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Mukesh Ambani, Asia's wealthiest individual and chairman of Reliance Industries, has appointed Ira Bindra as the Group President of People and Talent, marking a significant shift in the company's human resource policies. This rare announcement, personally made by Ambani, highlights the strategic importance of her role in driving organizational transformation.
Bindra, formerly Vice President and Head of HR for Global Regions at Medtronic, USA, brings extensive leadership experience. A graduate of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi, and an MBA holder from Maastricht School of Management, she has also held senior HR roles at GE.
Bindra, 47, is the youngest and first non-family woman to join Reliance's Executive Committee. In her role, she will collaborate with Ambani and his children, Isha, Akash, and Anant, focusing on fostering leadership, culture, and HR excellence across the conglomerate, signaling an era of HR innovation at Reliance Industries.
India's civil aviation sector has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, with plans to position the country as the world’s leading domestic aviation hub, said Union Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Friday. Speaking at the launch of the centenary celebration logo for Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, he highlighted India’s achievements in expanding airport infrastructure and increasing passenger volumes.
Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, India has become the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, but the goal now is to reach the top spot. Naidu emphasized the need to push boundaries further and elevate the sector's global standing. He called for sustained efforts to overcome challenges and build upon the sector's rapid advancements. With strategic planning and innovation, India aims to transform its aviation industry into a benchmark for excellence worldwide.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is set to launch the Udaan Yatri Cafe initiative, addressing the issue of expensive food and beverages at airports. This project will debut at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to celebrate its 100th anniversary and the 8th anniversary of the UDAN scheme, which enhances regional connectivity.
Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu unveiled the logo for the airport’s centenary celebrations at an event in Delhi. The pilot project will introduce kiosks offering affordable refreshments, including tea, coffee, snacks, and water, in Kolkata Airport's departure area. Based on its success, the initiative will expand to other Airports Authority of India (AAI)-managed airports.
The Ministry aims to make air travel more accessible and inclusive as India’s aviation industry continues its rapid growth. Celebrations at Kolkata Airport will include the release of a commemorative stamp and coin starting December 21.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the collateral-free loan limit for farmers from ₹1.6 lakh to ₹2 lakh, effective January 1, 2025. This initiative seeks to ease financial strain on small and marginal farmers, who make up over 86% of the farming community, amid escalating input costs. Banks are now required to provide loans for agricultural and allied activities up to ₹2 lakh per borrower without collateral or margin requirements.
This policy aims to improve access to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans and aligns with the government's Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, which offers loans up to ₹3 lakh at an effective interest rate of 4%. The measure is expected to enhance financial inclusion, allowing farmers greater flexibility to invest in farming operations and sustain their livelihoods. Experts believe this step will bolster agricultural economic growth and address inflationary pressures on input costs.
