rural areas. Aarambh Immersion is a five-day residential programme focused on prototype development, pitch preparation and networking. For growth-stage ventures, the Growth Stage CEO Program will support 200 DPIIT-recognised startups across four hybrid cohorts, helping them prepare for growth funding. The six-month PW DeepTech Accelerator will provide selected high-potential ventures with access to rapid growth and funding. Early-stage innovators will also benefit from proof-of-concept opportunities, corporate pilots and seed investment through the annual National AI Startup Challenge & SeedX, as well as incubation support and seed grants at the UP Government-approved StartinUP Business Incubation Centre hosted by PW School of Startups.

“Supporting entrepreneurs beyond Tier-I cities is key to building a stronger startup ecosystem in India. Our partnership with PhysicsWallah School of Startups will help grassroots innovators access the resources, mentorship and infrastructure they need to turn their ideas into scalable, job-creating businesses across Bharat,”, said, Shri Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“True empowerment means making knowledge, mentorship and funding accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs across Bharat. Through our partnership with DPIIT and Startup India, PW School of Startups aims to support aspiring founders, with initiatives like PW UDYAMI, Aarambh and deep-tech acceleration programmes to help turn ideas into successful businesses”, added, Rounaq Mustafa, Head of PW School of Startups.

PW SoS is also an accredited incubator under the StartInUP initiative by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Through this partnership with DPIIT, the vertical aims to bring together PW’s entrepreneurial guidance with Startup India’s nationwide ecosystem network and startup outreach to strengthen regional innovation hubs across the country.

About PhysicsWallah (PW)

PhysicsWallah Limited (PW), an education platform, was founded in 2020 by Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari. Headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, PW aims to facilitate education through online, offline, and hybrid platforms. Initially launched as a YouTube channel in 2014, PW now offers education to students through its native app, tech enabled offline and hybrid centres, and YouTube channels. PW offerings span various educational segments, including test preparation, a skilling vertical (PW Skills and Earners), coaching for higher education, and facilitating education abroad, with programs available in multiple vernacular languages. PhysicsWallah Limited was listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and BSE Limited (Bombay Stock Exchange) on November 18, 2025.

About Startup India (DPIIT)

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) was constituted in 1995 and restructured in 2000 following the merger of the erstwhile Department of Industrial

Development. Since then, the Department has emerged as the nodal authority of the Government of India for formulation and promotion of industrial policy at the national level. DPIIT has been instrumental in guiding policy interventions aimed at strengthening India’s industrial base, promoting internal trade, and responding effectively to the evolving needs of a rapidly changing economic environment. It’s role has progressively expanded in line with new challenges and opportunities arising from globalization, technological advancement, and shifts in domestic and international markets.

Maruti Suzuki Posts Record Q2 Sales, Launches Osamu Suzuki CoE

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) Q2 FY 2026‑27 Results Approved by Board

Q2 (July–September) FY 2026‑27 Highlights

• Highest‑ever quarterly sales volume: 696,654 units, a 26.5% increase year‑on‑year.
• Domestic passenger vehicle growth: Small car sales up 35.9%, SUV sales up 68.2% with strong response to new models.
• Domestic market share: Increased by 2.2 percentage points to 40.8%.
• Capacity additions: Supported demand, but supply lagged, leaving ~17 days of inventory and ~200,000 pending bookings.
• Exports: 108,119 units versus 110,487 units in Q2 FY25‑26 amid geopolitical challenges.
• Net Sales: Record INR 506,155 million, up from INR 401,358 million last year.
• Operating Profit (EBIT): INR 28,037 million, down from INR 33,820 million in Q2 FY25‑26 due to commodity cost pressures, but up 10.8% sequentially from Q1 FY26‑27.
• Net Profit: INR 24,149 million, compared to INR 33,028 million in the prior year, impacted by mark‑to‑market losses.

H1 (April–September) FY 2026‑27 Highlights

• Highest‑ever half‑yearly sales volume: 1,379,378 units, a 27.9% YoY increase.
• Domestic sales: 1,146,523 units.
• Exports: 232,855 units.
• Net Sales: Record INR 1,005,746 million, versus INR 767,564 million in H1 FY25‑26.
• Net Profit: INR 57,670 million, compared to INR 70,609 million last year.

Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence

Mr. Osamu Suzuki, who transformed India’s car industry over four decades with his philosophy and manufacturing concepts, is being honoured through the establishment of the Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence.

• Incorporation: Approved as a Section 8 company.
• Purpose: To disseminate Japanese manufacturing philosophy and culture, inspired by Mr. Suzuki’s teachings.
• Focus: Promote vocational and future‑ready technical skills to advance manufacturing excellence across India.
• CSR Initiative: Undertaken as part of MSIL’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

ESET Unveils AI Security Layer to Block Scams in APAC

ESET expands consumer and SOHO protection with new AI security and anti-scam capabilities

New ESET AI Security layer protects users from AI-driven scams and emerging threats targeting AI tools.

Advanced protection features include AI Conversation Security, AI Agent Security, and Behavioral Monitoring.

Additional improvements include enhanced privacy and control with Browser Screen Protection, as well as Web Control, which helps users stay safer during everyday online activity.

ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, today announced new upgrades to ESET HOME Security and ESET Small Business Security, helping consumers and small office/home office users better protect themselves against scams, including increasingly sophisticated AI-powered scams, malicious links, and emerging threats targeting AI tools.

“As AI becomes part of everyday life across Asia Pacific, it is changing both how people use technology and how cybercriminals target them,” said Parvinder Walia, President of APAC region at ESET. “Consumers and small businesses need protection that keeps pace with these changes, without adding complexity to their daily lives. With these new capabilities, we are helping users recognise and avoid scams, safeguard sensitive information, and use AI tools with greater confidence.”

Recognising this shift, ESET has been strengthening its consumer and SOHO protection against scams for several years and now introduces a new AI Security protection layer, built specifically to safeguard users in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Key features of ESET AI Security

• AI Conversation Security – Safeguards interactions between end users and ChatGPT. Other major LLMs, such as Gemini and Copilot, will be integrated soon. It proactively scans URLs found in LLM responses and flags content originating from phishing, malicious, or potentially unwanted sources, informing users that the referenced content may not be safe before they click on it. It also scans scripts generated by LLMs to help prevent users from running malicious code on their devices.
• AI Agent Security – Monitors what AI agents access and download before execution happens. It proactively protects against unsafe files, scripts downloaded by AI tools, and suspicious external URLs.
• AI Skills Checker – AI Skills Checker is a free online tool powered by AI Agent Security technology. It scans AI skills (add-ons for AI tools that enhance their functionality) for signs of malicious activity and risky behavior before users install and use them.
• AI Behavioral Monitoring – Works alongside AI Agent Security to continuously monitor AI agents’ behaviors and actions to discover unusual actions, suspicious access attempts, unexpected behavior patterns, and suspicious download sources.

Browser Screen Protection

Designed to safeguard sensitive data during online activity, which:

• Prevents unauthorised screenshots, screen recording, and screen sharing
• Protects against infostealers and screen-capture malware
• And strengthens security during online banking, shopping, and private browsing sessions

ESET Mobile Security for iOS*

Protecting users against malicious websites, links, and threats coming from misconfigured device settings or vulnerable Wi-Fi networks. This solution is available on the App Store in both free and premium versions.

• Link Checker (Free) – Checks any URL against ESET’s continually updated database of malicious links.
• Device Scan (Free) – Provides a one-click security posture overview and checks the device setup for potential weaknesses, including misconfigured settings, missing protection-related permissions, and ignored issues.
• Device Settings Check (Free) – Reviews key protections, such as screen lock, notification handling, and available storage for future updates.
• Anti-Phishing for Safari (Premium) – Blocks malicious pages before they load.
• Connection Security (Premium) – Flags risky or unsecured Wi-Fi networks while allowing creation of a list of trusted networks.

ESET Small Business Security

Now also includes Web Control. This feature enables users to configure web access settings to protect employees from accessing web pages that may contain dangerous or inappropriate content, potentially offensive material, content violating intellectual property rights, or pages that may have a negative impact on productivity.

To learn more about ESET HOME and its subscription tiers, visit our dedicated webpage. For more information about ESET Small Business Security, visit the product page.

*Pending approval. iOS app available soon. App release is subject to Apple App Store approval. Actual app availability may vary by region.

About ESET®

ESET protects organizations, critical infrastructure, and individuals, helping them build digital resilience and confidence in an increasingly AI-driven world. With more than 35 years of cybersecurity expertise, over 25 years of AI innovation, and 11 global R&D centers, ESET develops proprietary technologies designed to protect against evolving cyber threats and secure the broader AI ecosystem. Grounded in scientific rigor and taking a preemptive approach to security, ESET delivers effortless protection that remains under expert human oversight. Headquartered in the European Union and privately owned, ESET protects millions of users and more than 500,000 organizations across 178 countries. Committed to responsible AI and customer trust, ESET protects the progress that technology enables. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow ESET’s social media, podcasts, and blogs.

Axis Bank and IIM Bangalore Partner to Establish the ‘Axis Bank Centre of Economics’ at IIMB’s New Undergraduate Campus

The collaboration will support the Centre’s infrastructure, academic research and scholarships for meritorious students

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Axis Bank Centre of Economics at the IIMB – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies, the Institute’s greenfield campus located in Jigani, Bengaluru.

The MoU signing took place at Axis House in Worli, Mumbai and was attended by Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIM Bangalore; Mr. Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank; Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIM Bangalore; and Mr. Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, along with senior leadership representatives from both institutions.

As part of the collaboration, Axis Bank shall facilitate the construction and operationalization of the Axis Bank Centre of Economics in the Integrated Academic and Administrative Block in Phase I of the new campus, which will serve as a key academic and research facility for the entire School. The commitment also extends to faculty development, research, and offering need- and merit-based scholarships for deserving students.

The Axis Bank Centre of Economics will adopt a curriculum aligned with global standards, which combines disciplinary depth with quantitative and computational learning from the outset, promoting the use of data, quantitative methods and empirical analysis to address real-world economic challenges. This Centre will be integral to the School’s vision of becoming a globally benchmarked institution known for academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning and contemporary research.

Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, said: “Multi-disciplinary education and research are vital to building the knowledge, skills and capabilities India needs to navigate an increasingly complex economic landscape. Together with IIM Bangalore, Axis Bank aims to establish a new paradigm in undergraduate education that is benchmarked to global standards and integrates meaningful pedagogy with deep research. The Axis Bank Centre of Economics reflects our continued commitment to strengthening institutions that can play a leading role in shaping India’s long-term, inclusive and sustainable progress.”

On the occasion, Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, said: “We are grateful to Axis Bank for supporting our vision for the Axis Bank Centre of Economics at the IIMB – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies. Economics is central to understanding the forces shaping businesses, markets and society, and its study today increasingly calls for strong foundations in quantitative and qualitative methods, data-driven application and interdisciplinary thinking. The Centre will contribute to creating an environment where students and faculty can engage deeply with the determinants of global and national development. The support from Axis Bank will enable us to strengthen academic infrastructure and create opportunities that advance the School’s mission of developing a world-class undergraduate institution”.

The IIMB – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies welcomed its first academic cohort in August 2026. 80 students across the Bachelor of Science (Hons) programmes in Data Sciences and Economics were selected from a record pool of nearly 12,000 applicants through a rigorous application process. 40 students from the inaugural cohort shall pursue their Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences at the Axis Bank Centre of Economics.

Building on the School's strong academic foundation, the Axis Bank Centre of Economics will open new avenues for students and faculty while nurturing future economists, researchers and leaders equipped to shape India's growth and engage with the global economy.