ITV

Tag: Patna

  • Polls apart: NDA leads as Bihar warms up to vote

    Polls apart: NDA leads as Bihar warms up to vote

    MUMBAI: It’s polling season in Bihar, and the numbers are already making noise. As the state gears up for its high-stakes election, India News and Newsx have joined hands to take the electorate’s temperature, and the results are sparking plenty of chatter.

    Their two-phase Bihar opinion poll, conducted in partnership with Ians–Matriz, offers an early snapshot of the political battlefield. The survey gives the NDA a clear lead with 49 per cent of the vote share, while the Mahagathbandhan trails at 36 per cent, and others stand at 15 per cent. Development has emerged as the top voter priority, leaving caste and religion in the rear-view mirror.

    The poll dug deep across Bihar’s heartland, from Patna and Muzaffarpur to Gaya, Purnia, and Bhagalpur, capturing both urban buzz and rural voices. Beyond numbers, it decoded what’s driving Bihar’s electorate: leadership credibility, alliance chemistry, and Narendra Modi’s continuing influence.

    “The Bihar Opinion Poll reflects the authentic voice of the people,” said India News managing editor Rakesh Singh, adding that the channel aimed to deliver an unbiased, data-backed pulse of the state. Newsx & Newsx World editor-in-chief Rishabh Gulati, noted that the project went “beyond speculation” to analyse why voters are thinking the way they are.

    Aired on 6 October at 7 pm, the broadcast generated strong engagement and debate across social media, as analysts and party watchers dissected what the trends could mean for the final verdict.

    Meticulously researched and sharply presented, the India News–Newsx Bihar opinion poll has set a new benchmark for pre-election coverage, turning raw sentiment into smart insight, and giving voters a mirror to their own political mood.

  • No more chalk and awe as QWR gives classrooms a VR upgrade

    No more chalk and awe as QWR gives classrooms a VR upgrade

    MUMBAI: In a world where school still means blackboards, wooden benches and a race for marks, one Indian start-up is asking: what if you could step inside the syllabus instead? Enter QWR (Question What’s Real), a deep-tech XR company that’s quietly reshaping education from the inside out. Instead of starting in Tier-1 cities, QWR flipped the traditional script. Its immersive VRone.Edu headsets, designed for classroom use, are already in the hands of students from Kohima to Patna and Raipur to Ranchi, impacting over 2,00,000 learners across 19 states.

    The twist? These aren’t just fancy gadgets. QWR’s devices come loaded with NCERT-aligned, K–12 modules that turn abstract concepts into interactive experiences. Why just read about the human heart when you can walk through its chambers? Why mug up tectonic plates when you can stand in the middle of a virtual earthquake?

    “Curiosity begins with the senses,” says QWR founder Suraj Aiar. “We’re not pushing hardware. We’re redefining how India learns.”

    With India’s current education model still chasing grades over growth, QWR’s approach blends VR, AR and XR to put experience at the heart of education. According to the company, only 10 per cent of Indian schools currently use digital tools. That’s the gap QWR wants to close one headset at a time.

    And it’s not just schools. The brand’s roadmap includes engineering, medicine, defence, and blue-collar upskilling, all delivered through real-time, immersive simulations. It also aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2022, Samagra Shiksha Yojana, and Sustainable Development Goal 4, creating classroom equity through tech.

    To fuel the future, QWR has also launched India’s largest XR developer initiative the QWR ISV Program offering grants to XR creators to build content directly for its ecosystem. The goal: make India not just a market for XR education, but a hub of its innovation.

    “Other players talk XR,” says Aiar. “We’ve cracked it, governments and institutions come to us because our solutions work.”

    So the next time a student stares blankly at a textbook, they might just be seconds away from stepping into it. For QWR, the future isn’t virtual, it’s already here.

  • Swiggy Instamart delivers big as smaller cities set new shopping records

    Swiggy Instamart delivers big as smaller cities set new shopping records

    MUMBAI: In a move as swift as its deliveries, Swiggy Instamart has expanded its quick commerce footprint to 100 cities across India, catering to the surging demand for 10-minute doorstep convenience beyond metro hubs. The expansion brings over 30,000 products from groceries and gadgets to fashion and festive essentials closer to millions of new customers in Raipur, Siliguri, Jodhpur, Thanjavur, and beyond.

    “India’s love for instant convenience isn’t just an urban trend, it’s a nationwide phenomenon,” said Swiggy Instamart CEO Amitesh Jha. “As quick commerce evolves, we’re thrilled to bring its benefits to underserved geographies, empowering local businesses and delivery partners while meeting growing consumer needs.”

    Swiggy’s expansion reflects a broader shift in shopping behaviour, with one in four new users in 2025 hailing from tier 2 and 3 cities. Riding this momentum, the platform is ramping up operations with ‘megapods’ large-scale dark stores spanning 10,000-12,000 sq. ft. These hubs can stock 50,000 plus products, tripling inventory and offering an expanded selection of FMCG, D2C, and local brands tailored to regional preferences.
    As Swiggy Instamart reshapes retail in smaller cities, unique shopping trends are emerging, Patna raced to 1,000 plus daily orders in just four days, while Raipur set a launch-day record with 300 orders. Thiruvananthapuram even outpaced Mumbai in demand for hot & sweet flavoured chips. Onions, tomatoes, and coriander remain the most ordered items, while one Dehradun shopper spent a staggering Rs 3.34 lakh in total, and a Thiruvananthapuram resident set a single-day record of Rs 69,993.  
     

  • Vodafone Idea posts Rs 111.2 billion revenue but struggles under debt burden

    Vodafone Idea posts Rs 111.2 billion revenue but struggles under debt burden

    MUMBAI: Vodafone Idea (Vi) is ringing in revenue growth, but the static of debt remains loud. The telecom giant reported Rs 111.2 billion in revenue for Q3FY25, marking a 1.7 per cent sequential increase, and clocked its highest quarterly cash EBITDA of Rs 24.5 billion since the Vodafone-Idea merger. However, despite operational improvements, Vi remains in the red, posting a net loss of Rs 66.1 billion.

    The company’s average revenue per user (ARPU) rose to Rs 173, reflecting a 4.7 per cent QoQ jump, largely driven by tariff hikes and customer upgrades. But its financial burden remains steep. Bank debt stands at Rs 23.3 billion, while spectrum and AGR dues total a staggering Rs 2.27 trillion, payable over two decades.

    Vi is pushing forward with a massive capex plan, spending Rs 53.3 billion in the first nine months of FY25, with a full-year target of Rs 100 billion. The company added 4,000 broadband towers, its highest in a single quarter since the merger, and expanded 4G coverage to 41 million more users, reaching 1.07 billion people.

    A phased 5G rollout is now officially in motion, with Mumbai set to go live by March 2025, followed by Delhi, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Patna in April. The telco is banking on this expansion to sharpen its competitive edge.

    To keep its balance sheet in check, Vi has secured Rs 19.1 billion in fresh equity capital from its promoter group, pushing its total equity infusion to Rs 260 billion in the last 10 months. The company also received a bank guarantee waiver on spectrum payments, offering temporary relief.

    Vodafone Idea is also in the middle of another fresh financial hurdle as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has demanded a Rs 6,090 crore bank guarantee by March 10 to cover spectrum obligations since 2015, offering an alternative cash payment of Rs 5,493 crore. The telco must choose one of these options and comply with the telecom department’s requirements, adding to its existing financial woes amid intense industry competition. This development comes as a major setback for Vi, which is already grappling with Rs 2.27 trillion in spectrum and AGR dues. However, some relief arrived in January when the Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court’s November 2023 decision granting Vi a Rs 1,600 crore tax refund, providing a temporary financial cushion as the telco continues its struggle to stabilise operations.  

    While Vi is making strides in revenue and expansion, the question remains, can it dial up a full-fledged recovery, or will the weight of its debt drop the call?

  • South Asia FM allotted Surat, Amritsar, Patna, Chandigarh and Jammu FM channels

    South Asia FM allotted Surat, Amritsar, Patna, Chandigarh and Jammu FM channels

    NEW DELHI: M/s South Asia FM Ltd has been declared as the winning bidder for five Radio FM channels, just a day after the commencement of the auction for the second batch of Phase III.

    The company will be allotted FM Channels in Surat, Amritsar, Patna, Chandigarh and Jammu.

    The details of the details of the successful bids and number of winning channelss and associated Frequency spots along with successful bid amount – Non-refundable One Time Entry Fee (NOTEF) are:

    City Frequency Spot selected (MHz) Successful Bid amount (NOTEF)

    Surat           95                                         Rs 3,60,00,000
     Amritsar     93.5                                      Rs 6,03,97,038
    Patna          93.5                                      Rs 17,89,83,876
    Chandigarh 93.5                                      Rs 19,04,72,374
     Jammu        91.9                                     Rs 1,01,07,090

    This data has been compiled on the basis of system generated “Final Round Result Report” and “Frequency Identification Report” accessible through auction administrator
    role.

    South Asia FM Limited, one of the fourteen shortlisted bidders, is a Public incorporated on 09 November 2005. It is classified as Non-govt company and is registered at Registrar of Companies, Chennai. Its authorized share capital is Rs. 6,550,000,100 and its paid up capital is Rs. 6,153,605,100.It is inolved in Motion picture, radio, television and other entertainment activities

    South Asia Fm Limited’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was last held on 24 September 2015 and as per records from Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), its balance sheet was last filed on 31 March 2015.

    Directors of South Asia FM Limited are Jagadeesan Ravindran, Kannappan Shanmugam, Arjun Rao Donakanti, .

  • South Asia FM allotted Surat, Amritsar, Patna, Chandigarh and Jammu FM channels

    South Asia FM allotted Surat, Amritsar, Patna, Chandigarh and Jammu FM channels

    NEW DELHI: M/s South Asia FM Ltd has been declared as the winning bidder for five Radio FM channels, just a day after the commencement of the auction for the second batch of Phase III.

    The company will be allotted FM Channels in Surat, Amritsar, Patna, Chandigarh and Jammu.

    The details of the details of the successful bids and number of winning channelss and associated Frequency spots along with successful bid amount – Non-refundable One Time Entry Fee (NOTEF) are:

    City Frequency Spot selected (MHz) Successful Bid amount (NOTEF)

    Surat           95                                         Rs 3,60,00,000
     Amritsar     93.5                                      Rs 6,03,97,038
    Patna          93.5                                      Rs 17,89,83,876
    Chandigarh 93.5                                      Rs 19,04,72,374
     Jammu        91.9                                     Rs 1,01,07,090

    This data has been compiled on the basis of system generated “Final Round Result Report” and “Frequency Identification Report” accessible through auction administrator
    role.

    South Asia FM Limited, one of the fourteen shortlisted bidders, is a Public incorporated on 09 November 2005. It is classified as Non-govt company and is registered at Registrar of Companies, Chennai. Its authorized share capital is Rs. 6,550,000,100 and its paid up capital is Rs. 6,153,605,100.It is inolved in Motion picture, radio, television and other entertainment activities

    South Asia Fm Limited’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was last held on 24 September 2015 and as per records from Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), its balance sheet was last filed on 31 March 2015.

    Directors of South Asia FM Limited are Jagadeesan Ravindran, Kannappan Shanmugam, Arjun Rao Donakanti, .

  • FabAlley eyes Rs 100 cr in GMV by ’18

    FabAlley eyes Rs 100 cr in GMV by ’18

    MUMBAI: FabAlley has raised Series A round of funding of USD 2 million from India Quotient, angel investors namely, Tushar Singh, Ranjan Sharma, FAO Ventures along with the Indian Angel Network (IAN). This is FabAlley’s second round of funding, having raised their seed round from IAN in late 2013.

    “Indian fashion e-commerce has a lot of curators and aggregators but very few Indian brands. FabAlley is already a leading brand and we believe that with this investment they would be able to scale up rapidly. The founding team has executed with sharp focus on the right metrics and has shown great promise of building a premium online brand for women,” said India Quotient partner Madhukar Sinha.

    On course towards becoming India’s foremost leading fast fashion brand, the company is growing year on year at 100%. This growth trajectory has led FabAlley to a profitable H1 2016-17.

    FabAlley co-founder Shivani Poddar said, “For the coming year, we will focus on an effective execution strategy to expand FabAlley’s geographical footprint and capitalize on the large opportunities in the online space ahead of us. We are on track to hit Rs 100 crore in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2017-18 and will continue to focus on building a profitable and sustainable business in the long term.”

    In July 2016, FabAlley ventured into the offline segment through a tie-up with Central chain – a multi-brand store operated by the Future Group. Currently, they have outlets in cities like Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna and Ahmedabad to give their customers a touch-and-feel experience through interactive shop-in-shops, displaying FabAlley’s newest and best-selling apparel.

  • FabAlley eyes Rs 100 cr in GMV by ’18

    FabAlley eyes Rs 100 cr in GMV by ’18

    MUMBAI: FabAlley has raised Series A round of funding of USD 2 million from India Quotient, angel investors namely, Tushar Singh, Ranjan Sharma, FAO Ventures along with the Indian Angel Network (IAN). This is FabAlley’s second round of funding, having raised their seed round from IAN in late 2013.

    “Indian fashion e-commerce has a lot of curators and aggregators but very few Indian brands. FabAlley is already a leading brand and we believe that with this investment they would be able to scale up rapidly. The founding team has executed with sharp focus on the right metrics and has shown great promise of building a premium online brand for women,” said India Quotient partner Madhukar Sinha.

    On course towards becoming India’s foremost leading fast fashion brand, the company is growing year on year at 100%. This growth trajectory has led FabAlley to a profitable H1 2016-17.

    FabAlley co-founder Shivani Poddar said, “For the coming year, we will focus on an effective execution strategy to expand FabAlley’s geographical footprint and capitalize on the large opportunities in the online space ahead of us. We are on track to hit Rs 100 crore in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2017-18 and will continue to focus on building a profitable and sustainable business in the long term.”

    In July 2016, FabAlley ventured into the offline segment through a tie-up with Central chain – a multi-brand store operated by the Future Group. Currently, they have outlets in cities like Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna and Ahmedabad to give their customers a touch-and-feel experience through interactive shop-in-shops, displaying FabAlley’s newest and best-selling apparel.

  • Doordarshan launches Mobile TV in India, needs no internet

    Doordarshan launches Mobile TV in India, needs no internet

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has commenced digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in 16 cities, thereby providing mobile TV to the users.

    The sixteen cities being covered from 25 February are- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi, Cuttack, Lucknow, Jallandhar, Raipur, Indore, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Bangalore and Ahmadabad.  

    Mobile TV can be received in and around these cities using DVB-T2 Dongles in OTG enabled smart phones and tablets, Wi-Fi dongles for moving vehicles, besides the TV sets having built in DVB-T2 Tuner which are called as integrated digital TV (iDTV).

    While Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung etc., are providing iDTV, the dongles are also available in online shopping sites like Flipkart, Ebay, Snapdeal etc. It requires the user to download the software and plug these dongles in the smartphones and tablets to receive DD Signals.

    There will be no charges for watching the DD Channels. No internet connection is required after installation of the software. The public and private transportation vehicles and public places are potential environments for Mobile Television.

    Currently, DD National, DD News, DD Bharati, DD Sports, DD Regional/DD Kisan are being relayed. Only one time investment of a dongle will be required by viewers and no extra expenditure unlike streaming with internet. The TV pictures are free from “ghosting” and “snowing”.

    DTT secures greater plurality in platform ownership, ensuring that no single platform owner is so powerful that it can exert undue influence on public opinion or political agendas. The digital transition offers an opportunity to increase the production of local content.

    This in turn creates job opportunity and increases creativity and entrepreneurship. A strong DTT platform is critical for healthy competition in the TV market and to the realisation of a wide range of social benefits and most essentially an all weather reliable platform. There is no risk of catastrophic failure of total network. It provides alternative distribution platform.

    DD channels can be received on smart phones, tablets and in moving vehicles. The new audience on move are the key beneficiary of this technology. Currently, mobile TV can be received using a dongle for mobile and tablets. But the day is not far when it will be embedded inside the devices. Watching TV from a phone is interested in many situations. Public and private transportation vehicle in public places are potential environment for mobile TV services. In the DTT Transmission everybody watches the same content at the same time and it guarantees everybody the same high level of service, since they are all bathed in the same signal. So tablets and smartphones and moving vehicles find new way of watching DD Channels in India in 16 cities, which are going to increase in near future.

     

  • Doordarshan launches Mobile TV in India, needs no internet

    Doordarshan launches Mobile TV in India, needs no internet

    NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has commenced digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in 16 cities, thereby providing mobile TV to the users.

    The sixteen cities being covered from 25 February are- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi, Cuttack, Lucknow, Jallandhar, Raipur, Indore, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Bangalore and Ahmadabad.  

    Mobile TV can be received in and around these cities using DVB-T2 Dongles in OTG enabled smart phones and tablets, Wi-Fi dongles for moving vehicles, besides the TV sets having built in DVB-T2 Tuner which are called as integrated digital TV (iDTV).

    While Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung etc., are providing iDTV, the dongles are also available in online shopping sites like Flipkart, Ebay, Snapdeal etc. It requires the user to download the software and plug these dongles in the smartphones and tablets to receive DD Signals.

    There will be no charges for watching the DD Channels. No internet connection is required after installation of the software. The public and private transportation vehicles and public places are potential environments for Mobile Television.

    Currently, DD National, DD News, DD Bharati, DD Sports, DD Regional/DD Kisan are being relayed. Only one time investment of a dongle will be required by viewers and no extra expenditure unlike streaming with internet. The TV pictures are free from “ghosting” and “snowing”.

    DTT secures greater plurality in platform ownership, ensuring that no single platform owner is so powerful that it can exert undue influence on public opinion or political agendas. The digital transition offers an opportunity to increase the production of local content.

    This in turn creates job opportunity and increases creativity and entrepreneurship. A strong DTT platform is critical for healthy competition in the TV market and to the realisation of a wide range of social benefits and most essentially an all weather reliable platform. There is no risk of catastrophic failure of total network. It provides alternative distribution platform.

    DD channels can be received on smart phones, tablets and in moving vehicles. The new audience on move are the key beneficiary of this technology. Currently, mobile TV can be received using a dongle for mobile and tablets. But the day is not far when it will be embedded inside the devices. Watching TV from a phone is interested in many situations. Public and private transportation vehicle in public places are potential environment for mobile TV services. In the DTT Transmission everybody watches the same content at the same time and it guarantees everybody the same high level of service, since they are all bathed in the same signal. So tablets and smartphones and moving vehicles find new way of watching DD Channels in India in 16 cities, which are going to increase in near future.